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How long do I leave him alone after feeding?

tamaramay

tamaramay

New member
Hi, posted recently on new member forum. We brought home our new little corn snake baby a few days ago. I left him alone for a few days per every one's advice.

Yesterday evening (day 3) we found him climbing around on the gauges. I held him briefly and put him back in the aquarium. He balled himself up into what must be a defensive posture - when I put my hand in to try to pick him up again he snapped at me, so this was enough for me! I gently put the "hide" over him and left him alone.

Then I gave him his first f/t pinkie - left it outsider the hide in a little Tupperware bowl, and when I looked a couple hours later, it was gone.

So my question, finally - I have heard you shouldn't handle them after feeding. For how long? Should I leave him alone tonight?

I did order the CornSnake Guide, and am waiting for it, meanwhile winging it based on what I read here.

Tammy
 
Most people will advise you to wait at least 48 hours after feeding to handle the snake. When my snakes move up to the next prey size (fuzzies), I wait at least 72 hours to handle.
 
Forty eight hours is the norn.
When you try to pick him up again. Don't stop! Just go for it. He will be a little squarmy at first but once he learn (know) you mean no harm, he'll just want to crawl around you arm.

Your doing ok. good luck, keep posting.
 
Yeah, I agree with everyone on the 48hrs thing. I also put a blanket over the enclosure so she doesn't get spooked by me walking around and such, but thats just personal preference.

As for handling her, you said she is a little jumpy. Mine was they same way and all I did was I used a pair of tongs and let her slither onto it, then I picked her up with my hand. I did this the first few times and now I can pick her up right out of the enclosure with out her being scared. It will take her/him a few days to get used to everything. Give her time and be gentle and all should be good.
 
Don't do anything special when handling time comes. Reach in and grab him. If he's a hatchling, you won't even know he has bitten you if you don't see it. Half the time, they only head-butt you anyway. Handle him until he's calm. If this doesn't happen within fifteen minutes, try again next time. :)
 
He did look quite threatening, in a teeny-weeny way-

Reminded me of those Crocodile Hunter shows "oh you are a naughty little snake.."

Guess it does make me a little nervous, the thought of being bitten. Not sure if he/she is a hatchling (bump in stomach about 1/2 inch thick - maybe 1 foot or slightly longer). So it won't hurt if it does get me a little?

I read in someone else's post about wearing gloves to handle at first and am wondering if I should do that(for my own confidence), or just try to bravely forge ahead..-

:uhoh:
 
tamaramay said:
Reminded me of those Crocodile Hunter shows "oh you are a naughty little snake.."

Guess it does make me a little nervous, the thought of being bitten. Not sure if he/she is a hatchling (bump in stomach about 1/2 inch thick - maybe 1 foot or slightly longer). So it won't hurt if it does get me a little?

I read in someone else's post about wearing gloves to handle at first and am wondering if I should do that(for my own confidence), or just try to bravely forge ahead..-

:uhoh:
Click to expand...

i had the same fear until i tried it myself, just reach into the cage and grab it, the bite should not hurt at all and if you even feel it it will be like it head just touched you. I would only wear gloves if it was an adult that was not nice, and i probably still would not wear gloves. Yes, your is a hatchling. anymore questions?
 
This is how I explained the feeling to my kids...rough velcro :). If you have very sensitive skin it may be a tiny prick, but not enough to warrant gloves.
 
OK, thanks guys -

so not to worry. Anyway, we have the evening off for "digesting". Yes, one more question -

Last night, when I handled him, was the first time he had come "out". Since I am trying to get him used to handling, is it OK to fish him up out of the Aspen shavings, where he is hiding? Or is it better to wait for him to come back out again?

Tam

:)
 
I prefer to get Travis out for handling during the day, (only had his second 5 handling session this morning:p) I do disturb him, but he knows he's in safe hands after a short while. And also it gives him the whole evening and night hours to explore himself when he naturally comes out.
 
tamaramay said:
so not to worry. Anyway, we have the evening off for "digesting". Yes, one more question -

Last night, when I handled him, was the first time he had come "out". Since I am trying to get him used to handling, is it OK to fish him up out of the Aspen shavings, where he is hiding? Or is it better to wait for him to come back out again?

Tam

:)
Click to expand...

It is just fine for you to fish him out of the aspen, just when he tries to get away be careful not to pinch him.
 
Handling our baby went pretty well-

Tonight was 48 hours after feeding, so I forged ahead as everyone suggested and fished the little guy (who we really have to get around to naming...) up out of the aspen.

I warned my son to try to keep down the noise (he is your typical enthusiastic/loud 5 year old) and sudden movements. Our baby glided across my hands - sort of kept trying to glide away and I kept moving my hands under him.

We are both slightly skiddish, as he would jump a little and make me jump. But I put him down when he got jumpy, then took him back out and he sat with me a bit longer. My son touched him a few times and I explained how to touch him gently, without "poking".

My son then got in front of him (while I was holding him) to look him in the face, and I could see the little snake backing up, looking scared - I told him "you're scaring him", so Jim got out of his face.

All and all went well, I tried to hold him for the 5 minutes and then put him back. Once/day is good for now? Or can it be more often than that?

Tam
 
If you think about it, your a nice 98.6 degree heating pad/climbing log. I mean what could possible be better?
 
handling and feeding went really well last night-

although he was a little hyper last night, (he wouldn't settle in my hand - kept trying to glide away) - wondering if he was hungry, maybe. But he didn't rattle his tail at me anymore, like he has before. He did end up pooping on me. Reading other posts, apparently this isn't necessarily a sign of aggression. I put him back in, changed my clothes and cleaned it up-then took him back out.

I am working on getting my 5 year old to just sit next to me quietly while handling the snake. Rather than reaching in and "touching" him, which always seems mildly startling, I want him to let me place the snake on his hand, but he's not ready for this. So, other than the pooping, we did have a nice session of handling.

It had been 4 days since he last fed, so I decided to try again. Just had a feeling he may be hungry. I put the f/t mouse in a little rubbermaid bowl, and scooped the little snake (who we might be naming "Edgar") and dropped him into the bowl. It was really cute-he didn't see it at first and was making his way around the edge of the bowl, sniff'ing with his tongue-then he got to the mouse and had this look like "oh! what do we have here!" And chomp! Originally I was concerned - is that mouse too big? But he made short work of it. It was a very cool thing for us to watch (we didn't see it when he ate the first time).

After he was completely done swallowing his mouse, it became apparent that he didn't know how to get out of the little bowl, so I went back in and dumped him out and took the bowl away. He actually stayed around for a while and I got the impression that he was hoping another mouse might show up. Then back into his house.

So I'm pleased that the handling went better and he fed so well. Nothing wrong with every 4th day, if he seems hungry?



:)
 
Try to feed every 5-7 days. Snakes are opportunist eaters they will eat at at any time. I like to feed every seven days for my convience or if you plan to breed feed every five.

They will also try to crawl away until they get a little older.

good luck
 
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