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Shy to eat in front of my GF!

lilwing89

lilwing89

New member
Hey guys, I've had Mr. Cuddles for almost a whole year now and he's doing pretty well - roughly two feet long and in good health. I've been feeding him weekly and his diet is up to two hoppers per week.

I decided to have a guest audience for last nights feeding. I was sure to tell my GF not to move or make any disturbances while I was feeding - everything else was as usual. I don't have problems feeding him in bright conditions, i.e. ceiling lamp on, and he usually isn't bothered by my presence during feeding.

Well, he struck and began to constrict the mouse, and then he stopped. He was still for about two minutes, and my GF asked what's wrong. I figured he probably is nervous because he realizes a stranger is nearby and perceives her as a threat. So she left the room, and for the first time ever, he rattled his tail a bit! For two or three seconds, and then he started eating. After she left, he didn't have any problems eating.

I'm just curious if this has happened to anyone else and whether it's typical corn snake behavior. Has he somehow associated me with safety or perceives me as a non-threat? I wonder if snakes are capable of such associations and whether they are permanent.
 
Personally, I believe that some Corns will grow to recognise their owners or the people who regularly handle them, over strangers. The regular handler will be known as a place of safety, when a stranger is an unknown possible threat.

I think your Corn's behaviour is consistent with this. Corns are especially vulnerable to predators in the wild when they eat, as they wouldn't be able to get away as fast if they had a half-swallowed mouse in their mouth.

Perhaps your GF might like to handle the snake a little more often to see if he can be made to feel settled around her?
 
Corns, as with other reptiles, DO recognize regular things, such as their owner/primary care taker, the usual place they are fed, ect.

Whenever I let my mom watch my first corn eat, she was slow to do so. She also was slow to eat and shy whenever I switched feeding boxes, and whenever I shove my camera in any of my snakes' faces they really look at it.

I also say you should allow her to hold him for a bit when circumstances allow it. And eventually, he shouldn't mind her watching him eat.
 
Sounds normal to me! Smart snake, sensing a new threat.
Snakes are very vulnerable when eating so they will take their time and make sure that there are no threats.
I have a couple snakes that won't eat at all if anyone is watching them.
 
I think my snakes recognize me, as opposed to my husband or stepson. They seem more comfortable with me and seem to be twitchier when my husband holds them. They will eat in front of me, but tend to shy away if anyone else is around.

On the other hand, it could be argued that since I move more slowly and quietly around them, and handle them more gently, they may just be responding to that.
 
I've had experiences like this.

Long ago when I was pretty new at keeping snakes I was feeding one of my babies. I usually watched because I was still very fascinated with seeing everything. That day my (now ex) boyfriend had a group of guys over to record some music in his father's studio. The group came upstairs and all wanted to watch my snake eat. I didn't know any better and figured there wouldn't be any harm.

My snake refused to eat though, and actually had problems eating while anyone was watching for a long time after that experience.

Here's what I do now if someone is interested in watching a snake eat. First of all, I chose a snake that has a great feeding response. Next, I put them in a plastic kritter keeper, and cover the top and sides of the enclosure with a scarf. The snake will feel much more secure this way, and you will still be able to see him.

Also, don't focus heavily on the snake at first. When all the attention in the room is on the snake, I think they can feel it, and it makes them nervous. Talk amongst yourselves, or look at pictures on the internet.. and then slyly glance over. Hopefully the snake will have felt comfortable enough to start eating, and then everyone can enjoy the experience.

Hope that helps!
 
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