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Maybe not cut out for this?

tamaramay

tamaramay

New member
OK, we've had our little snake for a week now. I thought about getting one for a while before buying him (and still waiting for my snake care book, BTW, I actually ordered from a second supplier as the first has taken too long and I will cancel).

But tonight it didn't go well.

Maybe it took me a little too long to fish him out of his hide - he was already rattling his little tail at me. But I pressed on, holding him as he glided and glided over my hands. Then he pooped on me - second time in a row. Well, from what I've been reading here, this isn't necessarily a sign of aggression, and pretty commonplace.

Anyway, the little guy, seemingly (to me) out of the blue, wheeled up and bit me on the index finger. You guys are right, I could barely feel it, but it startled me so much that I screamed, dropped him in his viv and my son started crying.

So I had to explain that the snake didn't hurt me at all. That I screamed because I was startled. Then my son was crying "I don't want a snake anymore. Let's take it back to the store in the morning..."

I am upset and wondering if I just don't have the "nerves of steel" required for this stuff.

Or maybe I'm a bit jumpy from all the decongestants I'm on! (darned cold, just won't go away). My son being so upset makes me feel bad.

Is a very calm demeanor a requirement for snakes? Is it possible that I am just innately too tightly wound? Or do I let all 3 of us calm down until tomorrow?

:eek:
 
I would definitely wait and let everyone calm down.
My girls were a little apprehensive after I got a couple nips from hatchlings, too. But as you said it didn't hurt.The worst part is over and you know what to expect so just relax and enjoy your new baby :)
 
thanks Traci

I think getting pooped on is bothering me almost as much as the biting, too.

Do you put a rag in your lap - or burp cloth or something when handling? Do they continue doing this when bigger or does that calm down, too?
 
Your probably making a much bigger deal about it then the little snake is. I get bit more often by baby corns then I do by any of my other snakes. The instinct to survive is hardwired in them, and right now he thinks your going to eat him. Its not aggressivness he's showing, he is just scared. Thats something to let your son know too, thats how the survive out in the wild against all the animals trying to eat them (your reaction probably scared him more then the snake biting you).

You've only had him for a week so he's still pretty scared and unsure of you. Once he realizes that your not a threat he will calm down. In a day or so pick him up again (make sure your son is there watching or else he could possibly develop a fear of them if he never confronts it). Make your your confident, as both the the snake and your son will know if you arnt and it will make both of them even more uneasy. If the snake bites just ignore it, if you develop the habit of putting him away every time he bites you will be telling him that when he bites he will get what he wants. Just hold him untill he calms down, and after a few minutes put him away. Take it slowely, one step at a time; and everything will be fine.
 
Honestly, I have never had one of my corns poop on me :shrugs: just lucky so far I guess lol. I have had kings that would musk for the first year it seemed. But I have worked with animals most of my adult life so it wouldn't be a huge deal for me. When I had a large number of birds (who would ALWAYS leave a 'present') I did keep a towel or cloth over my shoulder when handling, so you may try that. Just remember it is an animal and that is a normal function so don't take it personally :).
 
I agree with the above. You can reach in next time with a closed fist so it will be harder to bit at. You scream cause you saw the action and not because of the pain. So next time also look else where and let you hand find him. Spot the snake before you go in.
You'll be fine.
 
As for the pooping; thats also a defence reaction, it helps discourage being eaten. Make sure your not putting any stress or pressure down there too, as that could lead to you making him poop on you. Just wear older clothes if you have to, and wash up good afterwards. Very few adult corns who are used to being handles will do that defensivly.
 
I agree with what's been said above. I definitely would not give up so soon. I know it's easy for someone on the other end of the conversation to say it's no big deal and don't give up. Ultimately, it's up to you. If your son is still really upset then you may want to wait and maybe give it a try again in a few years (maybe with an older/calmer snake). I would certainly give everyone a few days to settle down.
There really is no guarantee that the snake is going to calm down overnight and to be honest he most likely will not. If he is still in a shed cycle maybe he's just a little more agitated than usual.
Maybe you can try handling him right over the viv in case he does poop it just gets on your hands and down in the viv. I have and occasionally still do put a cloth on my lap when handling some of my snakes. I've been pooped on 4 times (I believe). Three of those were by the same snake who since has never done it again.
It really is about confidence in a lot of ways. Of course, you can have all the confidence in the world and still let out an accidental scream when a snake lunges at you! That's just something you have to try to concentrate on not doing.
Hopefully things will work out. :) Good luck!
 
As for pooping. . . During the first week of handling Candy poo'd on me three times but hasn't done it since then. I just learned the signs (pause, lifts tail) and had a paper towel under her for when it came. :rolleyes: Nice little gift givers aren't they!

Laura
 
The exercise seems to stimulate the pooping, not so much stress. My amel is very mellow, but if he's out for a while and hadn't pooped yet, I could pretty much count on a pooping. Musking is more likely if they're stressed than using the pooping as a defense. I would also wait a bit before giving up the snake. Chances are that the more it's handled, the more it will mellow, and I'd hate to think that your son would be left with a life-long fear of snakes because of one overeaction. Wear a sock or gloves if you want to help make yourself feel more protected and stick with it. I'm sure the baby will mellow soon.
 
I'm new to snakes myself, but I agree with what everyone else has said. Lavagirl lunged at me a couple of times and I just kept my hand in her viv and let her calm down and the gently picked her up from the middle. Now she sometimes coils up when my hand approaches and she'll rattle her tail a bit, but she doesn't lunge anymore. And last night when a friend wanted to hold her (the first "stranger" to hold her), she kept reaching out and wanting to come back to me. I was wondering if she's used to my smell now and feels comfortable with me, safe in the knowledge that I don't hurt her. It was a neat feeling that she is comfortable with me and settled down when she'd be back in my hands. I have read over and over that snakes are shy by nature. If you just let your little snake get used to its new surroundings and the humans handling it, it will be okay I'm sure. Of course, if you're really not feeling it and it's not a bad thing to realize that at this time snakes are not for you. Do what is best for you and the snake. Hope that everything turns out allright. :)
 
Definitely give the snake, and yourself, a few more chances. If it were a puppy that left a bite mark on your hand, you probably wouldn't think twice. And the snake didn't even leave a mark.

When I got Clinton, he was going through his second shed and was irritable. I touched him and he hissed and threatened me a bit. Kind of freaked me out. After handling him maybe an hour a week for a few months, he hardly even moves when I pick him up. Even if he's ready to shed. He went from running away from the sight of me to literally climbing into my hand.

Consider this: This was the first time the snake was handled by you. It has absolutely NO idea what was going on. Next time you handle him, he will have a better idea what to expect.
 
well, no - I've been handling him every day-

Except for the 2 days after eating. Definitely not the first time.

Sometimes it's gone well, sometimes not as well. Guess he has his little moods just like us.
 
You've had your snake for a week and have handled him every day except for the 2 days after feeding. No wonder he's a bit defensive! I would highly recommend that you give the little guy some time to adjust to his new surroundings and settle in before handling him again. And after he's comfortable with his new home, I would also recommend that instead of taking him out of his hide (where he goes when he doesn't want to be bothered), you should wait until you see him out exploring his home. He'll be in a more adventurous mood at that time and open to new stimuli. Keep the handling sessions to only a few minutes at first and increase the length of handling time gradually. You can take him out several times a day and in no time, he'll be the calm pet you want.
 
I agree with Susan. Give him a bit of space. I've had some of my 05's for months & it's only this last week that they have really calmed down & just actually sat in my hand. Which was amazing to me!

I definitely wouldn't suggest bringing it back. This is an animal, not a pair of jeans. When we buy animals it is a commitment for their life, not ours.
 
My cat sometimes plays too roughly and leaves a scratch or two on my hand - and unlike a baby snake bite, it hurts! And the cat KNOWS BETTER, unlike a new baby snake that thinks it might get eaten. But I would never get rid of my cat; I just remind him that such behaviour is not welcome.

Snakes are not as smart as cats, but they also eventually learn whether it is safe to be handled or not, depending on how you treat them. I would certainly not expect a baby snake to behave better than an untrained puppy or kitten (or maybe even a trained cat, lol!). You expect to have to train those pets about acceptable behavior - why would would you expect the snake to be pre-trained?

If you decide you don't want a pet snake, please DO NOT get rid of it on a bad note. If you do, your child will only remember snakes as something that made you scream, and may be soured (or phobic) for life about snakes, and possibly other non-standard pets. It is up to you to make sure your child remembers the snake as a positive, not negative, experience when he is older.

So please be patient with the little guy!

Good luck!
 
Excellent points made here. Let the snake calm down and settle in for a week, then try handling him again. You already know a bite won't hurt, so even if he does strike at you all you need do is giggle -- does he really think he's intimidating? Consistent calm handling will eventually get him to stop.

Besides that, the comments about potentially giving your son a fear of snakes if you take it back is a valid one... but so is the thought of, what kind of lesson are you teaching your child if you show him that pets are disposable? Just because it wasn't a perfect pet to begin with does not mean it should be abandoned. Goodness knows people don't send their babies away because of a few bad colicky nights! Though we might wish... ;)

Use this as an opportunity to teach your son about responsibility and compassion. Explain that the baby snake was just scared that you were going to hurt it, so wanted to get away and hide, but if you are calm and gentle eventually the snake will feel safe and you can make friends with it.

Take it slow, and good luck. It can be upsetting and frustrating, but patience and time help. :)
 
I like a lot of the points made here.. Great points.. I am not sure how old your son, but obviously old enough to understand fear.. You can make a point that the three of you ( You, your Son and the Corn ) expierianced the same thing all about the same time.. Fear about being eat bite or ate. The tendency for the corn to stop biting will eventually come with time, it is just their instinct to ward you off, it is your instinct to jerk back when you get bit, and it is your sons intinct to fear being without his Mommy.. Its a growing expieriance, and I think you should give it more time. As far as being pooped on, be glad that has happened now than when they get a lot bigger.. *yuck*

Welcome aboard.

Regards.. TandJ
 
My two cents on returning a snake: I'm not one who thinks pets are like store items that can be returned on a whim. However, sometimes it's the best thing for the pet. I have seen and heard of animals whose owners didn't want to deal with them anymore and they either don't take care to clean their habitat, water dishes, provide fresh food on a timely basis, etc. I'm not saying anyone here would do that (not accusing Tamarmay of being such a person, please understand that).

I know people have different views on "returned" pets. I volunteer with a shelter and there are a lot of pets who are simply dumped, sometimes alive and literally in a dumpster, and left to fend for themselves in a world that they know nothing about. Some people in our group get judgmental about dogs who are brought to the shelter, but I say at least their owners didn't go dump them on the side of the road where they could get hit by a car, and for the old dogs, at least they didn't leave them sick inside a dumpster. They brought them somewhere where they will be well cared for and another, permanent home will be found for them.
 
MegF. said:
The exercise seems to stimulate the pooping, not so much stress. My amel is very mellow, but if he's out for a while and hadn't pooped yet, I could pretty much count on a pooping. Musking is more likely if they're stressed than using the pooping as a defense. I would also wait a bit before giving up the snake. Chances are that the more it's handled, the more it will mellow, and I'd hate to think that your son would be left with a life-long fear of snakes because of one overeaction. Wear a sock or gloves if you want to help make yourself feel more protected and stick with it. I'm sure the baby will mellow soon.
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There are snakes out there who will deficate as a defence tactic; I have been given plenty a full load, although I see it more often in wild snakes, and species who are a little more higher strung then corns. One of my retics I beleive actually saves some for me, she always seems to be full but its more then willing to come out when I'm handling her.
 
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