• Hello!

    Either you have not registered on this site yet, or you are registered but have not logged in. In either case, you will not be able to use the full functionality of this site until you have registered, and then logged in after your registration has been approved.

    Registration is FREE, so please register so you can participate instead of remaining a lurker....

    Please be certain that the location field is correctly filled out when you register. All registrations that appear to be bogus will be rejected. Which means that if your location field does NOT match the actual location of your registration IP address, then your registration will be rejected.

    Sorry about the strictness of this requirement, but it is necessary to block spammers and scammers at the door as much as possible.

Taming a Grumpy Corn

L

Lucas

New member
I have a male corn that I got larger breeder and he dosen't like to be touched or held. He always strikes at me when I try to pick him up or change his water. Is there anything I can do to make him tame enough to hold? He has just started brumation. Will he be easier to handle as I warm him up?

P.S. How does anyone not pull away quickly when you are struck?
 
Lucas said:
P.S. How does anyone not pull away quickly when you are struck?
Click to expand...

Well, after awhile you kinda get used to it and just let them hang on...As far as taming him, the only way you can do that is by constant handling to show him that you are not a threat...You can leave one of your dirty shirts in his cage to help him get used to your smell...Other then that there is not much you can do other then moving very slowly and always picking him up from the side...
 
taming

I agree with Drizzt. the best thing is just to let him get used to you.





________________________
"Nobody tosses a Dwarf!"
 
if you have a front opening viv, just put your hand in and lay it close to where the snake is "hiding" as this let's the snake get used to you hand being in the viv, and what you smell/taste like.
 
I had the same problem. Adult male came from a breeder and wanted to bite me everytime I went in his tank. Remember, the only time some of these adults (that come from breeders) ever have their cage opened is when they are getting fed. I started dropping a small wash cloth over his head, and then I would pick him up. Once I got ahold of him, he knew I wasn't food and didn't try to bite. It took several months, and quite a bit of handling, but most of the time now he will not try to bite me.
 
Here are my suggestions....

Since you have had him six months (my thinking maybe he was new)
You need to set up the idea that food doesn't come every time the cage door opens (or screen slides), when I work with mean pythons- I try to take advantage of their night time feeding response- I ONLY feed after the sun goes down, all other cage activities- handling, cleaning, soaking etc happens during the day. Now- these guys are puppy tame and can be handled easily-(most people don't believe you can have a "puppy tame" White Lipped Python :rolleyes: ) I just leave them alone at night unless they are being fed. This method had also worked for my corn & rat snakes.
The suggestion from tai_pan1 is good! just gently cover with a wash cloth, and handle daily (except after feeding and I tend to leave them alone when they are in their blue phase since they are more sensitive) I also just, go in and gently get them out of their hides.
It takes a bit of time but it is well worth it if you want to handle your snakes!
good luck & keep us posted.

:cheers:
 
I have a couple of corns that will coil and strike...if you give them a chance to...

I usually pick them up rather quickly (YET GENTLY) when I open the cage...
Once they are out of the cage...they calm rather quickly...
Also you MUST be assertive and intentional with your movements...they seem to sense unease or hesitation and it will make them feel uneasy as well.

The only time I have ever been bitten was when I held my hand in tank for them to smell me...
 
my red albino corn snake is very egdy of me but i have had him for nearly 2 months and still has not bit me im thinkin that he might be saving it for when he or she is bigger might get another to calm it down a bit will that help?
 
Another corn...especially in the same enclosure, may actually make it MORE uneasy...

Snakes are generally solitary animals in the wild, and having them together may cause undue stress. Or worse...a possible cannibalism.
Just handle your snake on a fairly frequent basis. Always wait at least 48 hours after feeding it to handle it...and, depending on the snake, don't handle it when it is shedding (or preparing to shed). I have some that don't mind being held when they are "in blue" and others that really stress out when they are. The only thing to calm it down...it repeated handling...and even then some snakes never get accustomed to being handled. Most do...especially cornsnakes.

Make sure you get it out of its enclosure when handling it...some of mine are sketchy until they are out of their normal environment...and then they calm right down.
 
My post above was actually directed at you, Tezza...

And 9 minutes isn't very long to wait AT ALL for a response on a forum. :rolleyes:
 
Waw. I am starting to think my snake is really tame compared to you guys. I will sit and read and just have my hand dangling in the cage and she will come out and smell it. Also I hand her the mice a lot of times and even if they smell like mouse (because the mouse insides dripped on my hands) she will never ever bite me. I love my Circe! ...i know. i can't help but go on and on about her :)
 
Sound like my little snow that Razorblade Jinx, she will take a mouse off my hand and has never yet even looked like striking me, my amel on the other hand, thought everything was dinner when i first got him.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top