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Normal behaviour?

Cully

Cully

New member
Quick question.... I've had my snake for just over a week, and yesterday I saw her "hunting" around her cage.

I went to feed her (6 days since last feed) and I lifted up her hide and I was just about to pick her up for a few minutes, but she hissed and snapped at my finger, so instead of picking her up, I fed her... and she ate 2 pinkies very quickly and she went back to her hide (and is still there).

My questions are...

1. I was handling the pinkies, so I assume she jumped at me because of the smell of food off my fingers. Is that normal? (I don't feed her in a separate place)

2. Do corn bites hurt? (this one is only 3 months old, but does it hurt if they are adult? I know it doesn't happen that often, but just wanted to know before I get bitten.

Thanks a lot,

Cully
 
The smell of pinkys would do it. Thats why dogs licks your hands after you eat. But the corns take your fingers for their food if they smell like them. They attack smell. I heard that adult bites do pinch abit but thats what i'm told :shrugs:
 
Well, I a little confused.
Did you feed the snake the six days ago.? Because...When you first get a new snake you should not handle it for about four to six days (then feed) to let it settle in, this is just one reason it might of snapped at you. The snake is just scared of you and is defending itself. but the smell of a mouse doesn't help either. So to your first question, yes this is normal but I would feed it in a separate container for two reason. First, it won't associate you hand reaching with food and second, you risk the chance of the snake digesting substrate when feeding in the cage.

Another reason I confused is your other post.

http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=41969

This seems to me that you have been feeding your snake two pinky's for awhile. :shrugs: Your probably OK but just so you know, snakes are opportunist eater and will eat any time. The reason it's it did this.
"I went to feed my snake last night and she gobbled down 2 pinkies very quickly,"
So that why I'm confused.
 
I have no problems with feeding in the enclosure as long as 1. you don't have substrate in there, only paper or carpet 2. That's not the only time you work in the viv. If you clean, water, take the snake out to handle, you won't have a problem with biting. If the only time you opened the viv was to feed, then yes, you would condition a feed response. I also don't agree you have to wait a week before handling or feeding. I've fed new snakes the day they came home if they seem calm. A nervous snake won't eat anyway. If they are really squirrely, I wait. It kind of is up to the snake.
The smell of mouse can definitely set off a feed response. I've been bitten multiple times by one of my males when he's looking for food only because he's smelled mouse on the air. If I'm feeding them all, I feed him first as he gets very aggressive when I go to take him out to feed him. The larger snakes can hurt a bit, and will bleed a lot, but they're not that bad. Babies are like velcro scratches. So small they can't do any damage for the most part. My one adult Okeetee male has bitten me on numerous occasions and while it's not comfortable (he tends to hold on and chew) it's not horrible.
 
MegF. said:
I have no problems with feeding in the enclosure as long as 1. you don't have substrate in there, only paper or carpet 2. That's not the only time you work in the viv. If you clean, water, take the snake out to handle, you won't have a problem with biting. If the only time you opened the viv was to feed, then yes, you would condition a feed response. I also don't agree you have to wait a week before handling or feeding. I've fed new snakes the day they came home if they seem calm. A nervous snake won't eat anyway. If they are really squirrely, I wait. It kind of is up to the snake.
Click to expand...

Yes Meg, but my responce is more for a beginner than a veteran like yourself. For an beginner, I would think to feed in a separate container because the person would not do what your asking because of fears of being bitten.
And a beginner won't have the experience, like yourself, to know a nervous snake or not, when to feed, and or not to handle. Like you said, It's all up to the snake but you have to know how to read a snake. Am I right :shrugs:
or just out there again.
 
Nope, you're correct up to a point. A nervous snake won't eat. Period. If someone doesn't know better (like when I got my first snake) and handles it and feeds it right away and the snake eats.....then fine. If they handle and try to feed and it won't....you'll have to wait. I've had some that are so nervous that even after waiting for a week, I couldn't get them to eat outside of their viv. I ended up taking the substrate out, feeding them in the viv 4 or 5 times and then tried going to a seperate container. I've gotten more bites over food from animals that are fed in seperate containers than ones I've fed in the viv, so you kind of have to take the "they bite because you feed in the viv" with a grain of salt. I only feed in a seperate container because I have substrate in my vivs. If I didn't, they'd be fed in the viv. It would be a whole lot easier and faster than having to watch them and put them back. Even a beginner can tell a really nervous snake. The ones that are trying to escape, tail rattling, striking, musking or just plain old freaking out in various ways are pretty much obvious. If you take them out and they just kind of hang out in your hand (such as my first snake, or my new baby lav) then try to feed them when the breeder would have fed. However, that said, when in doubt...wait. It won't hurt them. I just don't necessarily agree that you MUST wait and that it's bad if you don't. As long as the animal fed easily and of course isn't regurging or something, it's fine.
 
MegF. said:
I only feed in a seperate container because I have substrate in my vivs. If I didn't, they'd be fed in the viv. It would be a whole lot easier and faster than having to watch them and put them back.
Click to expand...


I put a tub lid inside of the viv, and lie the pinky's on that, and irwin stays on the lid while he eats, when he's done i take the lid out. Perfect solution. and plus, i never been bit yet (touch wood!) so personnaly i think its pointless feeding them in a different container, as it just consumes time.

just my 2 cents, or i suppose it would be 2 pence over here! :grin01:


:puke01: << :roflmao: gotta love that barfing one!!
 
connord94 said:
I put a tub lid inside of the viv, and lie the pinky's on that, and irwin stays on the lid while he eats, when he's done i take the lid out. Perfect solution. and plus, i never been bit yet (touch wood!) so personnaly i think its pointless feeding them in a different container, as it just consumes time.
Click to expand...
Hey, do what works, but I feed in separate containers because I don't like the snakes associating my hand with food. So while you might think it's pointless, I don't feel the same way. And with 50+ to feed, I'd sure like to save some time, but not at the expense of my fingers. ;)
 
* pats connard on the back * Ehh your opinion loses once and a while. I know :sidestep: Anywho ya seperate tubs is pretty good. He would be more of a * turning into snake * FEEDING TIME YA!!!!!!! * out of snake * while if you feed him in his inclosure * turns into snake * I'm going to bite him... wait wait... BITE HIM! * unsnaked * Ya.... you get it :blowup:
 
I feed mine in seperate same as what Dean does,I was always taught that by feeding them in their enclosures conditions them to expecting food each time you open the cage/tub,and triggering a feeding response..

If you feed your's in the VIV,its totally cool..my choice is seperate containers though.. :shrugs: :wavey:
 
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