My snake hates me

[anderson110]

Maybe this is just normal snake behavior, but it's a little bit of a downer.

My snake clearly dislikes my presence. She flees the sight of me every time I come into the room and she's not in her hide.

I handle her most days, but she cowers as I go to pick her up, often covering her eyes with her body. Which is kind of cute, but also a little sad.

I think I may be expecting too much for a snake not to fear a human and dislike contact.

What are your thoughts?

 

[SteveAlbert]

Seems okay to me, especially if she's a young one. They get more confident as they grow. How old is she?

 

[anderson110]

Seems okay to me, especially if she's a young one. They get more confident as they grow. How old is she?

About two I think.

 

[Amanda47]

He's never going to love you. They generally don't like being touched (when in their viv), and aren't comfortable seeing huge animals (you) moving around them. One day he might be comfortable enough to lounge around outside his hides, but for the most part, he's going to hide. Survival instinct tells him to run away from you. Some corns are just nervous, some aren't. Get another one

FYI, his viv is what he knows best and is his safe place. When you disturb that, he's going to show signs of being disturbed. Once out of the viv, he should calm down quite a bit, eventually roaming around and exploring.

Spend some time just sitting in front of the viv and watch him, or read a book/magazine. He'll get used to you being around.

 

[Phruit Dish]

Do you talk to your snake? I found this to be very helpful. My viv is set up right beside my couch (aka "study central"), so my presence is a regular occurrence, night and day. I suspect regular presence, even without handling, may allay your snake's fears.

I also modified some interaction tactics, translating them from feline language, to engage my corn in "conversation," and the response was phenomenal. We bonded quite strongly, and my corn created a version of "hide and seek" to mimic what I was doing. The technique is not unlike peek-a-boo with a young child. It was most important to find out what expressions inspire fear (like an open mouth) versus those that open interspecies dialogue (like a head tilt that looks a little like burrowing behavior to them). I don't know if this is something you'd be willing to try or if it's the thing that will initiate a bond, but I offer it in case it helps. I can give you more details if you're interested. If you do try it, keep a keen eye on your corn's body language, and good luck!

 

[JentherophisGuttatus]

He's never going to love you. They generally don't like being touched (when in their viv), and aren't comfortable seeing huge animals (you) moving around them.

I would disagree slightly; he may not "love," in the truest sense of the word, but snakes do clearly show preferences and likes/dislikes for people. My corns love being touched; they lick my nose and come right up to me whenever I open their cage door. Sometimes all I have to do is hold out my hand, and they'll crawl up onto me freely, and not get off until I pry them off a few hours later.

I think I may be expecting too much for a snake not to fear a human and dislike contact.

Honestly, just keep working with your little girl. The majority of corns will learn to like you, if you just keep working with them. My three-year-old girl was nervous around me for a while, but she soon calmed down. Your snake is only two, she has plenty of time to learn how to not be afraid. All of my snakes are totally unafraid of me(they know I'm the one with the rodents, lol); give it time. She'll eventually warm up to you, if you keep handling her regularly.

 

[TheFrogman]

I have always been laughed at when I state that my snakes like me, furthermore I have always been told that snakes have no emotion and that they purely "tolerate" us.

Well this may or may not be true, I don't know but I will say that some of my snakes are much more friendly than others. My Rosy Boa seems to get excited and happy when I handle her to where my Corn doesn't seem to like it, my Python seems to be in the middle of the road.

But is we as owners want to think that our snakes love us, then good for us and don't let others shatter our hope.

 

[spyderk]

This makes me glad to have a few snakes, because you can see how different they are. I have 1 corn out of 4 who seems to like people. You open his bin and he comes right out to you. Two of the corns are pretty neutral, not showing much for fear or interest in you. The other corn is the opposite, fleeing, trying to coil around anything in her bin so that you can't unwrap her and take her out.

 

[TheFrogman]

This makes me glad to have a few snakes, because you can see how different they are. I have 1 corn out of 4 who seems to like people. You open his bin and he comes right out to you. Two of the corns are pretty neutral, not showing much for fear or interest in you. The other corn is the opposite, fleeing, trying to coil around anything in her bin so that you can't unwrap her and take her out.

So true, Im also glad not only do I have a few snakes but different species to compare

 

[spyderk]

So true, Im also glad not only do I have a few snakes but different species to compare

Yes, that too. My Cal kings are more curious and out much more often than the corns. My Pueblan milk snake is often hiding but lately he is cruising around in the evening and not acting afraid of me when I am right there watching him, so that's cool. I have only had the black milk snake for a few days, so who knows what he'll be like!

 

[anderson110]

Do you talk to your snake? I found this to be very helpful. My viv is set up right beside my couch (aka "study central"), so my presence is a regular occurrence, night and day. I suspect regular presence, even without handling, may allay your snake's fears.

His viv is right next to my computer in my office, which I usually spend an hour or two at per day. So that should help some over time. I do sometimes wonder if the keyboard is bothersome to him, though.

 

[anderson110]

Get another one

Gonna have to let my wife get used to the snake for awhile before suggesting another one.

But don't think I don't have designs on hitting next year's show to have a look. :cheers:

 

[Lt. Dan]

I'm still working with my snow corn too. The "Chancellor" prefers to hide and doesn't show himself much at all. But once I have him out of his viv he seems to enjoy just relaxing and observing things while being held. The "Captain" however comes right to my hand when I go into his viv and doesn't want to go back after a handling session. My "King" has never been shy and is always ready to either be handled or go exploring. It's a matter of adapting to each snakes personality.

 

[Phruit Dish]

His viv is right next to my computer in my office, which I usually spend an hour or two at per day. So that should help some over time. I do sometimes wonder if the keyboard is bothersome to him, though.

It's possible that the vibration from the keys may be an adjustment. I've read that corns are quite sensitive to vibration. Just give him time, encouragement, and love. The more you're there, the greater his opportunity to get used to you. I am about to go through the process again with a new baby corn, so if you ever need any encouragement or if there's anything I can do to help you out, please do let me know! Until then, I wish you good luck on this journey!

 

[anderson110]

The last couple days Reggie has come out of his hide while I was at my computer and poked at the wall of his viv in my direction.

It looked like he was curious to see what I was doing, or maybe has just started associating me with being fed. In either case, if feels like definite progress from him fleeing my presence in the room.

 

[neworleansvamp]

I have my 4 scale babies...al corn snakes. They all react to me differently, my Lava female is my fiesty one. She takes a few to calm down when I take her out of her tank. I would agree with the statement that they tolerate us...sure we are their meal and water source but also we are the big, scary creatures who come around and disturb their peace..lol. Everything takes time, keep at it and I assure you everything will calm down nicely.

 

[NH93]

If your snake just slithers away from you when in fear, that is the best you can expect! When I first got my girl, she attacked me. Ruthlessly.

Now she's my little buddy. Just the other night my partner and I walked into the room and she was out, looking through the glass. I went up to her and started talking, and she didn't move. As soon as my partner got near her after I'd moved away, she slunk backwards. We did this again to see what she'd do (so with me moving closer to her, then moving off, and him moving closer, then leaving). Same results. She didn't seem to care when I was near, but as soon as he got closer she hid.

Moral of the story here, don't worry! It will happen with time. It takes time for them to warm up to you... and sometimes they forget who you are, too. Snakes aren't social by nature like we are, so it's difficult for us to understand that they are more worried about predators than hurting our feelings
Unfortunately, that is what most snakes see us as I believe. But once they realize - and they may forget over time - that we don't want to eat them, they are okay.

Best of luck!

 

[Phruit Dish]

The last couple days Reggie has come out of his hide while I was at my computer and poked at the wall of his viv in my direction.

It looked like he was curious to see what I was doing, or maybe has just started associating me with being fed. In either case, if feels like definite progress from him fleeing my presence in the room.

I agree! That's great news! I hope things continue looking up for you -- keep us posted.

 

[anderson110]

If your snake just slithers away from you when in fear, that is the best you can expect! When I first got my girl, she attacked me. Ruthlessly.

That's a good point. I think I remembering reading a series of your posts from when you first got your snake, and you were getting discouraged that it kept biting you.

Reggie is consistently curious about me lately. He pokes his head out of his hide and watches me a lot. Which is the opposite of what he had been doing before (quickly dashing into the hide when I would enter the room).

So things are looking up.