Can corn snake raise their heads?

[Elaphe_Mo]

Corn snakes do have teeth, and they are sharp. But by the time your little guy is all grown up, it will probably be so tame that you will never get a bite. I've only ever been bitten by an adult due to my own stupidity (ie smelling like mouse and waving my hands in front of them). It did leave a little mark but really I was much more surprised than hurt. If you handle your new hatchling often and get it used to you, you most likely won't have to worry about a bite. Most of my adults are so tame I can poke them on the nose and they will just lick my finger to say "hi".

 

[absolutneil]

misuse of anthropomorphizing

anthropomorphizing means: To ascribe human characteristics to things not human. I don't believe that is what Rachel was doing.

I can't say I agree with her concerning her cobra theory nor her one concerning dogs and snakes. In fact I know of a school for dogs that spacifically trains dogs to avoid snakes and fear them.

 

[Serpwidgets]

Re: misuse of anthropomorphizing

anthropomorphizing means: To ascribe human characteristics to things not human. I don't believe that is what Rachel was doing.

I now don't believe she was doing that, but the original wording was such that it sounded like that's what she was doing. I just don't like the use of the word "imitate" in these situations.

 

[Serpwidgets]

'Cause I've heard that when snakes raise their heads, it means they're about to attack. Everybody has said that their bites don't hurt, but I've heard that they've gotten bitten and their fingers bled. Do adult corn snakes have teeth? If so, are they sharp?

Getting bitten is a natural consequence to expect from pretty much any pet... just count on it happening at some point when you're not expecting it.

If you're that scared of and worried about being bitten, maybe you should become more familiar/comfortable with snakes before getting one.

I've been bitten by dogs and cats (and mice/rats, and ferrets, and parakeets) plenty of times. Dog and cat teeth are specifically 'designed' to rip and tear flesh, and do a great job of it. Snakes only have little needlepoints that poke and hold on.

Yes, it hurts, but I'll take 100 bites from an adult cornsnake before any dog or cat bite.

 

[absolutneil]

i must agree about the biting

I try to tell people this all of the time. No one listens.

i think they are subconciously relating any snake bite with fangs and venom.

dogs and cats do far more damage to there owners every year than snakes.

You always hear some story about some kid being malled by a neighbors dog, but when is the last time a cornsnake made the news?

they are just about as peaceful a pet as you can get second to some fish. (Not even all pet fish are that nice eg: oscars!)

 

[kellum]

yeah. A bluefish I caught onetime nearly severed my thumb. So truly a fish has caused a worse bite wound to me than the snakes that have bitten me.
Also had an anole bite me one time and would NOT let go. I finally had to hold him under water in the sink to get him off.

All the snakes I have been bit by have been wild caught and just hit and run so to speak.. never really gnawed or held on.

 

[Rachel]

waaaaa why is everyone so quick to jump on what I say????
First of all I would like to say I am right about the dog thing. Maybe I was wrong about the imitating thing...Im just quoting from a book! But as for dogs...definately true. I know because I have done alot of research about this....spoke to geneticits and my genes and evolution lecturer. He's a prof so I think he would know. I have read alot of books, journals and thesis papers about it so I know for a fact I am right. And as for this school that trains dogs to be scared of snakes and avoid them....I'm sure there probably is but still, they are probably working on the dogs natural instincts!
Just to clear that up.......

 

[Khaman]

I have one of mine that routinely picks her food up and slithers away with it with her head up.

 

[galaxip]

I have one of mine that routinely picks her food up and slithers away with it with her head up.

I've heard of this and hope to see it someday soon. Amusing/cute mental image.

 

[ronlina]

waaaaa why is everyone so quick to jump on what I say????
First of all I would like to say I am right about the dog thing. Maybe I was wrong about the imitating thing...Im just quoting from a book! But as for dogs...

Just had to vouch for her -

This was actually meantioned in one of my animal science classes, dogs do in fact often turn around and pat their resting area before sleeping because of the innate thought to check for danger, i.e. snakes, or anything else that may potentially harm them. They aren't even conscience when they do it, nor realize that they do it. They also go into a fit about ice getting lodged between their claws, I was told, and certain breeds will right away lick their paws to get rid of the ice or snow, although the pads on their feet give substantial protection against the cold.

Lots of these types of behaviors can be attributed to many animals and have their simmilarities between different animals.

Just had to elaborate there, she just made one mistake on something that she read someplace, no reason to get crazy over fun facts, eh?

Oh and my snake raises her head a lot, too - but she usually only explores her cage after feeding. I hope, then, that her excessive hiding (even at night) is not a sign of depression?

 

[galaxip]

Yes dogs often do pat down the area they lie down on...
But saying WHY they do it is assigning thoughts to them that they do not have. As you said, they often don't seem aware they're even doing it.

My personal opinion is that dogs pat down their beds because in nature, they'd be either matting down the grass to form a bed, or else fluffing up the grass to make the bed softer. Either way a comfort thing. But that is only an opinion, not a testable fact.

But my real point is, we can debate WHY they do it all day long and accomplish nothing... All you can really say is they pat down their bed.

Same thing with corn snakes. You can't exactly ask them WHY they shake their tails. All you can say is, when nervous, they rattle their tails, and so do other snakes.