Aggressive behavior during feeding?

[LittlePrince]

I use to feed my 4 month old corn snake directly in the tank (I have repti bark) but then I added some branches and tied silk plants around them so it's harder to get to my snake to make sure it grabs the food. Now I bought a plastic container with "frosted glass" looking sides and a solid lid. My snake doesn't want anything to do with the pinkies that I have been feeding it unless I hold it out for it to grab directly from hand. It won't eat the pinkie if I just leave the pinkie in the container.

During the last two feedings I noticed that my corn will sense my hand first before striking at the pinkie. Also, during the last feeding I observed my snake doing what I could only describe as "rattling" while it was gulping down its food. I'm sure it was being defensive because the lid to the container was off and I was watching it eat.

I'm thinking it's my fault for not immediately putting the lid back on the container after giving my snake the pinkie.

Also, please note that my snake was acting strangely before I fed it, which led to me thinking it was hungry. My snake was moving around in my hands a lot more than usual and when I put it down on my bed it raced away from me twice, which it has never done before.

The last few days my snake has been keeping itself curled up in a corner of the tank which is unusual because it usually hangs out in the branches.

Can anyone explain this behavior to me? I've never owned a snake before and have only ever held fully grown adults so I don't know much at all about snake behavior.

 

[bitsy]

Can anyone explain this behavior to me?

It's very young, so its behaviour will change as it grows up. It's like the difference between a toddler and a teenager only speeded up! You can probably expect further changes as it matures.

My snake doesn't want anything to do with the pinkies that I have been feeding it unless I hold it out for it to grab directly from hand. It won't eat the pinkie if I just leave the pinkie in the container.

How long are you leaving it in there? Sometimes they need to be left overnight and also don't like being watched by a potential predator (that's how it sees you at the moment) when they eat.

Also, during the last feeding I observed my snake doing what I could only describe as "rattling" while it was gulping down its food. I'm sure it was being defensive because the lid to the container was off and I was watching it eat.

Yup, that's a defensive "leave me alone" reaction. Your Corn wants to be left in peace to eat so don't stand over it. When you offer food, put the lid on and leave the feeding container in a quiet room where there's no noise or movement. Maybe even put an old towel over it to stop it seeing movement.

I noticed that my corn will sense my hand first before striking at the pinkie.

It senses your hand before the pinky as your hand is warmer and they hunt using heat. Try dropping the pinky into hot water immediately before offering it - that might get it more interested in eating the mouse than you!

Also, please note that my snake was acting strangely before I fed it, which led to me thinking it was hungry. My snake was moving around in my hands a lot more than usual and when I put it down on my bed it raced away from me twice, which it has never done before.

That's pretty normal behaviour to be honest. Again, I think it's just part of the growing up process.

The last few days my snake has been keeping itself curled up in a corner of the tank which is unusual because it usually hangs out in the branches.

Same again - more changes. In your place I'd maybe check that temps at the warm end weren't too high (they can get a bit hyper with high temps) and put a hide in the corner where he's taken to sitting (an old toilet roll or kitchen roll tube cut in half lengthwise will be fine).

Apart from that it all sounds pretty standard stuff.