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Handling

M

melliemel

New member
Hello! I'm new to snake ownership! I bought a corn snake a few weeks ago & she has eaten well every week & has shed once already! She is a hatchling & is very squirrelly. How do I get her passed this? I bought her for my son & I don't want him to be freaked out handling her.

Thanks in advance
 
Hold her for a few minutes every day (except immediately following feeds, of course). Some hatchlings calm down within weeks, others will remain wiggle worms for endless months, but the overwhelming majority will calm down eventually.

One of the ways a lot of folks help their snake become used to handling is by letting them get used to their scent. Try placing one of your son's worn t-shirts or socks in the tank as an additional hide. I would suggest even rubbing part of the fabric on your skin or adding a sock of your own as well to acclimate her to both scents. My hatchling has finally discovered the joys of cardboard tubes...perhaps try and put a toilet paper roll into the opening of a dirty sock. It's not the prettiest, but it might help. :) Good luck!
 
Welcome to the forum and congrats on your snakey. Would love to see pics of her :)

Short answer: with time and patience.

Long answer: You will have to spend time with the snake, and slowly make her have confidence in you.
As long as she's not eaten for 24-28h and is not in shed, you could start by slowly and confidently picking her up by the middle part of her body, or slipping your fingers under her and slowly rising her. Then let her do the treadmill in your fingers for about 5 minutes and leave her until the next day. If she flees, goes S shape or bites, just calmly take her out anyway to show her the bad behaviour doesn't affect you. They are smart!
With time, increase the time you spend handling to 10 mins, and then to 15 or 20. As the snake grows accustomed to you, your smell and becomes confident it will relax. At about a year they are pretty laid back and easily handled. You just need to create the bond.
Some people claim leaving an used shirt on the vivarium for the snake to recognize your smell also helps.

I hope you can spend quality time with your snake pretty soon!
 
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