Corn is freaking out

[broken_20_2]

I recently bought a Cali King, about 3 feet long. I don't keep my Corn and King anywhere near each other. I handle the King a lot because s/he is so mellow. After handling the King, I went to take out my Corn, and s/he went nuts on me. I've never seen it act like this before. It's tail was rattling, he head butted my finger few times, bite me twice (which isn't a big deal since it's a yearling), and whipped me with it's tail. I know that Kings are snake eaters, but can my Corn sense that? Do Corns and Kings come into contact in the wild? I'm wondering if this is an instinctive defense against the smell of the King. I've handled both my Corns without washing my hands before and have never had a problem. I even tried washing my hands and trying again to no avail. The last thing I want to do is cause stress to my lovely little Corn. Any insite?

 

[Nagini_snow]

washing hands

well your main problem is that u most likely went directly from handling the king and having the kings smell on u to directly handling the corn BIG no no u are right kings can be snake eaters and can pray on corns what i sagest is leaving the corn/s alone for 4-5 days to relax witch mean looking after the corns FIRST like changing there corns water and such BEFOR u do anything with the king so there is no lingering sent of the king on u and if the snakes are in 1 room u might want to move the king snake after the corns have relaxed u might want to do the fallowing

1 care for and Handel the corns first befor going anywere near the king

2 wash your hands between snakes and sanitise them

3 then Handel and care for the king but after don't go back to deal with the corns unless u have changed clothes and properly washed the sent away so all the corns smell is u

and with that said make sure the sent on the corns is not on u eather or the king may then find u yummy if u find that eather snake is still acting up u might consider changing clothes or at least your shirt in between the corns and the king so all the snakes smell is u and not the other snake

good luck

 

[dawnrenee2000]

I keep about 40 snakes and they reside in the same room. There are kingsnakes, milksnakes, ratsnakes and cornsnakes housed in rack systems and some aquariums. For bacterial reasons it is best to always use an antibacterial gel or handwipe between handling animals because different breeds can carry different natural bacteria from others and you dont want to spread anything. However as for the "smell" of another snake.. In all my time of having multiple types of snakes,( which many people do) it has never been an issue to handle them in any particular order or one after the other.

Yes, something spooked your corn, but don't be too worried about having your corns and cal kings in the same room. It is not a big deal at all to do that. Your corn could have just been having a bad day as sometimes our dear sweet animals do. I have a graybanded King that is the sweetest thing in the world but everynow and then he goes crazy on me for no known reason.

Nothing more is needed than a handwash between your handling sessions. No worries , your corn will calm down and be fine.

Best wishes to you

 

[BeckyG]

It could be reacting to the smell of your king, but I think it would be more because it is new than a king. Snakes are solitary creatures, and your corn could be reacting to an intruder in its territory.

 

[mbdorfer]

My money's on unwashed hands! Been there, done that :grin01: