Corn Snake Behaviour

[nazanova]

So yesterday I fed my Corn Snake 2 mice for the first time yesterday so today I wanted to spot clean his tank and make sure he hasn't regurgitated anything or even pooped already. So I checked the tank and when I picked up his hide he was under to check he was obviously very defensive because he was still digesting but he had positioned himself up in the corner of the tank so I couldn't put his hide back where it goes. Knowing he was not happy I didn't want to pick him up or use my hand to move him so I used my feeding tongs to guide him out of the corner, but then he started rattling his tail like a rattlesnake and striking it against the tank really fast to make a really loud noise! Even him shaking his tail by itself was loud! So I just wanted to know is that normal Corn behaviour and has this ever happened to any other Corn Snake owners?

[aaron_cg]

As a general rule of thumb, I don't mess with my snakes within 48 hours of feeding.

The tail shaking is to mimic a rattlesnake, and it is a defensive behavior.

With using the feeding tongs, he may of caught the scent of a mouse and went into a feed mode. Snakes are opportunistic eaters, and some species would probably eat everyday, if offered something everyday.

[nazanova]

As a general rule of thumb, I don't mess with my snakes within 48 hours of feeding.

The tail shaking is to mimic a rattlesnake, and it is a defensive behavior.

With using the feeding tongs, he may of caught the scent of a mouse and went into a feed mode. Snakes are opportunistic eaters, and some species would probably eat everyday, if offered something everyday.


Yeah I know I just wanted to check under his hide for anything regurgitated or pooped other then that I never mess with him. Oh good at least it's nothing to worry about or anything out of the norm. Yeah that's true he didn't strike or anything just did the tail thing which surprised me greatly! But thank you for your help and quick reply :)

[EL Ziggy]

My Cal King would rattle his tail when I first got him and my bull snake still does if you irritate her. Like Aaron said it's just defensive posturing.

[aaron_cg]

And I don't know if you've been tagged yet, but it doesn't hurt. Got tagged last night when I was doing my weekly spot cleaning.

Hell, my 4 foot retic tags me all the time, and it doesn't hurt.

Not saying go bit, but you eventually will, don't freak out.

[nazanova]

My Cal King would rattle his tail when I first got him and my bull snake still does if you irritate her. Like Aaron said it's just defensive posturing.

Ah good as long as it's just that. It didn't bother me was just a surprise and I don't blame him he hadn't digested his food yet so he would obviously be defensive. Thanks

[nazanova]

And I don't know if you've been tagged yet, but it doesn't hurt. Got tagged last night when I was doing my weekly spot cleaning.

Hell, my 4 foot retic tags me all the time, and it doesn't hurt.

Not saying go bit, but you eventually will, don't freak out.

I don't think I have yet lol like I think he's went in for a lil nip when I've first tried to get him out but haven't felt anything. I know it won't hurt at all, I'm far from being scared of being bitten haha

[CosmicOwl]

My adult corn who is completely docile still rattles his tail on occasion. It usually occures when he has a mouse in his face and Im spot cleaning his cage.

[nazanova]

My adult corn who is completely docile still rattles his tail on occasion. It usually occures when he has a mouse in his face and Im spot cleaning his cage.

Yeah I understand why he did it. He was still digesting his meal so I completely understand just never seen or heard anyone say it's happened to them before so I thought I'd double check with the wise snake owners on this forum lol. Thanks

[nazanova]

I have a quick question for you guys and seen it is about Behaviour I thought I'd use this thread. So my Baby Corn Snake is, not hard to get out of his tank, but he just doesn't really like it. Like he will go into a striker posture when I pick up his hide to go in and get him out for a handle, and when I touch him he will try and wriggle away. When I go in to get him i put my hand flat infront of him so he knows I'm not food and knows I'm not a predator from above and I'll leave my hand there for about 30 secs or so then I'll try to touch him but then he'll move away still in his threat posture so in the end I just pick him up from halfway down his body then support the rest of his body as I get him out. At first he's all over the place but as soon as have him in my hands he's very calm and cute but it's just getting him out. So my question is what can I do to make him less stressed when getting him out? Or is just because he's a baby he's abit erratic? I have heard people saying babies are more nippy and stressful but when they get older they mellow out. Oh and he had never bit me before he just does a strike posture.

[FluffyGerbil]

Sounds normal to me. Corns will be corns, each with a mind of their own. He's just a little scared, I'm sure. New snakes and babies tend to be. When I pick out corn hatchlings I typically avoid the ones that rattle their tails and try to strike. It doesn't hurt to be bit by a cornsnake, especially of that size, but I like babies that are easy to hold and not feisty from the get go. Regardless, corns are in general very docile snakes. With regular handling and good care he should get comfortable enough with you as not to feel threatened. Best wishes! :D

[nazanova]

I've also noticed that he loves to climb! I'm always catching him slithering along the edges of the lid of his enclosure but I know Corns are not arboreal snakes so any ideas why he's always doing it?

[EL Ziggy]

I've also noticed that he loves to climb! I'm always catching him slithering along the edges of the lid of his enclosure but I know Corns are not arboreal snakes so any ideas why he's always doing it?

He's looking for an escape route :)

[nazanova]

He's looking for an escape route :)

Ah see I was thinking that but I thought I'd ask just in case, thank you.

[kwhitlock]

I've also noticed that he loves to climb! I'm always catching him slithering along the edges of the lid of his enclosure but I know Corns are not arboreal snakes so any ideas why he's always doing it?

I've done a fair bit of reading on corns, even though they are mostly a terrestrial snake they have been found up in trees in the wild hunting or just getting out of the sun. But some snakes just enjoy climbing, each one is a little different. There's a member on here who has a Honduran, cage is really tall with this ridiculously tall limb in it, said that the snake regularly climbs all over it day or night. Even made a basking spot the very tip top for basking.

[nazanova]

I've done a fair bit of reading on corns, even though they are mostly a terrestrial snake they have been found up in trees in the wild hunting or just getting out of the sun. But some snakes just enjoy climbing, each one is a little different. There's a member on here who has a Honduran, cage is really tall with this ridiculously tall limb in it, said that the snake regularly climbs all over it day or night. Even made a basking spot the very tip top for basking.

Oh that's quite interesting I've never heard of Corns being tree dwellers. I'm currently planning his adult enclosure for the future so maybe I should include an object I can lean against the walls of the enclosure for him to climb on.