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Once Bitten Twice Shy

epicdoom

epicdoom

New member
I Rescued a sub adult from the gas chamber today. This snake is a biter just as its owner said. She is Hostile at best inside the tank and out. Stepping back a second here to explain how I come to know saw tooth sally. I got a call one evening in response to an Ad I ran looking to adopt snakes. The gentleman on the line was frantic about a corn snake he had since a baby. He explained the first few week as uneventful feeding the little girl and holding her 2 times a week. Then all of a sudden she snapped he went in to feed her and she struck him. This went on for a second feeding attempt. Scared to be bitten he would open the lid toss in a mouse and close it back up, End of all interaction.

He never touched this snake again did spot cleanings 2 times a week replacing substrate as he removed the soiled section and filled water bowl. Fast forward to today. I get to his house he invited me in and pointed to the tank There she is. First thing I saw was the temp gauge sitting firm on 91 Deg probe running under the hide on the warm side. (mental note taken) Second thing I see is a basking light hovering over the cool side of the tank ON and the temp gauge sitting on 90deg (Mental note taken). I pulled out my little IR temp sensor and measured the temp in the tank I found no place inside the 20L that read below 90Deg. I asked the owner why temps were so high, his reply was that corn snakes need high temps to digest AHMMM I asked if the tank has always been at that temp His reply, Yes I told him he has been sadly misinformed about the temps corn snakes need to be at.

I talked to him and explained that there is a strong possibility that high heat is the reason his snake turned into a biter. I wanted to see how bad she was so I unplugged the UTH removed the light and screen lifted the hide and was Greeted with bite. I kept still till she released me. I kept her head busy and lifted her at the middle of her body as soon as I cleared the tank Whomp she latched onto my wrist. I eased her into a tub and again waited for a release. The guy chuckling said I told you she was mean. Got her home lifted her from the tub to a quarantine tank set up for her ahead of time. She darted for the water bowl and drank then slithered into her hide.

I will see how she is doing in 4 or 5 days I saw she has something going on with her scales, Shrinkage maybe as there are white skin areas between scales that are very visible. I don't wanna further stress her so for now she is getting rest till I can get a better look. I will get some pics when I look at her in a week for now here is a pic of her I think she is an Ultra Mel about 2.5 feet long. will update progress as I try to make a gentle little lamb from this lioness.
20121114_145427.jpg
 
Wow poor girl sounds a bit neglected due to ignorance. Wonder where he bought her from. They should of explained then needs her.

My guess is petsmart or petco. Anyway kudos for saving her. Hope she turns out to be nicer once she calms down and in the right temps.
 
Sounds like other than the high temps she was fairly well taken care of. I have to say though, it is up to the owner to do the research, not rely on an employee of a pet shop. Hopefully, she won't carry any baggage from her previous home and will come around in time.
 
Could well be the high temperatures and also that her former owner has taught her that biting is a good way to be left alone! Good luck with her, she's a lovely looking corn.
 
With those high temps Iam shocked to see she is alive it is a good thing that you had rescue her when you did I love her colors so pretty congrats on your new little girl. :)
 
Went in to give her fresh water she came rite out of her hide and towards my own hand where she promptly close mouth struck me. She came for me that could be a problem with getting her calm I will give her 2 days between water change. She is a beautiful snake the more I look at her the more I like her funny thing is I'm not partial to red or orange snakes.
 
Agree she latched onto me good yesterday. I don't care much doesn't really hurt. I'm glad to have her and I hope I can make her happy. The past owner would have put her down today bad part is she it probably a bitter because of him. She can bite all she likes I'm gonna keep her the way she can deserves.
 
Don't know if anyone can see the white between her scales from this pic I don't want to remove her yet. she spends a lot of her time inside her hide, but was out for about half an hour today. I'm gonna set up my night vision cam tonight to see how active she is at night. I lined her quarantine tank with paper Towels so far nothing moving around on them she appeared to be mite free, but I wanna make sure. I am concerned about the scales
20121114_145440.jpg
 
She's an amel, looks to me like those white places you are seeing are what would be black on a normal snake.
 
owner said ultra Mel she has a lot of the white spots showing I have seen some on other Amels but not this much, when I can get a good pick of her whole body I will post it she looks and is acting healthy otherwise she will get a vet visit in a week after she settles in.
I know she has to be happier in the rite temps. I forgot to mention in the first post that the past owner went to his kitchen and got a set of metal salad tongs to remove her from the tank with. I was like dude hell no ain't happening I'd rather get bit then see that snake picked up with those.
 
Probably just means she would have had broader black borders than the others you've seen. One morph can vary a lot.
 
If you're referring to the white areas around the blotches, that is normal, Scales look good to me in that picture. Nice looking snake IMO.

Mitch
 
Have been watching her on camera and night vid. she is a very active little female. exploring every inch of her quarantine tank. I have a nice size hide in the tank she will not use the opening to enter it instead she slips her head under the edge and slides on in that way. I rotated the opening to the area she lifts still she lifts it and slides under in another spot. I figure she is just an odd duck, That's ok I like odd better fits with my personality. just to make the hide safe for her to slide under I bought a new one same exact one and lined the edge with felt. I put it in with her when the glue dries good. I have to pick up an okeetee today that an owner no longer can care for.
 
I don't think she is an ultramel. Unfortunately since she was labeled as such, if she ever ends up in someone else's hands make sure to inform them of this. Referring to my ultramel, her eyes are completely different. She is an amel IMO.
 
I'd think amel too! Maybe the man whom sold her to you did not remember right what he was told or the seller whom sold it to him misinformed him. She is lovely and I am glad you took her in. It's awfull to kill an innocent animal that is not dangerous for anyone because it defends itself the natural way.
 
Ali She will remain mine till one of us has passed on. hehe I'm not completely up on morph yet so I don't know she looks more Amel from pics I have seen. Just going by what the past owner told me.

Snakearound I agree I refuse to let one be put to sleep if its healthy. Makes no sense to me for people to do that when so many would be willing to take it and care for it properly. She is doing very well I changed her water today, she sniffed my hand a few seconds and turned away. I put fresh water in her tank and put my hand on the substrate in front of her she slithered rite on and let me lift her out. Almost like she has been dying for some interaction.
 
All is going will with this girl I opened the lid last night so I could take her out for a feeding. She turned and watched my hand closely as it came near her I lifted her midsection slid my free hand under her upper half and away we went no problems. I figured while her food was thawing I'd get a good look at her get some handling time in to boot. I fed her a nice little mouse waited for a half hour after she was done and returned her to her home. I think she is going to be just fine. Called her past owner to update him he is happy that's she's happy with me. I will keep testing her for a couple months let her get used to her home being her personal space.
 
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