How do you handle?

[ghosthousecorns]

I'm inclined to think a freshly shed snake may be a bit tender as well. I'm not really going so much by any evidence I have observed, but because 'reptile relief' includes the instructions not to spray it on just-shed snakes. I figure there must be some reason for that Just thinking out loud here.

 

[giraffe42]

As Connor said, please don't handle for 48 hours after feeding. They're less likely to snap after they've just eaten (apart from about 20 - 30 minutes afterwards, since they're still in feeding mode), because they feel lethargic, and to aid escape, most of the time they'll regurge as they'll be lighter and more nimble.

You're right about handling when in shed, just think of it like slapping a human with sunburn all over their body repeatedly.

If you have a young hatchling, I wouldn't handle everyday. Not just for the regurge factor (although that's a MAJOR issue), but they stress very easily at that age. 5 - 10 minutes a couple of times a week, 48 hours after feeding is enough. Cornsnakes are naturally docile, and even those that haven't been handled much throughout their life are reluctant to bite. As he gets older you can gradually increase the handling time, but still adhere to the '48 hour rule'.

All the best

David

If I am to feed in a separate container what is the best time to put the snake back?

 

[MerlinsPop]

If I am to feed in a separate container what is the best time to put the snake back?

You'll get different responses on this, so I'll just tell you what I do. As they swallow their meal, you see the lump working it's way down the body, then it stops as it hits the stomach. Since I sit and watch (sometimes hold) 5 of my 6 eat, I just wait until the lump stops moving. Usually, the snake will start cruising around looking for 1) more or 2) an escape route. That's when I put 'em back. Some I place back by hand, others that are a bit more jumpy I'll "pour" back into their bin from the smaller feeding bin.

I don't think there's a absolute RIGHT way to do this... just be calm and gentle and it'll be fine.

 

[patm1313]

If I am to feed in a separate container what is the best time to put the snake back?

I let mine eat the food, and wait for it to go all the way down into his midsection. Then I either slide him back into the tank of very lightly pick him up and put him back.

 

[patm1313]

You'll get different responses on this, so I'll just tell you what I do. As they swallow their meal, you see the lump working it's way down the body, then it stops as it hits the stomach. Since I sit and watch (sometimes hold) 5 of my 6 eat, I just wait until the lump stops moving. Usually, the snake will start cruising around looking for 1) more or 2) an escape route. That's when I put 'em back. Some I place back by hand, others that are a bit more jumpy I'll "pour" back into their bin from the smaller feeding bin.

I don't think there's a absolute RIGHT way to do this... just be calm and gentle and it'll be fine.

I do the same exact thing.

 

[giraffe42]

You'll get different responses on this, so I'll just tell you what I do. As they swallow their meal, you see the lump working it's way down the body, then it stops as it hits the stomach. Since I sit and watch (sometimes hold) 5 of my 6 eat, I just wait until the lump stops moving. Usually, the snake will start cruising around looking for 1) more or 2) an escape route. That's when I put 'em back. Some I place back by hand, others that are a bit more jumpy I'll "pour" back into their bin from the smaller feeding bin.

I don't think there's a absolute RIGHT way to do this... just be calm and gentle and it'll be fine.

Thanks! That's what I pretty much arrived at logically, just wanted to make sure.
So extending from that if I am to feed one more pinky to the snake I should wait until the lump is in the stomach?

 

[TWGarland]

giraffe42
So extending from that if I am to feed one more pinky to the snake I should wait until the lump is in the stomach?

When mine was eating two pinks i just used to put both in the feeding container and let my snake get on with it :shrugs: never had any problems

 

[MerlinsPop]

Thanks! That's what I pretty much arrived at logically, just wanted to make sure.
So extending from that if I am to feed one more pinky to the snake I should wait until the lump is in the stomach?

That's what I've done in the past. I try to avoid feeding 2X something mostly. For example... the pinkies I have mostly weigh in at 3g, some register 4g on the scale. The fuzzies I have range from 5g to 8g. So instead of double pinks, which could be as much as 8g, I'll weigh out a small fuzzy instead. When the snake is in the borderline zone between prey size, I sometimes feed a fuzzy one meal, then back to a large pinky the next meal, and so on, until the snake gains a couple more grams and I'm comfortable sticking with the new larger prey item.

I'm just paranoid cuz I recently lost a hatchling to a prolapse problem that started when I bumped up it's prey size. Probably a coincidence to the real cause, but it's enough to make me cautious about overfeeding.

 

[tricksterpup]

I make it pretty simple for my little ones, I feed them and then slide them out of the feeding tub when they are done.

the larger snakes, yes, I need to pick them up or even hook them to place them back. Its really entertaining trying to do that with a very hungry 6 foot black milk that thinks you are his second meal.