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Question about adult Corn Snake biting

R

rosebud

New member
My wife and I are thinking of getting a Corn Snake as a first snake. I have always been fascinated by snakes, but growing up was never allowed the privilege of keeping one (my mother is very afraid of snakes).

I have done plenty of research on them and decided that, given their relatively easy care, and generally calm nature, that a Corn was the right snake for us.

We are, however, a little concerned about being bitten once the snake grows to its full adult size. We are both aware that being bitten is rare from a Corn Snake that is properly handled and is probably nothing to worry about, but I can't seem to find any good information or first hand accounts about Corn Snake bites and their severity or lack thereof.

In most texts that I've read, bites are usually mentioned briefly and with little or no detail, if mentioned at all.

I guess what we would like to know is if a bite from an adult Corn is at all painful or capable of any real personal injury, especially if a child is bitten.

Can anyone offer any personal accounts or other details about adult Corn Snake bites?
 
It is very difficult to comment on adult corn bites as they are so rare. This is why you haven't found any information on them. Some hatchlings are quite nippy though.

If you were to experience a bite, which would be unusual or provoked, it would feel like a small sting/pin-prick, and be over before you knew it had happened.

I have never heard of an injury from a corn bite. Even if they do lunge, they often don't bite- it is just bluff.

A corn is a great choice for a first snake, and you have found the perfect site to answer most of your questions! Corns are amazingly calm, and once you have the correct set-up, care is also very easy.

Good luck, Skye
 
Here is a thread link to a discussion on biting and a pic of a hand that was bitten by an adult Corn.

I think it's rare but IMHO you pay your money and you take your chances. They're wild animals with a tolerance for being handled by people and occasionally you'll get one that lacks that tolerance, or you didn't wash the mouse scent off your hands before handling your snake. We considered this carefully before getting a Corn snake for our daughter. Now we have two!

Cheers,
Jason
 
Biting...

I was bitten once by my adult corn. The first thing you need to know is that they dont just bite. The have other warning signals, for example tail rattling. You may have read about this in other posts, and it is just what it sounds like, the corn can rattle its tail just like a rattle snake and the vibration makes a noise.

As for the bite itself, they dont hurt at all. I am a wuss, so believe me. My snake had warned me (rattled his tail) and I ignored it, I reached for him and wham, he got me. I pulled away more because I was startled than anything else. I didnt feel anything other that the force of his head hit my hand. I took him out anyway and about two or three minutes later realized that I had a little pin-prick mark on my hand.

I think the key was that I took him out right away, and did not reinforce his biting behavior. I have increased my handling of him since then, and havent had a problem since.

Good Luck and welcome to the addiction!

:cheers:
 
I have been hit by a yearling, but never an adult corn. It can break the skin but it is more like a scratch than what one might think of as a "snake bite". It is certainly not much to be concern about. If you are really worried, purchase a small snake hook to assist with handling.

Midwest Tongs makes outstanding hooks and tongs. It is always good to have one around.
 
The only full-sized snake that ever bit me was a wild Gopher snake. I saved it from being run over by a car, and I guess I grabbed it a little too fast. It reached around and bit me on the finger. It's not painful, more surprising, and just a few little pin-pricks of blood. I would think an adult corn would be similar.
 
One of the reasons to buy young and raise yourself. By the time they are adults, you are used to handling them, they are used to being handled by you, you know their habits and can tell, just by looking at them if they mean business or are just curious.

I was tagged by a yearling, broke skin, was less than a bee sting which is what I hear it most often described as.

What I haven't seen anyone mention yet is care of the bite thereafter. MAKE SURE TO CLEAN THE WOUND! Snakes are known to carry certain bacteria (salmonella) which in some rare cases can lead to infections involving GI problems and even osteomyelitis (pretty rare, not meant to scare but meant to get you to understand that hand-washing even after handling is a good practice to get into)... Sorry, we had an exam today and after an entire weekend of studying it's hard to let go of some of this medical mumbo jumbo...

I personally, HIGHLY recommend corns as a first snake, you sounds like you've narrowed it down well and are well-versed. Before you know it you'll be addicted as so many of us are :)

Welcome to the addiction!
 
I've only been bitten by garter snakes, and that's not too bad. My brother got hit with a VERY angry one which hung on and broke skin, and looked semi-painful.

In comparison to the garter snakes I had growing up, my corn is so much better! The garters were just too fast and didn't really like being held. The corn is sometimes calm and will just curl up on my hand, sometimes be in an exploring mood and try to move all over the palce.
But the corn hasn't bitten at all, and didn't go potty on people nearly as much as the garters.
 
I have never been bitten by my corn, but I was bitten a LOT by a carpet python I kept for a while, and that little thing really launched itself at me! But I didn't feel a thing :) Sorry, I know you asked about corn snake bites.
 
I have been bitten twice by adult corns. In both instances, it was my fault. Once, I opened one of my snake's hide boxes. I didn't know she had gone into blue phase. I startled her, and she struck and got me.

The second time, I couldn't find my feeding tongs and the snake struck for the mouse...missed...and got my finger. I will say that it is a little painful...kind of like a paper cut. Their bites are more surprising, than painful, I think.
 
I was bitten by my adult 5ft corn and it was my fault. I was getting ready to feed him and moved some viv decor around. He smelled the feed and struck at the first moving object he saw. Unfortunately this happenned to be my hand. It was like a sharp hard slap, and as previous replies have stated, its more a shock than anything serious to worry about. It left a semi circle of pinhead marks that bled for a while after. I picked him up straight away so he didnt think he could get away with it. He was fine after that and then fed soon after. I once got bitten by a 6ft Boa i used to have under simialr circumstances,,,now that was a bite,,lol.
Needless to say,,it is us who need to learn from this,,not the snake, as its only either feeding itslef or protecting itself.
 
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