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HELP!!! Aggressive Snake

S

SD.Woody

Shane
So I've posted on here before about my snakes behavior but sadly he has gotten increasingly aggressive. It's to the point where whenever I take the lid of the enclosure off he immediately scurries to his hide and once I pull that up he either buries himself and "runs" or he gets into a pretty extreme defense coil. He hasn't bitten me yet but has struck at me many times with the sort of hissing noise they make. He also rattles his tail constantly just at the sight of me.
I honestly have no idea what to do. When I try to hold him hand "re-grip" as he tries slither through my hands he strikes at my hand making him almost impossible to hold. Lately I've had to use only one hand near the tail and a hook near the head to transfer him to his feeding container.
Sadly it's becoming a chore to do anything for him and I would rather see him as a part of the family than just some thing I need to remember to feed every week...I know that sounds terrible :( ...

So I ask for any and all suggestions, tips, and tricks on how to help my poor Snakob become a friendly snake.
 
How old is he?

He isn't aggressive, judging by this behaviour, he's terrified. If he's a baby, I would capture him by lifting his hide and placing my hand flat on top of him.

If he's an adult, I'd get him out with the hook, then attempt to hold him. He will resist less if you don't hold him near his head or neck. He may be more calm the more "folded up" you hold him. He may be more calm if you can coil him up and then cuddle him against your chest.

If he's an adult, and is this resistant, I'd be handling him every single day. I'd get him out and have him sit with you and watch an hour of TV. It's VERY rare for a snake to stay so afraid/aggressive that they don't get tame fairly quickly.

If you are afraid of being bitten, those rubber dishwashing gloves will protect you enough, but still allow you dexterity to handle an dult. (If he's a baby, it shouldn't hurt.)

I agree- I don't like being bit by adult snakes- it really makes dealing with them unpleasant. But I've only had one, really, out of hundreds, that never got nice eventually.
 
Sounds like he's scared, not aggressive. You just need to persevere with him, everyday possible have him for ten minutes, regardless of how squirmy he gets. If he's young, he'll just naturally be squirmy - my yearling still is, he just wants to go explore everything possible! Scurrying under hides is normal, he probably thinks you're gonna eat him. I'd get rid of the hook, and try picking him up in scooped hands - a change of how you come at him could help. Good luck [emoji4]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Also the feeding enclosure might be making him more uncomfortable. But again there are tons of controversy surrounding the feeding tank thing. But try to feed him in a place where he is comfortable. This is probably not why he is striking, but it might be making him feel more afraid.
 
He sounds scared. Some are more nervous than others. Hold him more. I use a hook sometimes, but I generally just gently get them out. I have a striped amber who is very feisty. I love him. He is a tail rattling enthusiastic feeder. He is highly alert and he strikes out at anything that moves when I am holding him. He keeps everyone in our house laughing. He does not strike me, when I am holding him. He has turned out to be a great snake. Just hold your guy more. If you are nervous, lift him with the hook and use soft cotton gloves. Let him glide through your hands. He will calm down. Just work with him.
 
Snakes can also tell if "You are scared of them." He may be acting the way he is because he gets a certain response from you.

For example if he coils up and you jerk your hand back and act afraid to pick him up, then he's "Learned" to do that every time you stick your hand in his cage.

You should be gentle with him, spend time with him, but also show no fear, and just go ahead and pick him up regardless of how he acts. If you get bitten.... so what? Anybody with snakes gets bitten now and then. Might as well get it over with.
 
Nanci said:
If he's an adult, and is this resistant, I'd be handling him every single day. I'd get him out and have him sit with you and watch an hour of TV. It's VERY rare for a snake to stay so afraid/aggressive that they don't get tame fairly quickly.
Click to expand...

This is pretty much what I plan to do with my nervous new adult once he's had a couple weeks to adjust to his new cage. He hasn't made any genuine threat of biting, but scurries away rattling his tail, and seems prepared to defend himself if he must. He's just really scared right now, so I'm giving him his space. I bought a hook just in case I'll need it down the road, but I don't really think I'll have to use it with him.

I also have a hatchling that is terrified of hands and almost always bites me multiple times as I'm getting him out. I persist without hesitation, and he's been getting better. I'm fairly certain he will grow out of it entirely with time and regular handling.

My 8-month-old juvenile handles much like most adults, very calm and fairly slow moving. He's never once made any indication that he's even considered biting an option, but he still flees to the safety of his hide when I get him out or when I catch him wandering around. Even some of the most tame snakes will still run and hide because that's what instinct drives them to do.

TL;DR SD.Woody, patience and persistence are key. It could take a while to get used to the idea that he's just going to be held whether he bites or not and that nothing bad happens to him when he's being handled. He should eventually come around.
 
I think that I really under estimated the intelligence of corn snakes. Personality and facial expression. I never expected to see any type of expression on a snake. I think you will really enjoy your snake once he settles down. My, in your face, amber stripe is one of my favorites. What I originally thought was defensive has given way to enthusiasm. I open the box and he is out and all over me. I think he is part racer. Hope everything works out.
 
Yes!!! ^^^ What the above post says.

Snakes have personalities and attitudes. Every snake I have ever had, I could tell just by looking at them if they wanted to be handled or left alone. They give you "That Look." You just have to be able to understand it, and it takes time for the snake to get to know you and for you to get to know the snake.
 
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The thing I love about snakes is when they come to trust you, you are their preferred person. I can take any of my snakes to work, and let people handle them, but they always search around for me and stretch out to me in an attempt to get back.

Conversely, I have a couple snakes I only handle on a hook now, because they are such enthusiastic feeders. My friend Jarrett can come over and just pick them right up, because he doesn't have that "fear" (more like distaste for) of getting bitten, and they seem to, I don't know, not associate him with food and feeding so they let him pick them up and don't bite.
 
Thank you!

Hey everyone!
Thank you guys for all of you input. My little guy is about 11 months old so maybe he is just a little trouble maker.

But to answer some of your questions, I do use a hook every time I pick him up because it is the only way I can get to not run away... and boy he is quick! I also dont want to pull or grab him too hard initially because again he may lash in defense. And being a newer snake owner I guess I am a bit nervous when picking him up. IDK why.

But for the most part this website is an amazing tool! I can't wait until I can put these to the test to see if Snakob and I can become best friends. (He's just about to shed)
 
Hello everyone!

I think I have the same problem.
I got my first corn snake only 2 weeks ago, he or she is about 1 - 1,5 years old ( they are not popular in my country, so it is not possible to buy them in shop).
Everything was very well, first time I feed him on March 29, I even handled him 2 times and he was calm and friendly.
Yesterday I wanted to take him for handling but when I took off the hide, he became super aggressive. Of course I am afraid of his behaviour, so I manage to put the hide back in terrarium and leave the room.
Today I planned to feed him, took the hide off and again the same.
I took the video, could you please describe what would you do in situation like this.
Is it normal? Maybe he is testing me? Or should I consider to return him back?
http://youtu.be/x6lysKMjFVE
 
First of all I saw a mouse in that video. Secondly, it looked like you were deliberately taunting the snake, while a mouse was laying there.

Corn snakes are Not Aggressive. He was not coming after you, he was trying to get away from you and protect himself from you.

Your corn snake is not aggressive, he is scared to death of you.

(What I would do)
1. Let him alone so he can eat his mouse. If he's not going to eat it then remove it.
2. Quit taunting him. Either pick him up or leave him alone. Don't just stand there waving your hands back and forth in front of him. That would scare me too if you did that to me. (We can see your reflection in the glass)
3. Double check the temperatures. Incorrect temps make for irritable snakes. You stated you only had him about 2 weeks. My guess is your setup is bad.
4. Take him to somebody that understands snakes and knows how to care for them if you aren't able or willing
 
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Thank you!
It is getting clear now.

1. I left him alone and he ate his mice. I will not disturb him for next 2 days, and then lets see...
2. Will keep in mind, I wanted to take him out from terrarium and put him in feeding box, as he started react like this I putted the mice directly in terrarium, as his reaction did not change, I took the video, because I also was scared of him and wanted to ask for advice here.
3. I think the setup is ok. The temperatures in cold side is 69.8F and in warm side max 89.6F and he is hiding in the middle, I also have lightening over the warm side. I have explored that my substrate is not the best choice for corn snake, so I am going to change it to aspen shavings.

I am really warred and feel really bad about all this :(
 
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