No reply on other thread so...

[nazanova]

I have a quick question for you guys and I did post on an older thread but no one replies so I'll start a new one. 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.

[Lankyrob]

Just being a baby snake, don't fuss around hm just pic him up straight away and he will calm down quicker.

[Mikoh4792]

I'd leave him alone. Snakes calm down as they age. I don't handle my snakes except for cleaning time and all but one are calm(because you will have the occasional snake that stays bitey whatever you do).

Let it get used to your presence when you change the water dish, clean it's feces/urine...etc instead of forcing it to a handling session. To him, you are a big monster that makes noise and takes it out of it's hiding.

[nazanova]

Originally Posted by Lankyrob

Just being a baby snake, don't fuss around hm just pic him up straight away and he will calm down quicker.

I thought so. Even that tactic he still gets pissed but I guess he's gotta learn to not bite the hand that feeds him.... Quite literally lol

[nazanova]

Originally Posted by Mikoh4792

I'd leave him alone. Snakes calm down as they age. I don't handle my snakes except for cleaning time and all but one are calm(because you will have the occasional snake that stays bitey whatever you do).

Let it get used to your presence when you change the water dish, clean it's feces/urine...etc instead of forcing it to a handling session. To him, you are a big monster that makes noise and takes it out of it's hiding.

Really? I handle him almost every day for 10-15 mins at a time because I heard that's the best thing to do to get him used to you? He's normally in his hides all day from what I see when I'm changing his water and checking his temps so no interaction there lol. He's not a shy snake though he's as nosy as ever! As soon as I come up to my room to watch TV or something he pokes his lil head out as if to say "What does this human think he's doing?" Haha so I guess it's just because he's a baby but from what you said maybe I should handle him abit less?

[Mikoh4792]

Originally Posted by nazanova

Really? I handle him almost every day for 10-15 mins at a time because I heard that's the best thing to do to get him used to you? He's normally in his hides all day from what I see when I'm changing his water and checking his temps so no interaction there lol. He's not a shy snake though he's as nosy as ever! As soon as I come up to my room to watch TV or something he pokes his lil head out as if to say "What does this human think he's doing?" Haha so I guess it's just because he's a baby but from what you said maybe I should handle him abit less?

I would say so. Snakes are not meant to be picked up and handled. They are solitary animals and do better when left alone.

Occasionally you will find a snake that is so mellow it doesn't really matter but for the most part, in my experience, snakes do better as display animals.

When a snake pokes it's head out of it's hide after you walk in, it's most likely the same as when you hear a loud bang outside and check to see what it is.

[EL Ziggy]

Originally Posted by Lankyrob

Just being a baby snake, don't fuss around hm just pic him up straight away and he will calm down quicker.

^^I'm with Rob on this one. I say just reach in and pick him up. Younger snakes are sometimes pretty flighty but he'll get used to you with consistent gentle handling. I only handle my snakes once or twice a week for about 5-10 minutes at a time but when I do pick them up its quickly and confidently. They usually chill out pretty fast.

[nazanova]

Originally Posted by Mikoh4792

I would say so. Snakes are not meant to be picked up and handled. They are solitary animals and do better when left alone.

Occasionally you will find a snake that is so mellow it doesn't really matter but for the most part, in my experience, snakes do better as display animals.

When a snake pokes it's head out of it's hide after you walk in, it's most likely the same as when you hear a loud bang outside and check to see what it is.

My only worry with him with not handling him so much is him becoming "anti-social" and becoming aggressive from lack of handling.

[nazanova]

Originally Posted by EL-Ziggy

^^I'm with Rob on this one. I say just reach in and pick him up. Younger snakes are sometimes pretty flighty but he'll get used to you with consistent gentle handling. I only handle my snakes once or twice a week for about 5-10 minutes at a time but when I do pick them up its quickly and confidently. They usually chill out pretty fast.

I think I'll have to do this from now on then. And maybe handle him less from what everyone has been saying. Thank you

[franks]

Originally Posted by Lankyrob

Just being a baby snake, don't fuss around hm just pic him up straight away and he will calm down quicker.

Yup. This. When you hesitate you make him nervous. It's like if someone were to lurk around your house you would grab the gun, but if someone walked straight up to your door you would not think anything of it. When you are doing cage maintenance just do your thing, but when you go to handle him don't delay. If he goes into the "s" pose or tries to hiss or rattle it is even more important not to delay. It will only reinforce the behavior.

[nazanova]

Originally Posted by franks

Yup. This. When you hesitate you make him nervous. It's like if someone were to lurk around your house you would grab the gun, but if someone walked straight up to your door you would not think anything of it. When you are doing cage maintenance just do your thing, but when you go to handle him don't delay. If he goes into the "s" pose or tries to hiss or rattle it is even more important not to delay. It will only reinforce the behavior.

Ok I tried this method out today and no surprise it was amazingly easy to get him out compared to before when id tip toe around him. He's also quite pre-shed I noticed yesterday so I got him out today to have a look. Thanks for the advice

[CosmicOwl]

I'm not an expert, but I think the hands off method works the best for defensive snakes. You need to build up trust and handle them as little as possible. And if you do need to handle them, I'd suggest using a hook to pick them up. I think it's a less frightening experience than being picked up by hand.

[nazanova]

Originally Posted by CosmicOwl

I'm not an expert, but I think the hands off method works the best for defensive snakes. You need to build up trust and handle them as little as possible. And if you do need to handle them, I'd suggest using a hook to pick them up. I think it's a less frightening experience than being picked up by hand.

I don't think the hook would be necessary but I will try not handling him as much. Thanks

[CosmicOwl]

Originally Posted by nazanova

I don't think the hook would be necessary but I will try not handling him as much. Thanks

It's not necessary, but I think it's beneficial.