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Angry hatchling corn?

Alaya

Alaya

Crazy Alaskan
I have a few questions about my new hatching. He's had a hard life so far. Last Wednesday-Thursday he was shipped all the way from Matthew (Blue Apple Herps) in Texas to me in Alaska. A long way for a new little hatching! He was understandably extremely angry after the trip, so I've tried to give him some room. He's living in a medium sized ziplock container of this type:
ContainersSmartSnapSeal.aspx

Its about a foot on one side and a bit smaller on the other. He has a small water dish and hide and an inch or two of aspen. The warm side is 85F, the other side is cooler. He mostly only hangs out on the warm side.

Every time I check on him he is still extremely angry. I only check on him once a day, and he's ready to strike and rattling his tail. Should he still be this angry nearly a week later? I wonder if opening and closing the container is too stressful.

I'm having mice shipped in from the mouse factory on Thursday. He has not ate yet, he refused the one meal he was offered in Texas (he was part of a hatching sale). Should I wait for him to calm down or should I try offering him food on Thursday?

I have a 10 gallon tank set up and ready to go. Would it possibly be less stressful for him to be put in there? I worry how much opening and closing the container is right on him and super loud with lots of movement. My cats sometimes step on his container, and I feel bad. Both of these stresses would be reduced if I use the ten gallon. I just don't want to freak him out too much with moving and more space if it won't help.

Sorry about all the rambling, I'm new at this and just want to do whats best for him. He's absolutely gorgeous (caramel charcoal) and I can't wait to have him relaxed enough to be able to hold him and really get a better look.

A picture stolen from Matthew's website (I did not take it):
collage_lb_image_page18_15_1.png
 
Well normally we leave hatchlings alone for a minimum of 3 days before we open the tank to handle or feed them. Babies usually are defensive and will rattle their tales and strike especially while they are in their tank/container. You just have to be brave when getting them out, a bite won't hurt you, the baby just has to learn your not a threat and will eventually be fine with handling.

If you bought a non-feeder, we can only suggest tricks you can do to make him eat. But make sure you leave him alone so he can get used to his new place. From TX to Alaska is a big change just give it some time
 
I would move him into the 10 gallon tank and then try and feed him three days later. All corns vibrate there tail as hatchlings does not mean he is angry just scared and corns are always scared.

Fatman
 
I'm obviously just the overworrying newbie, and everything will be fine :)

Last night he was calmer when I opened the container, he held a defensive position and had a small rattle, but mostly he just watch where I was going instead of trying to actively strike. That's a huge improvement, so I think he is finally getting more comfortable. I'll try offering him a pinkie tomorrow, if he eats it I'll leave him where he is now and try handling him after he's rested for a couple days. If he doesn't eat it I'll move him into the larger tank then leave him alone for a few days and try feeding him again. I'm trying to take it slow, its just hard when you have a shiny new pet! Soon it will be come a lot easier as my student teaching workload picks up and I don't have time to even breath during the day.
 
It's not your fault. I've heard that Matthew breeds possessed snakes. :devil01:

It's not mean. You're a giant monster!! Give it time.
 
I said hi to Anton von Leeuwenhoek (my snake) today after I came home and he seemed much more relaxed. He even crawled on my hand with some minor encouragement. Only one minor tail rattle, but he didn't scrunch up in the striking pose. His scales feel amazing, can't wait until I can handle him more. I think I just needed to give him more time to calm down. He'll be fine, maybe he'll even eat happily tomorrow.
 
He ate! I'm happy! He seems a lot more stressed today than yesterday, but I warmed up the food before I went and looked at him (didn't want to stress him with looking), so I decided to try feeding anyway. I left him alone in a deli cup with the pinkie for 2 hours and he just ignored it. Getting a hatchling into a cup proved more difficult that I thought! After two hours I brained the pinkie and held it at his nose, it took him a couple strikes to get a good hold, but after he did he munched it down. I'll leave him alone for a few days, then try handling him. I feel better now that he has a meal in him, I'm too used to mammals that need to eat all the time.
 
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