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Working with a shy snake

R

Rollis

New member
Hello all. I have a few questions about my snake, and was hoping you all could chime in a bit.

As you may (or may not) know, I got my first Corn as a rescue almost a year ago. He (or she, not sure) is an adult albino, and is absolutely beautiful. He had a rough past, and I don't even know the full details on it. He has never showed aggression, but is extremely shy. I almost never see him out being active. I gave him more secure hides to use, and he seems to be appreciating them over the previous half-logs he had.

Last week he didn't eat, because he was preparing to shed. That's normal. But now, a week later, I caught him mid day coming out of his hide to shed. He saw me and bolted back as soon as my back was turned. After I left the room, he must've decided it was safe to come out, shed, and defecate.

He'll come out of his hide when he smells food, but other than that it has to be completely dark or no one in the room. Anytime I try to handle him, he's trying to wrap his body around anything nearby to slither onto.

I've heard albinos can be less active, because their eyes are more sensitive to light. But what can I do to help him feel safer and less nervous all the time?

He has 2 tight hides, a bunch of cover to move between them, substrate deep enough to burrow into, and all the proper temps. I don't keep a light on his enclosure, he gets indirect light from the rest of the room.
 
Hi.

Maybe your snake is just naturally shy and gets stressed out when handled? All snakes are different - have different personalities - and tolerate more/less handling.

Not sure on the eye thing with albinos but my Amel used to always sit out in the open and chill all day - it didn't seem to bother him. He is a super curious snake tho and doesn't mind being handled.

On the other hand my Normal absolutely hates being handled and will strike and cling on to decor and hides, so I only handle her for feeding or when cleaning the tank, etc.

I think it just really depends on the snake, as no two are the same.

I would not worry too much about it, your snakes well being should come first and if that means no/ or very limited handling - so be it IMO. They don't really benefit from it anyways.
 
Weird, Both of my albinos, a snow and a creamsicle, come poking their noses out at the slightest movement near their viv. They frequently, especially the snow, lay puddled up in the open just chillin'. They are always always hungry, I don't really handle them much and the creamsicle really doesn't like being held but they still come out quickly when I'm around. You said he's okay during feeding, what is your routine at feeding time?
 
One of mine is terribly shy exactly like yours - has been all her life and I've had her since she was a hatchling. None of my others are like that. It really is an individual thing sometimes, which no amount of gentle handling will resolve. Eventually you just have to work around it for the good of the snake.

If yours had a rough start and learned to mistrust humans early on, then it could be a hardwired instinct that can't be undone.
 
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