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strange corn behavior/appearance

Kethryanne

Kethryanne

New member
I saw what was called a bloodred corn snake today. But something looked very wrong to be a bloodred. I should have taken a picture, but forgot to pull out my phone and was in a hurry. So bear with me. What looked so wrong, was the head on this snake. It was flat, heart shaped from nose to neck. Very viper looking. It was a hatchling and did have corn snake markings but the head was just soooo like a member of the viper family. And I know it was a hatchling, so they can be nippy, but this was highly aggressive. Curled up in the "S" pose just striking at everything constantly. No tail rattling. Just straight out strike. Anyways, if anyone could give me some info on why the head might be so viper like I would be interested in opinions.
 
If it was striking everything maybe it's head was misshapen from the repeated impacts, jaws could be broken or something to make the head wider? just throwing out ideas
 
To me it sounds like it was doing the cobra. They flatten their head and strike.
I'm going to look and see if I can find a pic somewhere.
 
I agree that the head shape is caused by the behaviour - I've seen it often in very new hatchlings. Bless them, they do try to look so macho! My guess is that if you can catch sight of him when he's calmer, his head will be a standard Corn shape.

Remember that what you interpret as aggression is actually an extreme fear response. He's not trying to attack, he's trying to scare the big pink monster into leaving him alone.
 
Sometimes they'll flatten their heads to use the jawbone to pull themselves around. A critter with no limbs must adapt what it has for several uses. The jawbone is very flexible like Bitsy explained.
 
A scared corn will make its head look quite viper-like.
I've seen it in mine many a time.
 
The pet store person stated that the little one was always like that. While we looked at it, it struck closemouthed at the top of the container about eight times. It was hyper aggressive and they said it was like that all the time.
 
I see that that was more than likely the case. I knew they could be quite aggressive in trying to scare the big bad monster away from terrorizing them. I think that little guy was emotionally scarred into believing everything was out to get him. I had seen another neonate that day that was tail rattling and hissing and making the odd strike when something got to close. But that fella was just ballistic and did no hissing or tail rattling. Was kinda cute to be honest watching him try tell the world he was the baddest on the planet. I was just afraid he might hurt himself striking out everything like that.
 
I've had one of mine nose bump me many times and bite me once. It is really cute when they think they're so bad. Humans are conditioned into thinking that snakes hurt, even tiny corns with tiny teeth, and like puppies and kittens who can really draw blood. My sweet kitty was once the terror of the house, everyone had scratched up hands and feet from her blinding fast attacks. But I'm constantly asked if my snakes bite.
 
Dreamsnake said:
I've had one of mine nose bump me many times and bite me once. It is really cute when they think they're so bad. Humans are conditioned into thinking that snakes hurt, even tiny corns with tiny teeth, and like puppies and kittens who can really draw blood. My sweet kitty was once the terror of the house, everyone had scratched up hands and feet from her blinding fast attacks. But I'm constantly asked if my snakes bite.
Click to expand...

I know! Everybody is scared of a nothing snake bite, while they have big scary dogs and cats at home. Cat bites hurt and get infected and draw blood. Dog bites can kill you!

Corn snake bites might itch a little. If you feel anything!
 
Off Topic

BUT I have 2 rabbits....man can they ever bite!
007-6-1.jpg
 
I know a guy who lost the use of one of his fingers due to a bite from a rabbit. Sheared the tendon and then it got infected when it was repaired. Still rather not get bit by any animal. Although I have a few scars from training dogs. So I guess I'll get over a snake bite if I ever mess up and get one.
 
That's what my Dad said...he's fixed so Dad said he needs to be made into a stew, an expensive stew but he said I might as well get some use out of him, LOL

I know his moods now, took me a few bites but now I know how to avoid it...haha and yes he's fixed! He's just a brat.

Nanci....that pic is AWESOME...I've only seen Skittles do it once.
 
Oh and the whole purpose of me shwing off my war wound was I was petrified of getting bit by my itty bitty baby corn snake until one day the bunny latched on and WOULDN'T let go, I still have a scar on my hand.

I haven't been scared of Skittles since, I know her bite can't be anything like that and I lived to tell about it, hahaha.
 
Thanx Nanci that is exactly what he looked like except he was a bloodred. But the exact head shape. I didn't know they could do that. I wonder if he will ever learn it is ok to be handled.
 
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