Taming an adult?

[claire.chapman11]

Hey guys. Recently, I acquired a 4 foot adult male corn snake. When I met him, he was super nice. However, when we brought him home he turned into the meanest snake I've ever seen in person. This guy will stand straight up, hiss and tail rattle, striking repeatedly to the point where he's made himself bleed. I first attributed it to shedding, as he became super nice after he shed again, but I tried to feed him tonight and he freaked out again. What can I do? Is he just moody?

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[Karl_Mcknight]

if you act scared and show fear, he will pick up on that and continue.

Ultimately, you're going to have to handle him. (That's how you tame a snake.)

Some snakes act moody and mean until you actually pick them up, and then they chill out. A lot of corn snakes are like this. And if he does bite you, it's not the end of the world, but it's always good for a laugh.

My suggestion, buy a snake hook. Use the hook to reach into the cage and gently lift him, and then place your hand(s) under him. Once out of the cage he may be calm. But calm or not, you're going to have to handle him. He needs to get used to you, learn your smell and your feel, and he needs to trust you. Right now he is scared to death of you.

 

[Dragonling]

Another thing that could help your confidence is a nice pair of gloves. I have a pair of these in my closet, and I've usually used them when I've received an adult or larger subadult snake whose temperament I may be unsure of. Now I just use them whenever I just don't feel like getting attacked relentlessly by Felicity, either while cleaning her cage or attempting to tame her down. I don't think the latter will happen, tbh.

 

[BLKfly]

That's an awesome picture btw. A cloths hanger works as well, or draw is attention to something while you gently pick him up from the back of his body. He's not being aggressive or mean either, he is just being defensive because he is scared. It will take about a month of day to day handling tops for him to feel secure. I mean Imagine a big giant hand coming to pick you up, that's some scary sh*t lol

 

[jagodzinski]

I agree that regular handling is the only way to go. When you do so, you want to exude confidence and calmness. Remember if you do get bitten, you are much more likely to hurt him by jerking back than he is to hurt you. If you do decide to pick him up with your hand, try to come more from the side so he can see you, rather than being 'plucked out of the sky by a giant hand.'

Do you know anything about his prior history?

 

[hypnoctopus]

What are your temperatures in the cage? Sometimes being too hot can make them moody.

Otherwise, I agree with all the other suggestions.

 

[claire.chapman11]

85F on one side, 75 on the other. Thanks for the tips guys. I know nothing of his past except that he's 7 years old. I do have gloves so we will try that.

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[hypnoctopus]

Temps sound good, so that shouldn't be an issue. Does he have lots of hiding places to make him feel secure?

 

[claire.chapman11]

He definitely does. It's just weird to me how he'll be the sweetest snake in the world one moment, and straight out of hell the next.

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[axis1]

He definitely does. It's just weird to me how he'll be the sweetest snake in the world one moment, and straight out of hell the next.

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Straight outta hell, because he's probably frightened to death! Not that difficult to understand. Probably feels like a reggae band at a ku klux klan rally! If you love him you'll make him feel more comfortable.

BTW, :welcome:

I sincerely hope that you and your little sneaky one gradually and eventually bond like Abbott & Costello. Or Hall & Oates. Or Kim & Kanye. (I'm sure you get the point!).

In any case, please keep us updated! (He certainly is a beautiful snake, btw).

 

[claire.chapman11]

Straight outta hell, because he's probably frightened to death! Not that difficult to understand. Probably feels like a reggae band at a ku klux klan rally! If you love him you'll make him feel more comfortable.

BTW, :welcome:

I sincerely hope that you and your little sneaky one gradually and eventually bond like Abbott & Costello. Or Hall & Oates. Or Kim & Kanye. (I'm sure you get the point!).

In any case, please keep us updated! (He certainly is a beautiful snake, btw).

Yeah. Some days he's totally comfortable and others he just won't stop. I will try brief handling, maybe 10 Minutes a day or so every day for a bit. He's a beautiful guy.

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[claire.chapman11]

if you act scared and show fear, he will pick up on that and continue.

Ultimately, you're going to have to handle him. (That's how you tame a snake.)

Some snakes act moody and mean until you actually pick them up, and then they chill out. A lot of corn snakes are like this. And if he does bite you, it's not the end of the world, but it's always good for a laugh.

My suggestion, buy a snake hook. Use the hook to reach into the cage and gently lift him, and then place your hand(s) under him. Once out of the cage he may be calm. But calm or not, you're going to have to handle him. He needs to get used to you, learn your smell and your feel, and he needs to trust you. Right now he is scared to death of you.

He seems angry for a few minutes after coming out but then he calms down. Thanks for the snake hook tip.

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[daddio207]

Based on one pic there is NO way to say it isn't a corn snake BUT if you posted that pic and temperament and asked what kind of snake this is I would've said it is a yellow rat snake. Most aren't yellow. That's classic american rat snake behavior and most of mine live up to their reputation LOL.
I know some like mid 70's temps for a cool side but I like and keep high 60's as the cool side temp. Not that it is causing the snake's ill temperament though.
Some corn snakes (like humans ) are just not nice! I always get a laugh out of the deals Don S. gives based on the snakes bad personality instead of genetics haha....

 

[claire.chapman11]

Based on one pic there is NO way to say it isn't a corn snake BUT if you posted that pic and temperament and asked what kind of snake this is I would've said it is a yellow rat snake. Most aren't yellow. That's classic american rat snake behavior and most of mine live up to their reputation LOL.
I know some like mid 70's temps for a cool side but I like and keep high 60's as the cool side temp. Not that it is causing the snake's ill temperament though.
Some corn snakes (like humans ) are just not nice! I always get a laugh out of the deals Don S. gives based on the snakes bad personality instead of genetics haha....

You know, he does act just like the only yellow rat I've come in contact with lol. Pretty sure he's a corn but I'll upload more pics

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[claire.chapman11]

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[Karl_Mcknight]

he looks pretty happy and calm there. Try scratching him between his ears. LOL. Actually, my snake likes that though.

 

[axis1]

Nice selfies!!

Actually does look like a corn snake there, unless I'm not seeing something you guys are.

Either way, that's a really pretty snake! (Take it from an ugly person! When I was born, the doctor SLAPPED my mother! :eek1.

Lots of handling will probably (hopefully) calm him down. However, as daddio points out, personalities - or CHARACTER TRAITS, in beings that aren't PERSONS! LOL! - will tend to differ and aren't something that's always possible to interfere with. Nevertheless, patience & persistence on the part of the owner can certainly go a long way!

Just sayin'. :my2cents_01:

 

[daddio207]

Nice selfies!!

Actually does look like a corn snake there, unless I'm not seeing something you guys are.

Either way, that's a really pretty snake! (Take it from an ugly person! When I was born, the doctor SLAPPED my mother! :eek1.

Lots of handling will probably (hopefully) calm him down. However, as daddio points out, personalities - or CHARACTER TRAITS, in beings that aren't PERSONS! LOL! - will tend to differ and aren't something that's always possible to interfere with. Nevertheless, patience & persistence on the part of the owner can certainly go a long way!

Just sayin'. :my2cents_01:

Yeah it's a great looking corn


So Axis1 stop making me Google stuff and making me smartah.... LOL
BUT....
Yourdictionary definition,
Character traits are all the aspects of a person’s behavior and attitudes that make up that person’s personality. :shrugs:

BUT but.....

I just learned a new word :dancer:

ANIMALITY
Definition of animality
1
: a quality or nature associated with animals:

 

[axis1]

. . . ANIMALITY
Definition of animality
1: a quality or nature associated with animals:

Animality? Nice. Never heard of it, but it does make perfect sense! Trying to institute it into everyday language, not to mention my weathered, beaten, and somewhat damaged grey matter is probably gonna be like using only one porta-potty at a biker's rally! :eek1: (Don't really see the correlation, but what the hell! It sounded good!).

In any event, thanx for the new word! Never too old to learn (even though I HAVE been around since Central Park was in a flower pot, I'm not old enough to fart dust, YET!).

BTW, How ya been? :santa: