Handling for New Corn?

[BP_okay]

Okay, so I know there are lots of care sheets out there for corns, but my ? is about not stressing out a super shy corn. He is about 10 months to a year(20-22 inches).I have had him for about 10 days now. I gave him a week to settle in (no handling), fed him on day 7(he did great), and handled him for the first time tonight for about 5-10 minutes. He did pretty well, but he's so jumpy. He did calm down a bit but I could tell he was still uncomfortable. At first, I could see in the middle of his body where his body was expanding and compressing in and out pretty fast(maybe heavy breathing from the excitement). Kind of like we look after running really fast.

I was curious as to everyone's thoughts of a good handling schedule. I read on one care sheet that short periods of handling a few times a day, and after a week or so, they should get used to you, but that seems sooooo frequent, as I only handle my sand boa every 3rd day or so to avoid stress. How often do you guys think I should handle him to get him used to me, with out causing too much stress. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Traci

[Kmef07]

in all honesty snakes could care less if you handle them unlike dogs or cats. if you want to handle them i would limit it to once every day or 2 and only do it for 5 or so mins at a time.

[BP_okay]

Thanks. I just don't want him to flee like I have the plague everytime I try to pick him up. I just want him to get used to me. Thanks for your advice..really appreciate it :)

[BP_okay]

Oh, btw, I am aware of their lack of concern about whether we handle them...just want him to get used to me....without stressing him out. I heard too much can be bad for them.

Thanks again, Traci

* aren't you proud of me - I used a some more forum lingo ;)

[Chu'Wuti]

He may "flee like the plague" every time you reach for him no matter how often you do or don't handle him--some snakes just react that way. I snake-sat a Pueblan milk snake for over two years, and he always fled. My BP doesn't, but BPs have a different "personality" than colubrids seem to have. You might be able to handle this one for about 15-20 minutes every other day or so and get him to calm down over time, though, as he learns you are not going to eat him! ;)

and congrats on picking up more forum lingo! You're learning fast, Traci!

[Will0W783]

I have a Pueblan milksnake and she is very spazzy! She used to fly around her cage away from me whenever I would put my hand in there to change her water or to try to get her out. She also musked and peed and pooped on me a lot. Recently she has begun to become more tolerant of handling, but she is still very skittish. My male albino hondo is a cool, relaxed fellow though. Colubrids do tend to be faster and more skittish than pythons for the most part though.

[Kmef07]

my brb the other night when i had her out on the floor just faced me and was in a kinda threatening pose but then i picked her up from behind and she was fine. Later that night she shed so that obviously had something to do with it. Snakes are just kinda prissy sometimes. like cats but they don't claw you.

[Will0W783]

Yeah, the only way they can protest anything is with their mouths, so their only defense is a strike. My western hognose is getting ready to shed and is being a little d*ck. When I go in the room, he starts puffing up and hissing and carrying on...it's funny because he never bites, he just gets in moods...lol. Well, has never bitten as of yet- now that I've said that, he'll bite me next time I pick him up....jinxed myself..

[Chu'Wuti]

the only way they can protest anything is with their mouths, so their only defense is a strike.

Ahhh . . . they can also protest by musking you! Had that happen when I was actually wearing a fancy skirt . . . I knew I shouldn't have dressed up that night! I'm always happier in jeans! ;)

[Will0W783]

True, they can musk and pee and poop on you. I thought that was more of a fear response, but then again most strikes are out of fear too. I never wear anything nice in the snake room because I know all hell will break loose if I ever did.

[BP_okay]

Hey Guys,

Thanks for all your advice. It's good to know that colubrids are just that way. As an update to my first post, When I picked him up for the second time, he just stayed coiled up until I lifted him out of his cage slowly. He was still a little skittish, but seemed to calm down a bit. He's still a big hider and just likes to look at everyone from inside his "comfy little cocunut huts". I swear it looks like a little Hawaiin village in that tank. Kinda cute.

In regards, to jeans, I am with you gals. I haven't worn a dress in 6 mos., and couldn't be happier about that fact. Sandy, I hope it's still wearable. Btw, what are studying for. I saw that in another post. I am studying to be an actuary. Currently being a flight attendant just isn't cutting it for me :(

Regarding the milk snake, I really considered getting one instead of a corn, but the musking thing kind of was a deterrent. Mdh has crazy allergies, and I figured that would be a problem. Thx, again for all your comments. It's such a comfort to know that I didn't make a poor choice. He's seemed the most healthy out of the four the breeder had available ;)

And Kmef, I am certainly happy about the lack of claws. I think that's why I hesitant to add a large lizard to my collecion- although monitors and beardies are quite tempting.

[Will0W783]

Beardies are wonderful lizards and usually quite docile. I had one for 5 years until he got an infection that we couldn't beat even with repeated vet visits. I know many people who also have them and they are all docile, tolerant, curious little fellows. Claws or not, I wouldn't be hesitant to get another if I had the room.

[Chu'Wuti]

A number of the lizards are considered to have very nice temperaments--even playful. If I get lizards, though, I want them to stay small, like some of the Phelsumas, which aren't really handleable.

Let's see, I was wearing that skirt . . . ummm . . . about 1.5 years ago :) and it washed out fine, but I haven't worn it--or any other skirt/dress--since! I'm wearing my most comfortable pair of black Levi's 501s right now. Ahhhh . . .

and I'm studying communication--not devices, but how people communicate with each other, how technology & other factors influence the way people communicate about a variety of things . . . . how we construct our realities through communication. My personal interest is mothering & infant feeding & how they are influenced by social discourse & technology.

Strangely enough, in comm we discuss uncertainty and risk and how people communicate about them to reduce their uncertainty or to manage risk . . . and, Traci, you're studying to become an actuary, who also studies uncertainty and risk, just within a different context and from a different perspective! It's all related.

And snakes are a great break from all that!

My BP just came out of his warm hide and is peering out from under a pothos leaf . . . gotta watch for predators, you know! He ate a good meal last night.

TTYL! (Traci, that means Talk To You Later!) ;)

[BP_okay]

I looked up info on the Phelsumas, and they truly are adorable. I really love their bright green color, with hints of orange. I am sure there are some lovely morphs out there that I am not aware of.

Your studies sound very interesting. I have never spoken to anyone studying in that field. Would you apply that knowledge in a research setting or elsewhere?

It is kinda intersting that my actuarial pursuits are highly related to what we all love- the care of reptiles. But in your ring, your partly studying communication and technology and how they affect us in reality - funny, b/c we all share the love of reptiles and it helps us everyday in our realities to share and get info via the internet to keep our cold blooded friends happy and healthy :)

I am glad that your BP is enjoying his meal, and eating well. It's amazing how we bond with our reptiles. As, I've said before, I really feel as if they are my kiddos ;)

TTYL! (Traci, that means Talk To You Later!) - Thank you
Sandy! I need all the help I can get.

TTYL!

[BP_okay]

Beardies are wonderful lizards and usually quite docile. I had one for 5 years until he got an infection that we couldn't beat even with repeated vet visits. I know many people who also have them and they are all docile, tolerant, curious little fellows. Claws or not, I wouldn't be hesitant to get another if I had the room.


Willow, I am glad to hear your beardie is doing well know. I know I would be a nervous wreck if one of my guys got an infection. But, it certainly is good to know there are so many well informed and knowledgeable folks like yourself and Sandy. I hope to have one some day, but I think it would be an act of Congress to get mdh to allow a new reptile into the house. I think even a snow leopard gecko would push him over the edge. :) Oh well, I guess I can dream and plan over the next 4 years, when we finally move to a home and he'll have a paying job. (He's a perpetual Ph.D student in Economics.) Patience is a virtue I suppose ;)

[Will0W783]

Actually, he didn't pull through. It got in his bones and he had to be put down. It was a horrible two months for me, running him to the vet every week and seeing him decline. But at least I knew we did all we could for him. He was such a wonderful, smart and friendly little guy as most beardies are. I'd get another, but I've gotten into snakes and have too many to add another lizard. I also have a frilled dragon lizard- related to beardies, and really interesting. Btw, I'm not completely up on all the forum lingo (still learning) so what does "mdh" mean?

[Kmef07]

so what does "mdh" mean

something to do with someone's husband or boyfriend i think.

[Chu'Wuti]

DH = Dear Husband
MDH = My Dear Husband

[Will0W783]

Ah ok- I like DH. Clever, because if you aren't too happy with your husband at the moment, it could stand for something else..lol. Now I can at least understand posts that use those acronyms better! I figured it had to do with one's partner, but wasn't sure. Thanks Chu!

[BP_okay]

Willow, I am sorry to hear about your Beardie, and so sorry to have misread your post. I was just reading and posting too early I suppose. It really is easy to get attached those we care for and keep. I only started with snakes about 3 months ago, and I am so attached to the 2 little guys; it's unbelievable. The good thing is resting easy with the fact that you did all you could.

Regarding mdh=my dear husband you are right guys. I also read somewhere that it can also substitute for my dumb husband as well. I hate to say it, but I usually mean the latter. If you google forum lingo, there's a ton of the acronyms there(just in case you get stuck reading a post...as I have many times :)

[BP_okay]

Btw, frilled dragon lizard...you'll have to post a pic sometime. Sounds very interesting

[siz]

YOOOU HAVE A FRILLY????
Lucky devil!! I've wanted one for soo long but we just haven't gone there yet. Super, super cool creatures.
I'm sorry about your beardie, I know if anything ever happened to one of mine I would be devastated. Right now I think one of my females is eggbound, long story short my boyfriend had to move out of his house with no warning, and we had to move her to my friends house. Thing is, she was expected to lay that day...that was over a week ago :S
I'll be so upset if she gets eggbound because of this....

[Will0W783]

I get so attached to all of my pets. But Spike the beardie had a good life and she was happy and well-fed all the time. My frilled dragon Saphira is my only agamid now. My ex-fiance had one and I just adored it- so when I found her on craigslist I jumped on it and got her right away. She was skin and bones when I got her because the guy was keeping her in too cold of a room and she wasn't digesting her food or eating enough. She is slowly putting on weight and loves to frill out for me. I will post some pics as soon as I get the new camera working.:)

[BP_okay]

Great! I am really looking forward to seeing them. Just curious..since I am so new to the herp hobby, what is agamid mean...I wikied it and couldn't really couldn't figure it out....something to do with his coloring?? I am glad to hear she has a good mama and is in great hands now :)

Traci

[Chu'Wuti]

Traci, look at this link:

Agamidae - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agamidae)

Agamid is just a short form for talking about members of the Agamidae.

[BP_okay]

Thanks Sandy. I checked out the link and wow, that pic is amazing of the red headed rock agamid. I am going to research a little more to see how large they get. Nice looking little guys :)

[siz]

Red headed agamas don't get too big, smaller than beardies - lots of agamas are very very skittish though, these ones included. Not so much a handlable 'pet'. Lots are WC...really interesting little lizards though! They are so spunky, haha :)

[BP_okay]

That's definitely good info to know. I really want to add a new reptile(lizard/snake) in the next year, but I think I'll avoid those guys, as I already have a super shy corn snake and sweet/slightly shy sand boa. What I really want is snake/lizard that doesn't need to hide as much, but is also docile and doesn't mind being handled. I would probably lean more toward a snake, as I would prefer feeding them f/t mice, as opposed to live crickets. Size isn't too much of an issue. Anything that can fit in a 40 gallon would be fine w/ me. Have any suggestions?? Of course, this could be a combo that just doesn't exist in the reptile world, but a girl can dream :)

[Kmef07]

wow those things really are pretty the one on the wiki site. it is really cool looking.

[siz]

You could get a crested gecko! (just throwing it out there ;))
They don't need crickets or extra lighting. They can be fed off crickets, or fruit smoothie, or a meal replacement powder (MRP) a complete powdered diet called CRESTED GECKO DIET.
They can be very friendly and you can get them in a very wide variety of patterns and colours..and if the appearance of a crestie doesn't float your boat, their cousins also have almost exactly the same requirements and all eat MRP. (The rhacodactylus family - crested geckos, gargolye geckos, chahoua geckos, leachianus geckos, sarasinorum geckos.)
http://i449.photobucket.com/albums/qq220/siz_05/camerapictures186.jpg
awwwh! ;)

[siz]

wow those things really are pretty the one on the wiki site. it is really cool looking.

Yeah they are super neat when they are fired up like that, sometimes they are a dull grey/brown..I like them better blue :)