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First handling today, couple questions

Corn Snake Fancier

Corn Snake Fancier

New member
Soo, I am going to hold George today for the first time, and was wondering if anyone has some tips to go about it?
Just lift up his hide and pick him up surely and easily? No hesitation and all.

Thanks for any tips given!
 
Just thought I'd mention that it has finally been 7 days for him to settle in, and last night he decided to look at me, flicker his tongue a bit, instead of ignoring me. =P

*Not sure how to edit posts.. heh*
 
Definitely no hesitation. I usually find that if I "surprise" them that they have less time to react. If possible, try to pick up most of his body, don't pinch him between your fingers by one coil. Kind of...cup him in your hand and pick up all his coils.
 
Did you feed him yet? You should get one meal into him, and let him digest, before starting to handle him.

When you go to pick him up, pick him up like you were picking up a clump of spaghetti noodles. Be very careful not to let him thrash around and whack into something or fall out of your hands. After you have him picked up and under control, then you can let him start to wind around your fingers.
 
I haven't fed him yet, because I was letting him settle for 7 days and was waiting until after wards. Should I feed him before first handling? (not counting moving him to the feeding tub)

So when he is in a "clump" I should just gently scoop him up from underneath? is what you guys are saying, and not just gently grab a part of his body to lift him up (that was how I previously had picked him up - before I brought him to my home).
 
I think you're worrying too much. (I'm guessing this is your first snake? :D) Put your hand under to support his body, and pick him up.

I'd probably go ahead and feed him now, give him a few days to digest, then start handling.
 
personally every time anything warm enters my snakes cage they look at it/me hungrily lol. so i do one of two things. either put ur hand flat and over their head which ive heard works even for problem snakes. or i touch them with an inanimate object and get them to crawl to break there feeding concentration then just scoop em up. but all in all for the most part you are over thinking in lol.
 
I have one rambunctious, flighty milk who I can ONLY pick up if I cup underneath him and scoop him out. It works best for me. =D
 
ZoologyGirl said:
I'm guessing this is your first snake? :D
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Yup, he sure is. ^^ Good guess!

arrowhd said:
I'd wait until after feeding. If this is a young snake it will be plenty hungry by now.
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He's an adult, and from what the previous owner told me he is 10 or 11 years old. :)

WHOOPS said:
then let him play to his hearts content lol :p
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I plan too! It has been torture waiting to hold him, but I'm sure he has appreciated it. So many noises and vibrations to get used to and all.

D02297227 said:
either put ur hand flat and over their head. or touch them with an inanimate object and get them to crawl to break there feeding concentration then just scoop em up.
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If I have any problems with him, I will definitely give that a try. :)

I was going to pick him up some food today, but since he only eats live mice the pet stores didn't have any in. So he will have to eat tomorrow. (I know, I know, everyone hates it, but he has been eating live all his life)
Does anyone have any ideas to switch him over to frozen??
 
It is hard to wait, I know. I am new too, got my first corn in October 09. It was especially hard for my 4 year old son. We basically waited 7 full days then just held him for like 2 minutes calming him down to put him in his feeding cup. And even after that it was usually just handling for 10 minutes before a weekly feed.

Now we still give him like 3 days after a feed of complete solitude, then maybe two times in a week not including a feed we will actually take him out for 20 minutes or so, and sit on the couch with him and let him have more exploring room.

Hope that helps. I know how bad you want to handle! I couldn't wait, but am glad I did! :)
 
Alright, so I waited the 7 days, and the 48 hours after feeding, and I finally held George!
I decided that I was going to gently move him out of his coil position so that it was easier for me (in my short experience) to pick him up. When I was picking him up I did my best to support his whole body, so he wouldn't be so frightened.

I'm happy to report that he did not bite me at all (didn't expect him to anyways, since he isn't a new baby), and he was a bit nervous but I can understand why. Even so he slithered around my hands and despite his nervousness explored and all that.

Soooo, I am really happy!!
I will try and get some acurate pictures of him, and his purty white belly. :D
Thank you all for your tips!
 
What i have learned is if you do get struck it does not hurt and also after being struck you should continue to handle snake, so that he is not led to believe that every time he strikes you will leave him alone. If he does happen to strike just continue handling until he calms down then return him to tank. Just wait you dont even know what you r missing and will probably have several in a short while. Cornsnakes are very addicting hobbie.
 
Aww congrats! Now you can hold him and hug him and everything *grins*. I'm glad he was a sweetie for you.
 
hdcrazy25 said:
What i have learned is if you do get struck it does not hurt and also after being struck you should continue to handle snake, so that he is not led to believe that every time he strikes you will leave him alone. If he does happen to strike just continue handling until he calms down then return him to tank. Just wait you dont even know what you r missing and will probably have several in a short while. Cornsnakes are very addicting hobbie.
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I have a question about biting actually. Ok so with cat bites, i know you need antibotiotics and sometimes with dogs asa well(i was bit by my cat and my hand swelled up like a balloon). Now with a snake bite, is antibiotics necessary? will anything other than a scratc happen when bitten by a corn snake?
 
from my understanding a fully grown corn snake will b lucky to break skin. Please take my advice as a grain of salt as i have only owned yearlings for about 6 months. If he is a biter try a set of gloves.
 
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