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Does my snake not like me?

H

Helven_Ink

New member
I just recently adopted a 4 year old corn snake from a friend of mine who had to move, and the reason I did it is because the snake (Indo) seemed to take to me, Indo just liked to hang out on my arm. I've had Indo for about 3 weeks now and he seems to be liking me less and less. I try to take him out and handle him as often as I can and put him back in his terrarium when he seems to be getting bored with me, but the last time I fed him about 3 days ago he wouldn't let me pick him up to put him back in his terrarium. Indo would take an aggressive posture and wiggle his tail like it had a rattle. :( I had to pick up the box I feed him in and slowly tilt it so he could crawl back into his terrarium. Then I tried to pick him up today, because he was hanging out in the cooler part of the tank and I figured he was safe to handle again and he just tried to get away from me...
What do I do? Do I leave him alone? do I pick him up anyway and hope he's not pissed off enough to bite me? does it mean he's not feeling well? Does he just not like me anymore?
 
Did you give him any time to settle in to his new home? I say don't handle him for a few days, maybe even a week. Never handle directly after feeding the snake, wait at least a day. Some snakes can be safely removed from the feeding bin by hand, others will strike and have to be dumped. It's just an individual thing. I've found that over time and as I got more confident around my snakes I could lift them from the feeding bin no problem.
 
I have no idea when his last shed was, but he doesn't look dull, he's still very shiny and brightly colored. The first time I fed him I just picked him right up out of the bin and put him back in his home. I don't handle him after he feeds for at least 2 or 3 days and when I first brought him to my home, I let him be for about a week without handling him. My friend just gave me Indo's terrarium and everything inside of it, so he's got all of his same stuff, just the environment outside the terrarium is different. ...Except I added a digital thermometer and hygrometer... but I don't think those would make him angry... :p

I actually succeeded in picking him up just a little while ago. I held him for awhile and then put him back after he made it about halfway down my leg.
I just set my arm in his terrarium and let him slither back into one of his hides.
 
I thought the same, when I first got my corn a few months ago.
He's never went for me but at first, even though he wasn't due a shed and he hadn't eaten in days, he would get extremely defensive when I tried to handle him.

I let him settle for three days and tried again, but he still appeared very uneasy and defensive so I just picked him up anyway, he tried to get away at first but soon enough he was having a grand time just slithering through my fingers.

Been peachy ever since, so I'd advise, given that he isn't shedding or has recently fed, just pick him up and see if he calms down once he realises all is well.
 
personally, i think snakes have moods just like any other living thing, and sometimes probably prefer to be left alone. but dont let that discourage you. like Sine said, sometimes theyll seem a bit offput at first, but will seem content after being picked up and held for a little while. sometimes ill leave my guy alone if he trys to crawl away from being picked up, but other times i hold him anyways. the less you hold him the less used to being held hell be. and i agree with the confidence thing. if you seem hesitant, the snake will sense your worry. also you might want to check with his previous owner to find out the last time he shed so you can be prepared with the makings for a humid hide and not have to scramble to find the accommodations on a last minute notice.
 
I asked if he was due to shed because my snow only acts defensive when his shed is coming up before he even looks milky. The longer you have him, the more tuned in you will be to his individual personality.
 
Thanks everyone! I'll see if I can get a hold of my friend to ask about sheds.
I've got a big calender on my wall to keep track of feedings and sheds. I think I just need to get him used to me being his owner. I try to handle him whenever I'm not busy and he's not buried in his substrate. :) I think that will be more often after it warms up. :p
 
IMHO, I think that some snakes just don't like to be handled.
I don't think of it as "liking" me. They just would rather be left alone.

Keep handing your snake, and chances are the snake will come around again.

Another thought- have you switched perfume/laundry detergent/ etc? A different or strong smell may be turning off your snake.
 
@naagas - I have owned the snake for all of a month, so everything has changed for him, except the contents of his terrarium... though I did change out his bedding with fresh bedding of the same type. ;)
 
Ah. So probably the snake just needs time to get used to everything.

I have a new snake who bit me twice last night. She really doesn't "like" me, but I have hope.
 
Our Motley Snow, Zeus, was like that at first.

Even after leaving him alone for a week after we got him, he would bow up and sit in strike position ready to bite when we would first try to handle him.

After that first week, I just reached in there, scooped him up and plopped his ornery ass right into my open palm.. and he was alright after that..

Two days after that, his shed skin was found in his tank.

He was in blue and we didn't know it.. because he is such a light colored snake.

Sometimes, you have to just pick him up and let him know all is fine. He's probably just freaking a little because of the change... he can still smell around that it's not his regular home.. and felt uprooted..
 
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