T O P I C R E V I E W |
Joker |
Posted - 12/06/2011 : 19:37:56 Following the tragic loss of my first snake, a beautiful little corn, I've bought myself another little one to keep me company. He/she (not sure yet) has no morph as far as I'm aware, just brown with dark red patches.
Unfortunately, despite being in my old snake's viv (which she was always fine in) and and having had time to settle in, they won't let me get close. They're very bitey, and goes for me as soon as they sees my hand, and is pretty relentless even if I wear gloves and persevere. They weren't like this in the shop, or on the day I bought them, and to be perfectly honest, it's gotten me very down - I'm scared that this conflict is going to lead to me never loving the new snake as much as my old lost snake.
Any advice, guys? I've put a shirt of mine in their viv to try and get them used to my scent, but no luck yet. |
18 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
Joker |
Posted - 14/06/2011 : 18:16:58 Yeah, that's why - she appears to be female now, on closer inspection. Managed to handle her for five or ten minutes today before she got annoyed and struck - although with nowhere near as much vehemence as before. I'll keep it up, looks like I'm on the right tracks :) |
PureLoneWolf |
Posted - 14/06/2011 : 08:24:28 quote: Originally posted by tomp33
Why do you keep saying them/they if there is only one?? Also, just keep handling it and it will get better slowly :)
Because it is gender non-specific and is nicer than saying "it" all the time. The OP said that the snapster hasn't been sexed.
:) |
tomp33 |
Posted - 14/06/2011 : 07:07:51 Why do you keep saying them/they if there is only one?? Also, just keep handling it and it will get better slowly :) |
Joker |
Posted - 13/06/2011 : 22:01:48 Thanks, you've been a big help in this thread, I owe you one. What about the point I brought up, will it have any effect on his calmness? I feel like a bloody fool here, I've had reptiles since I was nine years old (leopard geckoes, then a bearded dragon), as well as pretty much every other pet under the sun, but I've never had so much trouble understanding an animal as I have had with this snake! |
lotabob |
Posted - 13/06/2011 : 21:43:06 If it bites you hold still purely to avoid a mouth injury (to the snake), their teeth are quite delicate and should you rip a few out by pulling your hand away it can cause complications. |
Joker |
Posted - 13/06/2011 : 21:33:43 Sorry for the double post fellas, just got a quick question - if the little snake bites me, and I hold my ground rather than pull away, is this more likely to stress it out, or calm it down? I've worked in a zoo before (believe it or not, with my disastrous handling of snakes...), and different animals seem to react differently to the whole backing off / standing ground thing. Or am I over thinking this? Haha. |
Joker |
Posted - 13/06/2011 : 19:36:07 Well, I think I might have partly figured it out - today, s/he's going very pale around the face - looks like they must be getting ready to shed, and I've moved them into a new viv and environment at an inopportune time. Poor little sod - I'd be angry too. I'll see how they feel after their next shed, hopefully they'll have calmed right down. |
lucifer |
Posted - 13/06/2011 : 14:32:06 As the guys above have said, give him some more time to get used to his surroundings. Make sure he has plenty of hides and places to go in the viv. And most importantly patience patience patience, patience with yourself and patience with your snake. Zero our Blizzard was snappy from day one and still has his moments now and again! Its taken a while to calm him down.
|
kdlang |
Posted - 12/06/2011 : 21:57:14 It might be better to leave him a few more days to settle in. just keep with it and im sure he will settle down for you. |
herriotfan |
Posted - 12/06/2011 : 21:19:00 Keep going and just give him more time. It takes some longer than others to settle. He may not have been handled much before coming to you..... |
lotabob |
Posted - 12/06/2011 : 20:57:19 Sounds like a lovely little character. I bet he's a great feeder. |
Joker |
Posted - 12/06/2011 : 20:42:33 Hehe yeah, I'm sure he's a corn, he's just a tough little bugger! He can't break the skin, but he's putting some force behind those bites, which is actually pretty damn cute. |
lotabob |
Posted - 12/06/2011 : 20:31:12 You sure its a corn snake, lol. |
Joker |
Posted - 12/06/2011 : 20:23:42 Maybe I'm just expecting too much from the little guy because my old snake was so very docile and gentle. And hey, I'm proud of them for having such a strong bite at such a young age, felt it through a leather glove! Thanks for the advice - I'll leave the shirt in for a while, take it slow, maybe just bear a few bites and hold them for a while to see if it helps! |
SexyBear77 |
Posted - 12/06/2011 : 20:03:09 You said it all in your title- very snappy *little* snake. Little snakes must be defensive to protect them from big predators- us.
Provide with a smaller setup if need be, plenty of hiding places, foliage and privacy, and leave it a while longer to settle.
And remember, you are scaring it much more than it is scaring you. |
lotabob |
Posted - 12/06/2011 : 19:53:04 It might not have been handled a lot before now, I'm afraid there is no quick fix, patience, and persistence should in time calm it down. Once they are up they are usually calm anyway, just be quick and avoid the sharp end. |
Joker |
Posted - 12/06/2011 : 19:48:37 The snake is ten months old, not a hatchling. They live in a viv with a heat mat at one end, a warm and cool hide, and a light for viewing - like I said, another snake lived in there quite happily before. They were given 4 days to settle in, which I assumed would be enough. I haven't noticed any colour fading or cloudy eyes, which is why I assumed it wasn't due to a shed.
It's quite upsetting, as my previous snake was okay to be handled from day 1, and never tried to bite. Sorry if I sound a bit panicky here, but I don't want to be 'put off' the little guy cos of this. |
lotabob |
Posted - 12/06/2011 : 19:44:35 Could you give some more info about the snake (age etc) and your setup. Its likely its a hatchling, and thats just what they are like until they get used to been handled. Also how long have you had it, they need to settle in as moving is stressful, also might be due to shed which also makes them grumpy. |