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Best way to get snake out of her hide

C

corsara

New member
Tonight we're planning to handle our new corn, which is about 2 months old. Being new at the hobby, I have a question:

If the snake is in her hide (which is always), do I just lift the hide away from her and then pick her up? It sounds pretty mean to her, also don't want to make her think her hide is not a safe place anymore.

Any suggestions?
 
When I take Kiyo out of her viv, she is either hiding under a hide, or in her vines. I will move whatever she is in at the time and gently touch her to let her know I am there. Then I gently pick her up and she does fine. I don't (or try really hard not to) just reach in and grab either one so I don't startle them. Slow and gentle is the way to go :)
 
Also, try really hard not to hesitate...quick jerky movements tend to freak them out and they tend to think "omg it's going to eat me!!!"
 
I just lift the hide and gently pick up any snake, careful to support their whole body (picking them up by the neck or near the tail could not only potentially harm your snake, it freaks them out as well). Some people have special rituals to let the snake know they are coming (e.g. tapping the viv glass, throwing substrate at the snake) but so far my snakes seem to be fine with me just coming in and picking them up.
 
Thanks for the tips! Being new at this, I think I'm having more intense feelings of the sort "omg she's going to eat me now" than the snake itself, which makes it really hard not to be hesitant when reaching in.. hopefully that will change soon though!
 
Isoldael said:
I can assure you that being bitten is not something to be too scared of, it doesn't hurt much ^^
Click to expand...

Yes, that's what I've been reading and trying to tell to myself. However, the fear is instinctive, much like the fear the snake has. Hope it gets better in time. In fact, I almost wish that she'll bite me so that I can get over it and not care about it anymore..
 
I'm in the process of getting my little guy to get used to my handling as well. This is my first snake, however, I used to catch them all the time as a child. I even caught large 5 foot long king snakes in the back yard when I was married several years ago, so I'm not afraid of them.

My little guy is always in his half bowl hide. My "ritual" is I use the light on my phone to see if he is in one of two hides. Then I gently lift the hide he is in. In one motion, I pick him up near the middle (most fat part). Don't hesitate. I have done this during lunch the past two days. He has now started to let me gently pet him behind his head and along his body without being jumpy. I'll take him to my bed and hold him there. He still tries to get free and doesn't wrap around my hand too much. But I have noticed that he appears to be exploring more than trying to escape. The main thing is that if you are nervous, the snake will sense that and he will be jumpy. Also if you are nervous with him, make sure you handle him close the ground. That way, if he does escape your grasp and he falls, it is not too far. If they are not used to being handled, they will not wrap around your hand tightly and they can easily slide off of you.
 
Removing a hide from the snake won't hurt. I do it all the time but just be easy. Corns are hardy reptiles and can deal with a lot. Snakes can see you coming and hear/feel the vibrations your causing.

Corns are an "on the move" kind of snake so they won't always wrap around you and corns are easier to tame so not much biting done. Corns do a lot of bluff strikes if anything. I've been around snakes for a few years now and never bitten. I have been struck at, rattled at, and musked but no bites.

Good luck! You're not the only new one here.
-Skully-
 
Just to report that it went very well. I lifted the hide, and picked her up on my second try (I instinctively withdrew my hand when she turned towards my fingers, lol). We had a 15 minute session and it was calm most of the time, in fact at one point it just stood still for about a minute or two without moving and resting on my hand.

However, there was just one thing that didn't go well. Shortly after my wife took the snake from me to hold it, it pooped. But I have a question:

As reported by my wife (I was running for napkins in the meantime), the process of pooping was like this:

Brownish transparent liquid coming out, followed by just a drop of solid white liquid, followed by blackish poop in the form of thicker or harder matter.

From all three things that came out, only the last is clear what it is---poop. What about the brownish liquid and the drop of white liquid?
 
That's snake poop. When dried, you'll see it's a lot like bird poop. The white stuff is urea. But we shouldn't get into poop.
 
Sounds normal. If it has yellow urates instead of white, then you will have a slight problem.

Hope you're having fun ;)
 
Yep, that sounds like normal poop. I was pooped on a few times when I got my first snake, but now I know how to avoid it.

When a corn snake has to 'go', you can often see a bulge right by its tail. And then right before it goes, it will usually sit very still and lift its tail in the air. If I want to handle one of my snakes but I see that it needs to poop soon, I will sometimes take it out on the grass to get its bowels moving or I'll just keep a paper towel handy.

Usually my snakes do need to poop shortly after I get them out of their tanks. I think that the movement (just like with a dog on a walk) stimulates their bowels.

Here's a lovely picture of my snake with a vent bulge:

IMG-3003.jpg
 
Thanks for the tips. I really didn't know that the bulge next to the tail means it's about to poop. Now that I think about it, the snake did stop and didn't move for some time, then I gave it to my wife, and then it pooped, so apparently it was a clear sign!

Last question (for now): is it a good idea to wash the snake after pooping like that when handled? I was really thinking about running her through some baby wet wipes, but then decided that the chemicals or whatever they put in there might hurt her, so I just let her slide through some regular cleanex napkins. Maybe I should have given her a bath? If yes, how---under running water, or just submerge her upper body in a container with water at room temperature, or how?
 
I wouldn't ever use any chemicals on the snake. Usually they're pretty good about aiming away from themselves, but if she has some residue, you could just use a dry or damp paper towel.
 
I would be more concerned about washing my hands instead of the snake.

I did have a snake slither through his own poo once and I gave him a short bath, mostly because he smelled and I didn't like the stink when holding him.
 
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