Help! New To Me Snake - Not Friendly.

[cleothesnake]

I took on the task of caring for another animal. However, a snake is new to me.

She (maybe he, but she to me) is approximately ten years old, and was given to me. I named her Cleo (she had no name before).

However the previous owner said that he had bitten her, and had stopped touching her and taking her out for about 1-2 years. He was afraid of her.
I have had her for two weeks, she is active at night now and seems to enjoy watching me through the glass. I take her out to feed her probably not in the best way I could - but since I can't gauge her quite yet it was the only way I could, and I have to feed her (I would take the smaller feeding cage and plop it in the tank using the lid to that tank to guide her into the feeding tank).

She rattles her tail at me occasionally and has tried to strike at me twice, but it was through the glass (I felt bad she hit her face) and around feeding time. I assume since the previous owner only fed her in the tank that she might have thought I was food. I am not really sure.

I am pretty unsure at how to win her trust and approach this issue with her. I would really love to have a snake that is happy and healthy to hang out with.

If anyone has any further questions please ask!

Please give me a hand and tell me what to do!

 

[cleothesnake]

Uhg. That photo was huge. Super sorry. It doesn't look like I can edit my post to remove it.

 

[Chip]

The photo seems a fine size to me.

First, congrats on taking this snake in. It sounds like it was in a less than ideal environment. Corn snakes aren't usually too defensive, and even the worst of them will calm down with some work. First, I'd look into a snake hook. Any stick will work, I've used a paint roller in a pinch, but some snakes are a little cage aggressive. If you can lift them out with a hook, they freak out less than if you just reach in and pick them up. Once out, they don't seem to feel as threatened. Don't be surprised if you find she is back to tail rattling and striking the next day, though! I can take some repetitions, and they can revert back when you go a while without handling also. But you have two things in your favor. #1, it's a corn snake, and the bite isn't usually as bad as a cat play scratch. #2, it's a corn snake and they are the most popular snake pet in large part because they adapt so well to handling. Just be patient, and I usually recommend not using gloves. You can't grasp well, and the snake needs to feel and smell your skin anyway. Hopefully in a week or two, we'll be hearing your success story.. Oh yeah, welcome to the forum!

 

[cleothesnake]

The photo seems a fine size to me.

First, congrats on taking this snake in. It sounds like it was in a less than ideal environment. Corn snakes aren't usually too defensive, and even the worst of them will calm down with some work. First, I'd look into a snake hook. Any stick will work, I've used a paint roller in a pinch, but some snakes are a little cage aggressive. If you can lift them out with a hook, they freak out less than if you just reach in and pick them up. Once out, they don't seem to feel as threatened. Don't be surprised if you find she is back to tail rattling and striking the next day, though! I can take some repetitions, and they can revert back when you go a while without handling also. But you have two things in your favor. #1, it's a corn snake, and the bite isn't usually as bad as a cat play scratch. #2, it's a corn snake and they are the most popular snake pet in large part because they adapt so well to handling. Just be patient, and I usually recommend not using gloves. You can't grasp well, and the snake needs to feel and smell your skin anyway. Hopefully in a week or two, we'll be hearing your success story.. Oh yeah, welcome to the forum!

thank you for the welcome and the response!
I am concerned about being bitten, I know it is inevitable though. If it is comparable to a cat scratch then I'm already used to that.

Gloves are a bad idea then eh? I was thinking about garbing some work gloves and wearing them against my skin to get the whole scent thing. I know if I work with her I can get her back to being a friendly loving kinda gal.

Thank you for the place to start!

 

[AliCat37]

Getting bitten is startling, but it is no worse than accidentally touching the pokey side of Velcro.

 

[Chip]

Yeah, their teeth are small and their jaws are incredibly weak. Defensive strikes aren't much at all, but even when one mistakes you for a mouse and hangs on, it's nothing.

More than a cat scratch, most bites are more like a kitten scratch.

 

[Nanci]

Some people wear those yellow dishwashing gloves to handle snakes if they (the person) are nervous. We call them wussy gloves! But if you've never been bitten, then you don't know what to expect. I would use either gloves or a hook to get her out. I would handle her every evening, for 30-60 minutes. Get her out, sit down, watch a TV show. Put her around your neck or cuddle her up against your chest like a baby. After a week or two of that she will be very familiar with you, and no longer defensive. She just doesn't know what to expect any more.

Also, when she is in her viv, and watching you, stop by and say hi to her frequently. Put your finger on the glass by her nose and "lead" her around. Speak softly to her. Blow lightly on her so she can smell you.

Out of a couple hundred snakes I have had, there have only been two who remained bitey no matter what I did. Your chances of success are virtually guaranteed.

 

[Nanci]

Also, do a search on here for Bite Club and you'll see the "damage" a cornsnake is capable of. ;-)

 

[jcdrgnfly]

Some people wear those yellow dishwashing gloves to handle snakes if they (the person) are nervous. We call them wussy gloves! But if you've never been bitten, then you don't know what to expect. I would use either gloves or a hook to get her out. I would handle her every evening, for 30-60 minutes. Get her out, sit down, watch a TV show. Put her around your neck or cuddle her up against your chest like a baby. After a week or two of that she will be very familiar with you, and no longer defensive. She just doesn't know what to expect any more.

Also, when she is in her viv, and watching you, stop by and say hi to her frequently. Put your finger on the glass by her nose and "lead" her around. Speak softly to her. Blow lightly on her so she can smell you.

Out of a couple hundred snakes I have had, there have only been two who remained bitey no matter what I did. Your chances of success are virtually guaranteed.

^^^ EXCELLENT advice! I've 'cuddled' with all 9 of our snakes, and they have all become quite used to being taken out and held. Most actually seem to enjoy it and wait for us to come take them out - and even the ones who fuss about being taken out calm right down as soon as they are out of the viv.

I've only been bitten once, which was my own fault. I was taking my Pewter (a 2011 big boy) out of his viv and moved too quickly to try and catch a falling cover. He got me right on the nose. Honestly, I didn't even know he had actually bitten me until I noticed the blood. I didn't feel any pain. And once you've been nipped, you'll know what to expect, and hopefully the fear goes away

 

[NH93]

Congrats on the new snake!
I can totally understand your concern. I just recently (last month) posted a similar scenario. I had taken in a yearling corn who, unfortunately, hadn't really been handled much if at all. She was extremely defensive (but also shy, unlike yours, which I think is a good thing for you)! She bit me many, many times, MANY times. Always striking. It was the quickness and the "hiss" sound that was startling, more so than the bite itself. It really doesn't leave a mark.
I was getting so upset, because my snake wasn't happy.
I took Nanci's advice, and took her out every night - regardless of how she acted - and just sat with her, for an hour or more. In just one week she settled right down! It was like a completely different snake. She realized I'm not going to eat her, and that was that. It's been over a month since then, and all is well.
Your snake is older than mine, so may take more time. If you're just patient, it will happen. I believe it is better to just get bit, though. After trying gloves and whatnot, I realized the only way to get over the biting, was just to take it. Once the snake is calmed down, wash your hand, and keep holding it. If it continues to bite and strike at you while you're holding it, DON'T put it back. Keep it out until it's calm; end on a good note.
I hope things turn out well for you, and I am eager to hear how things go.
Best of luck, and DON'T GIVE UP!

 

[cleothesnake]

Some people wear those yellow dishwashing gloves to handle snakes if they (the person) are nervous. We call them wussy gloves! But if you've never been bitten, then you don't know what to expect. I would use either gloves or a hook to get her out. I would handle her every evening, for 30-60 minutes. Get her out, sit down, watch a TV show. Put her around your neck or cuddle her up against your chest like a baby. After a week or two of that she will be very familiar with you, and no longer defensive. She just doesn't know what to expect any more.

Also, when she is in her viv, and watching you, stop by and say hi to her frequently. Put your finger on the glass by her nose and "lead" her around. Speak softly to her. Blow lightly on her so she can smell you.

Out of a couple hundred snakes I have had, there have only been two who remained bitey no matter what I did. Your chances of success are virtually guaranteed.

I might wuss out a little bit and go get some gloves to start with. I do play with her through the glass, she chases my fingers! I adore that!
I have been aching to take her out, so I think ill run to the store and grab some gloves, lock the cats out of my room and give it a shot.
I will start the handling tonight!
Thank you very much for the help! I was so unsure of whether to follow the advice for the young snakes or not, seems it is just conditioning the snakes at any age.

 

[Chip]

Good luck whatever you do, I just find gloves make the whole thing take longer.

 

[Oscarsdad]

I have to disagree with not using gloves or a snake hook to remove a cage defensive snake. My snake is ten years old and been mine that long. If she is sleeping I can grab her no problem but if she is out and posing and tail rattling I will use a "hook" ( $1 back scratcher to take her out ). She can definitively give me more than a cat scratch but as soon as I get her out I give her a kiss.I could probably just reach in and get her but I feel more comfortable with a hook.

The point is to take the gloves off after removing the snake. Remember that it is not just the snake adjusting to the person but vise versa.Outside the cage is the place to bond and the cage defensive behavior can be dealt with later.

You are speaking from experience and the best thing to do is nothing when they strike, but that is nearly impossible for a newbie and I think holding your ground with gloves is better than showing fear by withdrawing from the strike.

Outside of that- once out, I agree with everything.

 

[Chip]

I don't think anyone said not to use a hook. I just hate gloves. You can't pick a snake up in them for anything. With corns, they can bite me all they want, but my hogs are mildly venomous, and I try really hard to avoid bites. A gloved hand is just nothing to hold on to a snake with.

 

[Nanci]

That's why I said use gloves or a hook to get her out. After that she will most likely be fine.

 

[Oscarsdad]

That's why I said use gloves or a hook to get her out. After that she will most likely be fine.

My bad -totally! I could have swore you said not to use them ( or someone did- maybe just gloves IDK ) sooooooo anyway what she said↑ maybe I helped explain it more? ???

I'll shut up now- I think my rear end is showing. .....

 

[Oscarsdad]

I don't think anyone said not to use a hook. I just hate gloves. You can't pick a snake up in them for anything. With corns, they can bite me all they want, but my hogs are mildly venomous, and I try really hard to avoid bites. A gloved hand is just nothing to hold on to a snake with.

Chip- You can take my wussy gloves off my cold dead hands! lol.

For the most part we handle different snakes for different reasons. I am generally handling full grown wild snakes that will definitely bite and some can put a hurt on you. I usually use whatever gloves I have on hand and usually those are heavy leather work gloves- partly because I also handle a lot of wild four legged critters and need the ( psychological if nothing else) protection. But even with them I can handle snakes just fine.

But there are many different kinds of gloves (the last of which I would use is rubber). Calfskin or driving gloves- goatskin or golf gloves. .... Go to a local auto supply and pick up a pair of expensive mechanics gloves. Pick up a dime and rub it- it's like you don't have anything on.

So then there's jersey gloves- cost less than a couple of bucks- snake and owner friendly. I recommend them.

I can appreciate your position though as I got bitten a dozen times today by fire ants because I don't like gloves either when pulling weeds and someday a black widow will probably get me.

 

[Chip]

I should be more specific and just say that I hate gloves for small colubrids that don't have serious bites anyway, like corn snakes!

 

[cleothesnake]

Hey everyone!

I went and got gloves today, fun large rubber ones (even though some people are apparently against them). they gave me some more confidence with going to hold her, but I was still iffy about grabbing her so I used a mock hook and pulled her out.

You were right once she was out she didn't rattle at me or anything. I kept the gloves on for today for the hour I had her out.

Gosh she is active. I have only really held ball pythons before. She is very very active and was slithering around the whole time!

I put her back after the hour and she has been hiding ever since.

I am excited for tomorrow so we can play again!

 

[Chip]

Nice! Sounds like she's gonna be a pushover!