Some concerns about my new corn PLEASE HELP!!!!!!

erisan · Apr 3, 2006

I've just recently bought a black albino. A week ago to be exact. He is about 10 months old and is about 14" long. He has a great temperament and he was very calm for the entire week.

He seemed to be used to me after a couple days and i could pick him up without freaking him out at all but I had just fed him for the first time on april 1st. It's now april 3rd and I decided to try handling him now that he's digested pretty well all of the pinkie i fed him. But to my dismay when I tried to pick him up he freaked out and jerked away at every attempt to scoop him up. I left him alone for a couple minutes because he hid behind his water dish, but determined to hang out with my new best friend I tried again. He seemed alright for about 5 seconds but he suddenly jerked out of my hands and clambered into his fake leaves. I decided to leave him be because obviously he did not want to be disturbed.

I'm just wondering what everyone thinks about this behavior. I was wondering if I should let him digest longer next time or if he was just cranky(because I did wake him up) and whether this is normal after feeding because they like to be lazy and digest for a couple days in peace. Thanks alot for your time and input!!!!!! I'm so eager to play with him but I don't to make him mad or Gasp!! regurgitate. Although I think it's pretty well past the point of regurgitation from handling. :shrugs:

Lennycorn · Apr 3, 2006

erisan · Apr 3, 2006

Thanks a million for all your info and links. Now I feel much more calm about his well being.

Lennycorn · Apr 3, 2006

Hey... no problem.

And welcome to forum.
Don't hesitate to ask if you have any other question.

Good Luck :cheers:

erisan · Apr 3, 2006

Thanks. I think I'll take you up on your offer of asking other questions :wavey: Because I've been looking for the answer and haven't found a reliable one. I'm wondering about where to feed Stimpy because most people say that it's a good idea to put him in a seperate box to feed so as not to become used to my hand enetering the cage with food. But then I've also read that handling him after feeding can cause him to regurgitate. Do you recommend that I put him in a seperate feeding area and then place him in his cage after he eats or just continue feeding him in his normal cage using tongs on the mouse like I have done? Thanks again.

scad2k · Apr 4, 2006

i have just got a new corn about the same time as yours.

Just be patient.i have allready seen a change in mine getting use to me.

He dosnt go in to the s shape when i go to pick him up.

Hes learnt allready if he sits at the top of the viv ill get him out.Hope all go's ok.

erisan · Apr 4, 2006

Thanks scad2k I'll keep that in mind. I have noticed a change in his attitude to me and I think it was mostly because he had eaten recently. I hope your'e enjoying your corn as much as I am!! :crazy02:

erisan · Apr 4, 2006

When I said change in attitude I meant along the lines of realizing who I am and that I'm not there to hurt him.

Rorryy · Apr 4, 2006

In addition to his associating your hand with food there is also the risk that your snake may ingest some substrate by accident causing impaction. You haven't mentioned the type of substrate you use, if you use newsprint or carpet this may not be an issue but is something to think about. I always feed my snakes in a separate enclosure and the act of gently returning them to their vivs has never caused a regurge. You have definitely come to the right place for help, the folks on this site have been an invaluable tool for me.

:wavey:

pitlover · Apr 4, 2006

rorryy is right you must be careful about the substrate and them ingesting it but what i do is either lay his meal on a plate or i feed him in his hammock to keep him away from the substrate (I use Aspen shavings). As for associating your hand with food, I think that each snake is different with their own personality mine has gotten used to me and even now gently takes his food from my hands without striking or coiling and I have handled him many times since this new behaviour without being tagged or any signs of striking. Any information or advice on this site given by those who know their stuff is completely accurate but some of it may contradict others so just play it by ear and in time you will find your groove of things and will be able to enjoy your new buddy without worries, for more info and educ. read books, the one by Kathy Love is the best (Kinda like the corn bible) stay away from most sites their info is not always regulated, I saw on one site a guy breeding corns said to use cedar shavings for substrate, a definite no-no. Have fun!!

erisan · Apr 4, 2006

Thanks guys that clears up alot. I think I'll try feeding him in a seperate area next time and then putting him back in his normal cage. I use eco earth so I'm not sure how much of a risk for impaction there is, but just to be safe I'll use the little plastic cage he came from the pet shop in to feed him. Thanks again and I'm glad I found this website it's a great resource!

pitlover · Apr 4, 2006

it definitely is a great resource, I've learned soooo much in the short time I've been here!

BeckyG · Apr 4, 2006

What I do is to feed in a separate box, then put the entire feeding box back into the viv and let the snake crawl out when he is ready. Virtually stress free.

erisan · Apr 4, 2006

Woah I never even thought of that. I think I'll try that. Permitting my feeding box will fit back in the bigger tank. Thanks Becky.

MegF. · Apr 4, 2006

My feeding boxes are much too large to fit back into the viv. I've never had a problem removing the snakes and returning them to their homes after feeding. I've also never had a problem with the snakes developing a food response because I fed them in the viv. I've had two that were too nervous to eat if I placed them in a feeder box, so they got paper towel substrate and were fed in their vivs for a couple of months until they calmed down. As long as you handle them in between, clean and change the water, they can never be sure that you're just opening the cage to feed. Conditioned response would occur if the only time you put your hand in the cage was to feed. Then they would expect it.

erisan · Apr 5, 2006

Good point, I do open it for plenty of other reasons so I guess he wouldn't jump to conclusions without smelling or tasting it first. Plus I just tried to fit the feeding container in my glass viv and it won't fit. I think I'll just feed him in his big viv and use my plastic box just for when I clean out his cage. Thanks for all your help guys. It's saved me a lot of internet searching and phone calls to the pet store.

SnakeAround · Apr 5, 2006

erisan said:
Good point, I do open it for plenty of other reasons so I guess he wouldn't jump to conclusions without smelling or tasting it first. Plus I just tried to fit the feeding container in my glass viv and it won't fit. I think I'll just feed him in his big viv and use my plastic box just for when I clean out his cage. Thanks for all your help guys. It's saved me a lot of internet searching and phone calls to the pet store.

I do think phoning the pet shop wouldn't be a good idea anyhow; most don't know a lot about good husbandry.... Anyway, welcome to the forum and enjoy your corn, more will follow for sure! :grin01:

Some concerns about my new corn PLEASE HELP!!!!!!

erisan

Corn's name: Stimpy.

Lennycorn

Just see the truth

erisan

Corn's name: Stimpy.

Lennycorn

Just see the truth

erisan

Corn's name: Stimpy.

scad2k

New member

erisan

Corn's name: Stimpy.

erisan

Corn's name: Stimpy.

Rorryy

Anela la la la

pitlover

New member

erisan

Corn's name: Stimpy.

pitlover

New member

BeckyG

Making it up as I go

erisan

Corn's name: Stimpy.

MegF.

That's for sale???

erisan

Corn's name: Stimpy.

SnakeAround

Formerly Blutengel