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Snake when through a traumatic experience

A

Audi007

New member
My 4 month old corn snake got nervous when my ex tried to take him out of his cage and jumped at him. So my ex decided to throw something at it then he hit the cage and broke the glass. I got a new cage for the snake and ll new decor because I did not want it to get hurt on the glass and got rid of the guy for obvious reasons but now when I try to pick it up it curls up in defense mode. I tried to use a snake hook but it slithers off of it every time I pick it up. I do not want to get bitten because I am pregnant but at the same time I do not want to give it away because I don't know what kind of person it would go to. Any advice?
 
Just wear a glove when you go to pick him up. Hatchling corn teeth are exceedingly tiny. You get significantly more damage from a paper cut.
 
What does being pregnant have to do with it? Good job, dumping the guy. What kind of person throws stuff at an animal and breaks glass- what a loser.
 
Nanci I think she just mentioned being pregnant because "if" a corn did break skin she is at a higher risk for infection. My cousin had me keep her kitten while she was pregnant just incase he scratched.
 
More likely because cat poop can have toxoplasmosis in it. It would take quite a snake bite to endanger a pregnancy.
 
Nanci is right, a snake bite, from a nonvenomous snake, carries very little health risk to anyone.

Just clean and wash the wound, then practice normal sensible aftercare and you will be fine. A corn snake of that size can barely break the skin.

Just use gloves, even latex ones will work for a snake that size, if you fear a bite. Approach the snake with a flat hand and confidently grab it.
 
Personally I think a stupid toxic asshat ex is FAR more dangerous than an itty bitty snake........to you and to your unborn child.
 
I was working as a vet tech till two weeks before both my children were born. The toxoplasmosis is really the only thing to worry about. I guess you can be concerned about rabies but I don't think your corn has that. ;) A bite from a 4 month old snake is not even likely to break the first layer of skin TBH. But at this point I think your snake is a little stressed and some time not being handled at all would be best, I think. Treat it like a brand new snake. No holding or anything for the next 5 to 7 days and then slow short trips out of the tank till your and his confidence are build up.

I agree with others. Congrats on ditching the jerk face.
 
I hope your corn gets over it soon. We always pick up our corn by the center and reach in and just pick him up and then support with the other hand. We noticed if you get near his head or hesitate, he then backs up into a defensive position. If you just go straight in for the center, he seems to be ok. I don't know if this will help with your little one but this is what works best for ours. He is a year-and-a-half and I think now is used to being picked up.
 
The only real health risk, I think, is salmonella (which most animals carry). You should not have a problem as long as you wash after every handling session (or when you clean the tank, etc) and don't touch allow the snake to touch your face or mouth. It cannot be transmitted through a bite, even if it broke the skin. I think it's a very minor risk, and I imagine you'd be more likely to get salmonella from eating cookie dough than from handling your snake! :)
 
If you look at CDC.com, I think, you can read about proper handwashing. I've got the link at work- possibly I can remember to link it. But that would NOT be a bad idea to get into the habit of doing, before and after handling your snake, and you can also teach your child some day!

Really, latex makes me more nervous than salmonella. So many people are sensitive ot allergic to it, and once you develop and allergy to it, you're in trouble, since it's in everything. I think it's best to minimize exposure to it whenever possible.
 
I was "bitten" by my year and a half old corn, it felt like less than a small bump on my hand and no skin was broken. I wouldn't worry about a bite if you do handle him, they all use the striking position because it makes them look scary when you go to handle them, but they rarely strike.

When you do pick him up, especially babies, scoop them from underneath so they feel secure and their whole bodies are supported.
 
Or with a strikey baby, you can put your hand down flat over them, to stop the striking, and then scoop your fingers underneath, and pick them up like a clump of spaghetti.
 
I agree with what has been said. I was bitten by a 2 month old corn and if I hadn't been looking at him when he did it, I would have not felt it or know he had bitten me. Their mouths and teeth are so tiny at that age.
 
Nanci said:
Or with a strikey baby, you can put your hand down flat over them, to stop the striking, and then scoop your fingers underneath, and pick them up like a clump of spaghetti.
Click to expand...

I do it this way too. The clump of spaghetti analogy made me giggle :).
 
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