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Trying to tame an "agressive" corn

J

jmichael

New member
So I had a moment of weakness this weekend and ended up going into the local pet store. Corns were on sale cause the youngest they had was maybe a year old. The conditions were not good. They had a total of 7 corns in 4 cages (20 regular) with no place for them to hide and maybe an inch of the finest aspen ive ever seen. I ended up getting one that was the friendliest (aka not trying to have me as a snack) and took him home. I had to get him out to fix something in his cage and he has bit at me and tail rattled. I know he's just scared since it's something new and better than what he had and he might just be defending his cage, but I'm looking for a little advice to calm him down. I know it will take time, and this is my second snake, just looking for some advice. thanks for the help
 
My advice is set him up with deep aspen for burrowing and lots of hides. Then cover three sides of his viv. Then don't handle him, go in his viv to rearrange, change water- anything- for a week. Then take him out, feed, put him back, let him digest two or three days, then start handling. I would take him out whether he rattles or strikes or not, and keep him out for 20-30 minutes. I'd probably just sit and watch a TV show with him, so he isn't the entire focus of your attention and he can relax and observe you and discover that you aren't going to harm him. Just make this a routine for a couple weeks and he ought to be very tame.
 
Thanks so much. I have left him alone, for the most part since he came home on Saturday. I will try just letting him be for a while and I have about a 3" deep layer of aspen and lots of hides. Like I said, I know he's just scared because I know they didn't handle him at all and he's about 1-1/2 yrs old (just guessing by length) so I know it will take time, I just want to do whats best for him/ her.
 
Well, good news!! I fed him on friday (9/16) and he chowed down and come to find out, he should be on hoppers, not small fuzzies as I was told. I let him be until last night, got him out and we sat and watched TV (Cardinals game, I'm a BIG fan) and he sat there with me for almost 30 minutes. tried to put him back in and he crawled up my arm and around the back of my head. So, I sat there with him for another 10 minutes before he was ready to go back in. Maybe I am wrong, but I took this as a good sign. will post pics when I can get some decent ones. Again Nanci, thanks for the help!!
 
Excellent! I love watching TV with a snake- sounds like you've got the perfect one for that!
 
great thread, I too am going through this with my new 3 yr old Amel male. He HAS been left totally alone (except water change and 1 feed) since we brought him home from the Abby reptile show. He has struck at me about 5 times, and managed to tag me once (all during the process of trying to feed him). His viv is in a corner so technically is "covered" on 2 sides, the third being covered by material between the sides of the 2 vivs so they don't see each other.

I am assuming he was not handled much by the breeder he was purchased from. I want to be able to handle him easily like my other 2, who are never agressive towards me and seem to enjoy coming out to "explore"
 
Yes, you really have to hold him only a few minutes at a time. All I can really advise is use firm movements and be brave.
 
I will definately do that!! I won't lie, I did jump!! more from the surprise/shock of it than fear or pain from the bite. I also have a thick skinned (literally!!) hubby to help me out on this endeavor!!
 
My wife is deathly terrified of Zeus (named him that because he's insanely strong for his size). He did great again last night, held for about 20 minutes, then he started getting really jumpy, so I figured that was him telling me "ok, I've had enough, wanna go back NOW!!!"
 
ever heard of a snake that has a preference for one person over another?

Hubby took out Helios last night for a handling session and he sat there with him like a kitten!! I was disgusted!!LOL!!

He thrashes and lunges and tail rattles to me, and I"m the one who feeds him!!!
 
My other snake is kind of like that. He's cool with me, no thrashing or anything, but when my wife comes to sit with me, he's imediately on her and curling up on her chest! Traitor!!
 
Our snow does show favorites with my son! But he is my sons snake! He is real jumpy and uneasy in my husbands hands or daughters. He loves me, but only for my fat LOL He loves to crawl into the crease when I hold my arm to my chest and will hang out there forever!
 
jmichael said:
My other snake is kind of like that. He's cool with me, no thrashing or anything, but when my wife comes to sit with me, he's imediately on her and curling up on her chest! Traitor!!
Click to expand...

Didn't you know??? That's how you confirm they're male!!!! First time I held Khuno (my hatchling Blizzard) he crawled down my top and stayed in my bra until I forcibly removed him!! LOL!!
 
i pretty much agree with what everyone has said so far. and im sure most are far more experienced than i am. after the initial settling in and al, to start regularly handling your snake to assure tameness is key.

though being tagged sucks.(or even bit to the point where they "grind" their teeth into you by moving their head back and forth theyre so darn angry). but sometimes you have to grin and bear it. i would hold daily as your schedule allows. and for the most part you can hold until the snake seems uncomfortable being held, like showing signs of being flighty or antsy, then its time to go back before your snake becomes stressed.

ive realized they perhaps unbeknownst to them, sometimes they will try to dominate a situation through intimidation. even if they dont strike/rattle/hiss, they may put their head/neck into an S shape and back awaywhile seeming to eye your every move. when that happens i still proceed to hold the snake, grumpy or not. i think to some extent this helps to establish in the snake that you are not afraid, that you mean no harm, and that they might as well get over their attitude.

my snow never gets this attitude, but shes had the dream life for most of her her life. where as my rescued male, lars, had a pretty crappy life for awhile, where he was neglected. so i think this may be why he just appears to have an attitude sometimes. however if i pick him up anyways he seems to adjust to the idea of being held rather quickly, and settles into his normal sweet and tolerant self in no time. be brave, and have patience. sorry about the long post.
 
Well, so far so good! Haven't gotten tagged yet (knock on wood) and he has really adjusted quite nicely. Kinda worries me that he really doesn't explore his cage much. He's always under his water dish. I'm know he's drinking and eats really well, must be he's still settling in a little. He does try to run when I pick him up, but after that he doesn't want to go back! Thanks for all the advice, and FarmGirl, I think you might have a point! haha.
 
Snakes don't really do much. Eat, digest, come out for a drink. Come out a lot when they start to feel really hungry.
 
The only one of my snakes that I actually see come out of hiding is our smallest baby, Stanley. At about dusk you can see him exploring his viv and getting up between the screen and the lip of the tank. My snow doesnt come out at all. I always have to go find him. Once or twice I have seen my amel out and about in her viv.
 
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