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Best way to make him less skittish

N

nightmaredisco

Beardie pro, snake noob
Hello all,
Just got Frost yesterday and he is adjusting to his new home. I am not handling him much at all for now, but he is pretty skittish. Like, he backs away if his head is by the glass and my foot comes near. He spent most of yesterday wandering around and glass dancing and stuff like that, but today he seems more interested in hiding. I'm totally new to corn snakes and I am just wondering what is normal and what to expect. I assume he will calm after we have more encounters, yes?

Thanks
 
It is normal for a new snake to spend some time making sure the new home is escape-proof. I let a new arrival settle in for five to seven days before attempting to feed. After the first meal, which is smaller than the snake would normally eat, I let it digest for three days, then, if the feeding went well, start short handling sessions. if the snake refuses to eat, or takes a long time, I don't handle until good feeding habits are established.

After he settles in you will most likely see him the most in the evening and very early morning. It is an odd cornsnake who is out in the middle of the day, though some are. If you have lots of leafy vines in his home, you are more likely to find him resting out in the open, hidden in his vines, where he can observe you.

Baby snakes shed about once a month. This means that for about 10-12 days out of the month he will be in the shedding process and will remain hidden 24 hours a day. I do not feed while the snake is "blue." This generally means that a baby snake on a five day feeding schedule will miss one or even two feedings about once a month. Snakes do not want to be bothered while they are blue.

After your baby is settled in, he will probably be more inquisitive when he sees you outside his viv rather than afraid.
 
Hey, I've been having the same problem. I've had my little guy for two weeks now, and he's still afraid of me. He seems ok once he's up in my hands, but is still nervous and slithers away when I come into a room.
 
I imagine it will take more than a couple weeks. Especially since we are restricted on holding them so much during that time. I hope your little guy warms up to you and mine to me :)
 
My two corns played tag with me before I learned the proper ways to pick them up. You can't be hesitant, just scoop them before they can react. I've only been bitten twice, in the snake's defense I was late with dinner and most likely smelled like mice.
 
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