| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| n/a |
Posted - 10/08/2009 : 22:11:27
I have had zippy my adult female corn for bout 3 years now. But just recently during feeds when I go to get her out the viv,she keeps turning on me and has bitten me once.am I not handling her enough? Also I alternate each week between adult mouse and young chicks. It seems to be the scent of the chick that sends her wild. Does anyone else use chicks? If so, does your snake act differently? I'm starting to become affraid of her,which I really don't want! Please advise |
| 15 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| SexyBear77 |
Posted - 12/08/2009 : 14:34:38
if she worries you that much wear thick gloves or invest in a snake hook for removing her from the viv. |
| n/a |
Posted - 12/08/2009 : 14:08:29
I think the fact that they only bite on feeding days definitely points to the snake smelling the food and going into 'feeding mode' and then seeing the nearest moving warm thing as food!
Remember snakes have an amazing sense of smell, so even if the food item is defrosting in another room they will be able to smell it, especially if you've been near it then the scent will be on you - well done you now appear to be the largest mouse in history! 
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| eeji |
Posted - 11/08/2009 : 20:57:13
my lot only ever get handled when they get cleaned out, so i wouldn't worry about how much or how little you handle them. There will be some other reason for the striking.
Most likely is that she's just plain hungry if you give her chicks every other week - stick to mice, they don't get 'bored' of them because its their natural prey ;) |
| Remmy |
Posted - 11/08/2009 : 18:41:27
quote:
Originally posted by valentina
My heat mat is on the floor , I put a themo in today the temp is 75 degrees. I do poke the food to check that its defrosted, I worry about the food still being frozen in the middle. How many hours does it take? About 3?
If you are poking the food then she will be able to smell the food on your hands. I defrost mine by placing it in a plastic sandwhich bag and puting it in hot water, takes about 5 minutes and the food is warm. |
| SexyBear77 |
Posted - 11/08/2009 : 15:43:47
so do you have a thermometer in there all the time or just put one in every now and then? |
| lucifer |
Posted - 11/08/2009 : 14:15:29
quote:
Originally posted by valentina
My heat mat is on the floor , I put a themo in today the temp is 75 degrees. I do poke the food to check that its defrosted, I worry about the food still being frozen in the middle. How many hours does it take? About 3?
Ok is it controlled by a thermostat? You need a gradient of 21-30°C (70-86°F) from the cold end to the hot end.
This allows the snake to thermo-regulate itself.
If your poking the food with its feeding tongs that's fine but if you touch the food in anyway with your hands and then go near the snake its going to think your its next meal 
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| n/a |
Posted - 11/08/2009 : 12:57:59
My heat mat is on the floor , I put a themo in today the temp is 75 degrees. I do poke the food to check that its defrosted, I worry about the food still being frozen in the middle. How many hours does it take? About 3? |
| Kellog |
Posted - 11/08/2009 : 11:33:54
I always feed Kellog the same thing - mice - do they ever get bored or do they just think FOOD?! xxx |
| hillzi |
Posted - 11/08/2009 : 10:51:19
Mine is now striking me at dinner time. I have just moved up prey size from 2 fuzzies to a bigger one but now getting him to finish these bigger fuzzies as i got 3 left then onto smalls.
I agree off the chicks and try her on a small or medium mousie. it could be because she's hungry still, but i'd handle her every day for 20 minutes, and after she's fed leave her a day or 2. also don't handle when her eyes are blue. also it might be worth handling her in the evening/dark when corns are most active. mine usually comes out 8-10pm.
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| SexyBear77 |
Posted - 11/08/2009 : 10:47:39
is your heat mat on the wall or the floor? is it regulated by a stat? and do you monitor the temp with a thermometer (ideally a digi one)? if you dont know the temp then it could well be too hot for your snake, which causes stress. |
| Remmy |
Posted - 11/08/2009 : 09:51:31
Also dont handle the food, if you are handling it then Zippy can probably smell food on your hand. |
| n/a |
Posted - 11/08/2009 : 08:24:24
Admittedly I don't handle her daily prob 2-3 times a week for bout 10 mins. When feeding I fetch her out the viv onto a mat on the floor and hold the food with long tongs. She is striking at me as I try to lift her out but only on feed days. Maybe she can smell the food, maybe ill leave the food in the kitchen til I get her out. I will stick to mice from now on and handle her much more. Because the chick is so much bigger I thought I was giving her a better meal. The temp I don't know I have a heat mat fixed to one end of the viv.thanks for your help |
| lee2308 |
Posted - 11/08/2009 : 01:18:37
If it's happening with the chicks i would stop feeding chicks,snakes do like them and drive the into a feeding frenzy,another reason to stop feeding chicks is that the are a very poor meal,ok for getting non feeders eating but better off without them as they can become addicted to them aswell |
| Stumpy |
Posted - 10/08/2009 : 23:45:01
Are you feeding in the viv if so you may be giving the wrong info to the snake.
The snake will only strike if it is threatened or thinks it is food.
As for handling I handle snowy for about five minutes a day at the moment as he is only 1 month old. Both Sid and Tango get handled or 10 / 15 minutes a day depending on how active they are. |
| n/a |
Posted - 10/08/2009 : 23:27:10
Ive heard that Chicks arent as good of source or protein etc for a corn that a mouse or a rat.. also i believe that if a snake bites or strikes you did/or are doing something wrong, a snake would rather run from you than bite you, whats the temps? How often are you feeding? Are you handling her daily? It keeps them tame.. i have noodle out everyday for about 20mins and hes about a year old. i aint no expert but hope this helps in some what way :)
*Marc |
