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Building the relationship or breaking it?

dextrous

dextrous

New member
So my three week old snake and I are going through some difficulties in our relationship at the moment.

When I let him seep out of his container with my hand present for him to land on, he doesn't mind getting a bit close with me, as long as I restrict movement to a bare minimum. So here I am thinking we're making a bit of progress as regards to handling in this case. However, I pet him while he's slithering around aimlessly in his container he gets super freaked out, even from the slightest brush against his body. I tried to make out like I'm a twig to him and just very slightly touch him when hes moving. This doesn't work at all and he goes into run-mode again.

Should I continue to pet him while hes in his container or just advance with my "seep-out-and-catch" technique? I am afraid that he will go into run-mode while I am handling him outside of his container, he is very fast and I have doubts whether I will be able to not freak out and catch him.
 
Well the snake is only three weeks old, and even if that's inaccurate and you're just saying you've only had it for 3 weeks the baby is bound to be a spaz.
It would keep them alive in the wild. I would really hold of on the "petting" when they're younger as they're very sensitive to how you touch them.
Also at this point your handling sessions should probally be short anyway, don't wanna stress the baby out.
 
Is he moving when you try to pet him? If not he may be sleeping and you frighten him. If your snake is still little you must look very big to him, try going at him from the side. It's my experience snakes tolerate being taken out better then be touched in their viv. Even my adults are better once out of the viv.
 
susang said:
Is he moving when you try to pet him? If not he may be sleeping and you frighten him. If your snake is still little you must look very big to him, try going at him from the side. It's my experience snakes tolerate being taken out better then be touched in their viv. Even my adults are better once out of the viv.
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Yeah he is awake when I try to pet him. I've had him two weeks but he is three weeks old. I don't know what you mean by going at him from the sides. Are you suggesting I pluck him from the container or rather scoop him up?


I am too much of a wuss to even take him out of his viv (unless hes in his hide and I can move the whole hide). When I tried to do that, he squirmed and went back into his run-mode. Should I do it anyway?
 
dextrous said:
Yeah he is awake when I try to pet him. I've had him two weeks but he is three weeks old. I don't know what you mean by going at him from the sides. Are you suggesting I pluck him from the container or rather scoop him up?


I am too much of a wuss to even take him out of his viv (unless hes in his hide and I can move the whole hide). When I tried to do that, he squirmed and went back into his run-mode. Should I do it anyway?
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I'm not a huge fan of handling little snakes, they don't like it and they are too flighty. However unless you have paper towel as bedding you shouldn't be feeding the snake in the viv. I do kind of scoop from the side, just think if you were his size and a dinosaur came down over your head, you'ld be scared too.
If you are worried about getting bit use gloves although a three week old corn can't really bite, you might not even notice the bite. Becasue teya re so squirmy and fast hold it over the viv the first few times, with your hands kind of in the viv. Let im glide between your fingers but never let him just go, because he will be gone in a flash. Good luck
 
I don't know the 'right' answer on this, but I'll tell you what I do.
When a young snake is new to my care, I always try to give it at least a week to settle in. That means no touching except to take him out when I clean the viv or feed.
After that when I want to take them out to hold/inspect/take pictures of- etc, I just grab them and take them out. They may musk, they may (very very rarely) bite, but they usually settle down pretty quick once they are in the hand. Just remember not to squeeze them when you are holding them. There's a trick to holding a squirmy baby- just go hand over hand and let them crawl through your hands. A grip will make them nervous.
I think the worst thing is to reach cautiously for the snake though, and then jump back when he moves quickly. Your confidence will build his, and if you are jumpy, he'll stay jumpy.

I def. agree with susang, you need to pick them up from the side, use a stick or somthing under a coil if necesary.

You'll be fine, I don't think they ever really build a relationship with you, they just start to realize that you aren't a threat and come to tolerate you eventually.

Also remember that you need to give them lot's of time to digest before you handle them. I get very little time to handle my young ones, just cause I feed them every 4 days, they are almost always in some stage of digestion.
 
Well I got him onto my hand, by letting the top of my container and placing my hand where ever he would tried to get out, forcing him onto me. This worked and he was on my hand crawling up my arm for a second or two.. Then I put my other hand on my forearm but he flinched, so I let him back into his home.
 
If you are trying to 'pet' him by chasing him around his viv you are definitely going to scare him. You are the same as any other big predator chasong him around.

And yes, it is amazing the confidence a pair of disposable gloves can give:)
Others have had luck by placing a worn cloth gloveor something in the viv with their snakes so the snake can get used to the scent.

From what I have read and experienced, if you are going to take him out. Just do it.

Aim for mid body (not head or tail) and gently take him out.

Yes he will flail and spaz...but as long as you remain calm he WILL settle in. Our 8 year old son is far better than I am...I think he just expects it to go well, knows a bite is possible but not likely and really loves thoses little critters.

Our new little caramel girl was like lightning and I thought she was going to break her neck she was whipping around so fast. Our 11 year old thought she was funny, he just sat there on the floor holding her making sure he didn't let her drop and within 3 minutes ( long 3 minutes) she calmed down and when he held her up to his face she hung upside down, like she was playing possum.

Now as long as we pluck her out gentle and quick she's fine (yes they will try to get away still)... but any hesitation and she takes longer to settle in because she gets more worked up.

But if you keep letting him go because he's a spaz then guess what? It worked, he got you to let go:)

Otherwise he is doing what he should, trying to get away from a predator:eek1:

Good luck! I bet if you are calm and sure of your actions he will be 50% calmer within a week:dancer:
 
I calmed mine down by just holding him when he was squirmy and not setting him right back down. Hold him and let him 'run' until he calms down. I like to scoop mine up while he's sleepy so he sleeps in my hand for a while, and gradually wakes up relaxed to my touch. It works really well. Although I sitll have to chase him when he's burrowing to get him out, he's really chill once he's in my hands.

It just takes time.


And to note, i feed every three or four days (depending on if he's gone to the bathroom yet) so he only gets handled the day he's going to be fed (pre feeding, of course). But he seems more calm if he gets to be calm, if you catch my drift.
 
Thank-you latest repliers. I think I'm gonna take the plunge and pick 'er up.

Pics will hopefully follow ;D
 
Do you know that snakes naturally flinch and twitch when you touch them? Even my big adults that love being handled do it, expecially the more gently I touch them. Snakes communicate with each other with flinch-like motions, when they touch. It doesn't necessarily mean "You're touching me and I don't like it," more like "you're touching me and I feel it."
 
Nanci said:
It doesn't necessarily mean "You're touching me and I don't like it," more like "you're touching me and I feel it."
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That's how my Cheerio is.
She does not mind being handled, in fact does not mind anything you do to her, and will come to your hands. She still flinches when first touched, and if touched on her side will push to that side.
 
Are you even supposed to 'pet' snakes? I think that constantly poking at the baby snake is obviously going to scare it, I don’t think the snakes going to enjoy it if you want to touch the snake just scoop it up from the sides and handle it. Don't keep going to pick it up and then putting it down and changing your mind cause this will scare the snake too.

I’m almost sure that the snake wont bite you and even if it did you wouldn't feel a thing and as long as you keep a hand on the snake it won't be able to run away either just don’t let it go. Make sure you have a grip of it all the time. You have a lot more control over the snake than you think and you will realise this when you get used to it.
 
dextrous said:
Well I got him onto my hand, by letting the top of my container and placing my hand where ever he would tried to get out, forcing him onto me. This worked and he was on my hand crawling up my arm for a second or two.. Then I put my other hand on my forearm but he flinched, so I let him back into his home.
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Hi, Saying this as nicely as possible, did you read what Tom wrote, no handling except to change water for 1 week, I say 4--5 days. This means no handling, touching, feeling, petting, nothing. You will stress your snake and he won't eat that is the last thing you want.
 
I agree with those who are saying that minimal handling of hatchlings is best. I don't handle mine at all recreationally, and even if I snap a few pics, it's when I'm taking them out for some other reason (e.g., feeding, water, cleaning). When I DO handle them, I just go in and grab them. I think it stresses them out to have a giant hand approaching and backing off, then petting or poking. Just get the "pick up" over with as quickly as possible. After the snake puts on a few dozen grams and is a consistent and trouble-free feeder, then you can try some handling.

I don't see it emphasized enough to potential new keepers that if frequent handling of your snake is important to you, then don't buy a hatchling. There are a hundred other reasons why potential new keepers should choose juvie-to-older corns too.
 
Roy Munson said:
I agree with those who are saying that minimal handling of hatchlings is best. I don't handle mine at all recreationally, and even if I snap a few pics, it's when I'm taking them out for some other reason (e.g., feeding, water, cleaning). When I DO handle them, I just go in and grab them. I think it stresses them out to have a giant hand approaching and backing off, then petting or poking. Just get the "pick up" over with as quickly as possible. After the snake puts on a few dozen grams and is a consistent and trouble-free feeder, then you can try some handling.

I don't see it emphasized enough to potential new keepers that if frequent handling of your snake is important to you, then don't buy a hatchling. There are a hundred other reasons why potential new keepers should choose juvie-to-older corns too.
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I agree too. I'll add that although some people may disagree with me I really feel that if a person wants something to pet then a snake may not be the best choice of animal to buy.
 
Nanci said:
You guys need to meet my snakes! It's all in how you raise them!
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We'll see how you raise and maintain them when you have eighty of them (and I'm confident that day will come, and not in the too distant future). ;) If I settle down to an evening movie, or whatever, it's usually after feeding a couple dozen snakes. By then, I've done enough handling for the day. My sister has a few snakes, and sometimes when I'm over she'll ask: "You want to hold Lily?" My usual reply is: "Are you kidding me?"
 
We only have 5 snakes & ALL have been handled a lot since babies. For us more is better. My guys are calm, loving pets. And just that...family pets. I have 3 young kids who handle them & it is a must that we have gentle, easy going snakes. They weren't like that in the beginning. At 3wks old I did majority of the handling. Now my oldest Corn 9mths old 135g I can go into his viv & rub him w/ my finger & he just flicks his tongue. I say if you have a pet give em time they will settle & handle as much as possible. Our Corns enjoy coming out & even will come out of a hide when they hear me or my daughter (who the snakes just love her voice). So patience my friend in time you'll have a wonderful relationship w/ your new little friend. :)
 
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