Do snakes Dis-like Soap?

[Pet Corn Snake]

Hey guys, normally before handling Damien i wash my hands and arms, tonight i forgot, when i went to get him out he was dead twitchy, then he striked, i was amazed has Damien hasent been this Agressive for a long time, i was thinking at first he was sick, then i smelt my arm and my hands, and they smelt of Soap, i read somwere that somones snake disliked soap, mabye Damien does too? any help with this issue would be more then Great!! : )


Thanks : )

 

[bitsy]

I have a problem with mine if I change the soap I use.

In the bathroom, I always have lemon-scented soap and I wash my hands there before handling any of my Corns. All OK.

Occasionally, I wash my hands in the kitchen where I keep a different soap. The Corns always back off and act as though they've never seen me in their lives.

I put it down to them associating the smell of the lemon soap with "the safe person" or the appearance of food - the lemon soap is a positive and familiar smell. If that smell changes radically, they they don't "recognise" that it's me and are nervous of being picked up.

The Big Bad for my lot is garlic. If I cook with garlic and handle it with my bare hands, I can't go near them for at least 12 hours. The last time I tried it, I was bitten by two of them who've never so much as hissed at me before or since!

Another thought, is that some cosmetics contain pheramones that are the reptile equivalent of "come and have a go if you think you're hard enough" - CK One and Impulse body sprays cause trouble for some people. Perhaps the soap you use contains one of the "wrong" chemicals?