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Using a hook to transfer after feeding?

C

Callow Methuselah

New member
My 4.5 month old corn was just promoted from 2 pinkies to 1 fuzzy mouse today -- the bulge in his belly was at least 1.5x the size of his widest normal girth. He took the meal nicely, in about 5 minutes. Then I let him stay in the feeding tub for several more minutes before attempting to transfer him back to his terrarium. Here's another new twist to his feeding routine: I just purchased a hook. The little guy has never tried to bite me, but the only time that he runs away from me and gets jumpy is when I try to transfer him from his feeding tub to terrarium after a meal. So I figured that a hook would be appropriate for this transfer. The problem is that, no matter where I tried to pick him up, he would slither forward and off the hook. So I tried picking him up closer to his head, but either I was moving too slow or he was moving too fast. Either way, I couldn't get under him long enough to lift, and I don't know why he tries to avoid the transfer after a meal. So rather than poking him in the side while failing to lift him, I just tilted the tub over his terrarium and used the hook to guide him onto the terrarium floor. But once again he just slithered over the hook; this time falling a little more than 1 ft onto the aspen floor. :eek:

1. Would a fall from this height be likely to cause harm after a big meal?
2. Any tips on using a hook?
3. How do you transfer the snake back to its terrarium after a meal?
4. Have you ever unintentionally harmed your snake, and did he change his demeanor towards you because of it? (I don't want the little guy to be afraid of me, but I'd probably be upset if a giant let me fall from the top of my house.)
 
Callow Methuselah said:
1. Would a fall from this height be likely to cause harm after a big meal?
2. Any tips on using a hook?
3. How do you transfer the snake back to its terrarium after a meal?
4. Have you ever unintentionally harmed your snake, and did he change his demeanor towards you because of it? (I don't want the little guy to be afraid of me, but I'd probably be upset if a giant let me fall from the top of my house.)
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1. NO
2. I only used a hook on an aggressive Cali. King
3. I pick my snakes up by hand
4. No, I have never harmed my snakes because I am careful with them.

Love the Fatman
 
I'm a total noob so my advice should be considered as such. I don't like picking up my snake after eating because I've heard it can cause a regurge.... which as a noob I want no part of! So what I do is put a paper towel roll in the feeding cage 15 minutes after it eats and I herd the snake into it.... so it's full body is in the tube, then I pick up the tube and quickly move it back to the vivarium and set it down and secure the lid. The snake crawls out of the paper towel tube in it's own time. This way the whole snake's body is supported in the tube.

I don't know if this is good or bad.... but it makes me feel good knowing I'm moving the snake with its full belly completely encased in the tube and not in my clumsy hands. :)
 
I really wouldn't suggest feeding outside the enclosure anyway (but by now everyone knows my stance on that). Especially if it's a stressful time for you or your snake, really just feed it in the cage. Feeding in a separate place is a relatively new idea, many generations of snakes have done and are doing just fine eating "at home." I have yet to hear an argument that outweighs the benefit of doing it the old fashioned way. For ME, I should add.
 
WOW, didn't I just answer this question? This is so weird. I am sure I just read this thread and answered it with the "correct" answer. I think I am loosing my mind. I was walking down the sidewalk eating a beagle (is that a dog or a doughnut) and this guy asked me if he should feed in a separate feeding bin. Really. And I told him no, dude, what you smokin?

I think I need to lie down.
 
Honestly, I see no need to use a hook for a cornsnake. They are small and easy to handle. Even the most aggressive of corns can't do much more than cause mild abrasions to the skin. It wont hurt to feed your snake in it's enclosure. You can always put the food on a paper plate or in a small sandwich container and leave it. The snake will find it. This will eliminate any undo stress to it and/or to you.
 
You can't really pick up a cornsnake with a hook, especially a baby. All you can do is keep the head of a big adult away from the hand you're picking it up with- if you're lucky!

I like to feed outside the viv, because I weigh the snake and spot clean the viv and scrub the water bowl while he's out. It gives me a chance to check the snake for any problems.

If you lower the palm of your hand over the baby, he usually will stop trying to bite. Or you can just carry the feeding container to his viv and pour him in, carefully.

A fall from that height, trying to carry a baby on a hook, or dropping it, or it flying out of a feeding container, could kill it.
 
Nanci said:
You can't really pick up a cornsnake with a hook, especially a baby. All you can do is keep the head of a big adult away from the hand you're picking it up with- if you're lucky!

I like to feed outside the viv, because I weigh the snake and spot clean the viv and scrub the water bowl while he's out. It gives me a chance to check the snake for any problems.

If you lower the palm of your hand over the baby, he usually will stop trying to bite. Or you can just carry the feeding container to his viv and pour him in, carefully.

A fall from that height, trying to carry a baby on a hook, or dropping it, or it flying out of a feeding container, could kill it.
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I've heard from Nanci that if a snake wants to bite you, it will find away even if you're using a hook lol

I feed in the same cage that he lives in, i have had no problems with it... He still has never bit me or even tried to bite me and i don't need to move him after he eats... But i can see why you would wanna feed him out of cage, if i did feed him out of his 'house' i would just pick him up after feeding. A corn snake knows that you are bigger than them, unless they have a bad temperament, they don't want to try and bite you. Just use both hands and fully support his body as you put him back in his viv
 
A corn snake knows that you are bigger than them, unless they have a bad temperament, they don't want to try and bite you.
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Not quite, I think. If it feels scared or threatened enough, a Corn will bite something bigger than them as a distraction. The intention is to startle the assumed "predator" into letting go and giving the Corn enough time to escape.

It's nothing to do with the snake's disposition, but everything to do with a person not startling it. They feel especially vulnerable immediately after feeding. However, having said that, the worst I've ever had is a tail rattle.
 
I feed in the cage, since I have newspaper as a substrate, but I liked Gulf Coast Girl's idea of the paper towel roll. I have never used a snake hook on a juvenile snake, but I can't see it working well.
 
Or just leaving it in its tank to begin with!


(sorry, couldn't help myself)
 
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