Adult Corn Is Always Angry

[GhostEchoes]

Hey there,

So I have an adult amel corn snake, which was given to me secondhand by a family member in 2017. My wife suspects that he is about 4-5 years old now, and the poor dude has already been through four homes (I’m his fourth). Everything I’ve read about Corns says that they’re docile, easily handleable and great beginner snakes. Well, my guy, Salazar, must have read the species description for a Cobra because he wants nothing more than to strike at me whenever I have to get into his tank for anything. I’ve treated him like a king since I brought him home, he’s in a 18x18x24 ZooMed front loader with two water bowls, climbing vine, several fake plants and an appropriate sized hide. He’s on a mixture of 75% Cypress, 25% Coconut Fiber, and digs tunnels in it like a champ. Has belly heat and gets basking light, and I mist his enclosure for extra moisture weekly which he LOVES. Get a large mouse a week and is fat and happy. However, if I go near him, he’s all teeth. He’s actually nipped me twice.

I guess what I’m getting at is, has anyone else had or heard of a Corn Snake who is just angry all the time, and seems to go against what they’re “supposed to be like”?

Thanks in advance. I also have two ball pythons who are sweet as pie, and a leopard gecko who might as well be a dog. I’m not new to reptiles by any means but he is my first Corn Snake.

[EL Ziggy]

Is it possible he's still hungry? A large mouse weekly for an adult corn is a pretty small meal imo. I'd try offering him a small rat or even 2 mice every once in awhile. I don't keep corns but I figure there's always gonna be some snakes with bad dispositions. Most of them tolerate us pretty well but others just want to be left alone. Have you tried hook training? It's helped me with a few snappy critters.

[GhostEchoes]

He’s wayyyy too small for a small rat. He’s not girthy enough for it. I have considered giving him two large mice at a time though. I have also started hook training with him as well which is helping me not get snapped at.

[craigafrechette]

A large mouse weekly is plenty for an adult corn.

Did I see correctly there's only one hide?? Maybe adding a second hide may help. It's pretty standard to have a cool side hide and a warm side hide. That may help his stress level and in turn mellow him out

[GhostEchoes]

I will try that too. I recently started misting him a little heavier again, and he seems happier now too. So maybe he just needs a little tweaking.