Bitten

lexi · 02-21-13, 09:11 PM

Hi there,
I have a corn snake and have had for about 5 years, never had a problem, handle often.
So a friend of a friends asked me if I could take his corn snake off him since he is moving far away yadda yadda. I was told Sid was friendly, handled often, great snake.

Okay so I first of all stupidly believed this person.

I get snake home, I just brought him tank and all, and wait, and wait and wait not wanting to disturb Sid and when he finally came out I discovered...
Sid is a milk snake. He is about 2 feet long. He does not seem at all disturbed by my movement outside of the tank but when I opened the lid he was not happy. I didn't plan on handling him right away but did give him a mouse and let him be.

Three days go by. No milky eyes, no signs of a shed. I open up and sink my hand into the tank. Sid retreats. His behavior seems odd to me so instead of picking him up by the middle as I would with my snake I go behind his head and scoop the rest of him up with my other hand. He keeps trying to turn his head toward my hand and I wondered if I might be freaking him out by my handling him in that manner. I let go and he fricken bit me.

I don't know if I just scared him but I don't think he is the nice, often handled snake I have been told about. I would like some advice on how to get him used to handling. He is beautiful and I'm not just going to give him away or give up on him.

Please help.

alessia55 · 02-21-13, 09:14 PM

Next time, pick him up by the middle, not by grabbing his head. Go slow, keep handling sessions short, and take deep breaths. Remember, he is afraid of you because you are a large predator. You will earn his trust slowly

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nick654377 · 02-21-13, 09:31 PM

my boa i picked up in the beg of this month was very striky. hense his name el diablo. i couldnt get near him with out him striking at me. only was able to move with the hook. now i can grab him out with the hook and handle him and he is completly calm in my hands. i am still tense waiting for a strike but he is calm as can be. i handled every other day for 5-10 minutes and that was it. he will calm down with handling.

dinosaurdammit · 02-21-13, 09:34 PM

I wear a wash cloth on my waist band and when i remember it I drop it on top of the set up every day, snake seems interested and associates the smell as being common and not a harm. JR was kinda strikey and this worked. Have you tried just getting him used to your smell?

Ms. Medusa · 02-21-13, 09:41 PM

The only way to get him used to you is by repeating short non-threatening sessions with him. With a really nervous snake or nippy one I often let them come out of their enclosure on their own--and then offer my arm as a 'branch' of sorts. After they have crawled about on you a bit on their own terms-- it seems they often will transition over a period of time. Just keep trying. And even if he nips a bit-- and it isn't pleasant...the more you let him know you aren't deterred by his biting (which is likely to try and get you to go away) he will stop.

With my BP hatchlings which can be excessively nippy at times cause to them I'm just a BIG pink thing that wants to pick them up to eat them! If they are not seeming to calm down-- I will put my balled up fist on the bottom of their habitat in front of them (the back of the hand towards them) and allow them to strike at it. Presenting the back of the fist gives them no real area to grab onto, they can't wrap it--and they aren't wanting to eat--they want me to go away. It isn't in a threatening manner but they finally get that I am not going to harm them, and I'm not going away..and their biting isn't really bothering me... A friend of mine that has been breeding BP's for around 30 years suggested it once, and it has worked well with some of my more nippy babies that I have tried to prepare for being handled by new owners...

SnakeyJay · 02-22-13, 01:31 AM

Are you really surprised that a snake has bitten you.. This is something you have to accept as a part of keeping snakes. If a snakes calm that's a bonus, if not then its doing what a snake does.. Defend itself.

To be fair if u grab him behind the head then I'm not surprised he bit you, even very tolerant snakes won't enjoy that being done to them.

Lankyrob · 02-22-13, 03:45 AM

Am i the only one confused that this is in the hognose section?

SnakeyJay · 02-22-13, 04:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lankyrob

Am i the only one confused that this is in the hognose section?

Ha, I didn't look where it was..

Lankyrob · 02-22-13, 04:03 AM

I was expecting to see a nice hoggie bite and associated swelling/reaction

ilovemypets1988 · 02-22-13, 04:41 AM

milk snakes being king snakes, are usually fairly snappy anyway, but what i suggest you do is leave your hand in the enclosure, just sitting there for 10-15 mins each day, he will associate your hand as part of his habitat and will accept it with time.

or just do what i used to do, just go into his enclosure full of convidence and pick him up (by the middle) and just let him roam around ur body, if you sit down while you do this, have him on ur lap while keeping an eye on him, when its time to put him back into his enclosure, just scoop him up.

but remember this, being a king snake, any smells such as other snakes, food items or anything really will set him of into a feeding response that will lead to you getting bitten, i suggest you wash your hands with none scented hand wash, before you go in his enclosure and again afterwards

Ms. Medusa · 02-22-13, 05:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snakey-Jay

Ha, I didn't look where it was..

Ditto! lol

alessia55 · 02-22-13, 06:54 AM

It's in the Lampropeltis section now

**Pareeeee** · 02-22-13, 08:53 AM

New snakes can be jumpy at first, since they are trying to adjust to changes. I suggest wearing gloves at first if you're afraid of getting bit, and once he's used to that, then try bare-handed. Also don't grab behind the head again, and move slowly. I've heard that milk snakes are a little more bitey than other snakes to start with. It may take some time. Also try the scenting thing others mentioned.

Kettennatter · 02-22-13, 09:30 AM

It's essentially a king snake, let him bite you, it doesn't hurt much. I had a CA king who would bite the living daylights out of me and constrict on whatever had a pulse. Even with normal maintenance handling he is likely to calm down. Other than that: Move slowly and use a two-handed grip not too close to the head, just as the other posters said.

Trust me, you'll have fun. I now miss the adrenaline rush of picking him up.

Herpophiliac972 · 02-22-13, 11:17 AM

I wouldn't start by grabbing the head. It makes the snake feel immobilized, and therefore he becomes stressed out. The snake may seem aggressive at first, but once you have him in your hands he should calm down. It might also be that he is stressed from the move. Do you have him in the same environment that he was in before? If he was introduced to a new environment and subsequently handled in the next few days, he could become spooked after all the stress. After a while he should calm down. Handling him every so often should help to tame him. If he is being very aggressive, you may just want to leave him be for the time being. Good luck and hope this helped.