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is he angry? Or just scared?

I

ibetheelmo

New member
Question for you all.
Still a fairly new snake owner; and unfortunately I've been slacking on my fathering and accept for a few moments a week when he's being put into his feeding tub, Dobby hasn't really been held in about a month. Now I'm really wanting to try holding him again, but have been a little afraid to. When he was a little guy (about 9 inches) I'd hold him and 'mostly' not be afraid. He'd put his head twords my hand and I'd get a little cautious, but not all that bad. Now though, hes closer to 18 inches or so and a little more...scary. (yeah, yeah, I'm a wuss, I know.) when I put my hand in to pick him up, sometimes he'll pull his head back, although I'm not sure if he's pulling it into the striking position, or just pulling his head back because he's scared and trying to get further from my hand. The few times I have managed to pick him up lately, he moves...A LOT. Much more then previously.

So any tips? Or just keep trying to get him used to me again?

And anyone able to post pictures of the difference of 'striking position' and 'pulling back in caution' would be amazing.
 
Scared, not "angry". In the wild, everything would be out to eat him and he thinks you're a predator.

To establish - or re-establish - trust, you need to handle gently and regularly. He needs to understand that you mean him no harm and that will take time.

I'm a big believer in wearing gloves if that will give you more confidence. If you're nervous, he'll pick this up through the pheramones that you give off, which will make him more nervous... It's a vicious circle, that the gloves help to break by blocking the pheramones given off by your hands.
 
Even if he did strike, it wouldn't hurt much. If Bitsy suggests gloves, I'd take that advice.

I had a baby who I was handling too soon and he kept striking at me. It was totally my fault for trying to handle him too soon. My snakes are all around 18-20" or so and I know if any of them tried to bite, it's not a big deal.
 
You are trying to teach him not to be afraid of you but yet you are afraid of him. I think you both need to learn to trust each other. Handle him gently and daily. Things will get back to the way they were.
 
I had this with a big female bull snake. She used to love biting me and these snakes do hurt when they bite. I started wearing gloves and she bit the gloves a couple of times but after that she got the idea. Now I can leave the gloves off and she is as gentle as anything and has not bitten me once since. The glove trick does work. A corn snake bite is more shock than anything else and it stings a little but this soon goes. I rub little Tamodine into bite if it has broken the skin. :)
 
arparaspolo said:
You are trying to teach him not to be afraid of you but yet you are afraid of him. I think you both need to learn to trust each other. Handle him gently and daily. Things will get back to the way they were.
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I agree with above. Don't show fear show confidence. Its kinda like a dog, but I don't think snakes smell fear.

What I do is, as soon as I open up the tank and I find or see the little guy or girl i go right in for the "under belly full hand pick up. Most snakes when you use an assertive hand and go right for them they will not strike.

BUT getting bit from an 18 in corn is like getting bit by angry velcro.

I also talk to my corns once I have them in my hand like I would if I was talking to a small child.
 
They don't smell fear. What they see is your figgity hand jerking in front of them and it looks like a threat. Slow smooth movements are required.
 
If you ever do get bitten I bet your fears will go away. It's not bad at all and you will realize you were nervous for nothing. LOL my kingsnake broke my fear of being bitten. He loved to chew on me XD!

Gloves will help if you want more confidence. Try to get fake leather gloves or something smooth because fuzzy gloves will stick to their teeth and they will have a hard time getting loose plus who wants fuzz stuck between their teeth?
 
They "smell" fear in that they pick up on the pheramones that we give off when we're nervous - exactly the same way as a dog, only technically a snake tastes instead. They have a very acute sense of ... er... "smelly perception"!
 
WingedSweetheart said:
If you ever do get bitten I bet your fears will go away. It's not bad at all and you will realize you were nervous for nothing. LOL my kingsnake broke my fear of being bitten. He loved to chew on me XD!
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This is so true. I was so worried about getting bit I was hesitant with alot of things with our's. Then he bit me once {like an idiot I forgot to wash my hands after eating tacos, duh} and I'm glad it happened 'cuz I realized it DID feel like angry velcro lol and having that nervousness out of my head really came in handy when it came time to tend his booboo. To be honest, my reaction was "Did he just bite me??? He must of!"
 
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