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Why do my snakes always poop on me???

M

mmiller1014

New member
I have 2 corns and they ALWAYS poop when they are being handled. They love being handled and are very social. It was only the one snake that pooped all the time but now it's is the both of them that do it, even when being held at seperate times.
 
maybe they don't love being handled as much as you thought. hehehehehe


sorry I know I am not much help ....
 
It's a sign of love and affection! You didn't know that?

Seriously, who knows why they do it? It could be your handling them a little too soon after eating. It could be just the stimulation and excercise gets their innards moving.
 
LOL I think it's a marking thing. Why do they always go after you clean the tank? I hate when hubby hands me the boys so he can clean. They go in the tanks and then on me. It's like a big bird and I dunno what gross thing. They never poop on him :laugh:
 
Yep! That never fails either! As soon as a tank gets all nice and cleaned and smelling good, it gets pooped all over. And not on the substrate! Oh NO! It has to be on the hide or the vines or foliage or water dish. Never just the substrate so it's easy to clean back up!
 
mmiller1014 said:
I have 2 corns and they ALWAYS poop when they are being handled. They love being handled and are very social. It was only the one snake that pooped all the time but now it's is the both of them that do it, even when being held at seperate times.
Click to expand...

It's the handling and stimulation. You know how they say that exercise, helps with regularity. Well, same things with snakes! When you handle them, you are stimulating them and getting things moving!

Wayne
 
i'm not sure if anybody's mentions this yet but, what do you do with the snakes after they've pooped on you? do you put them right back in their viv? if so, they may be doing it because they have associated pooping with being put back in their home. so if this is the case, next time one does a poopie, don't put it right back, clean up the poo and keep on handling the snake for awhile.
 
Yeah my male corn does so often people just wait for it when I have him out, I wouldnt mind but he has usually pooped in his viv for sure before I handle him, I think he just holds some back!
 
One of my girlfriends told me this after I was mildly complaining that I had bee pooped on again, "It means he loves you, he is just a sweet little snake and he is giving you the only thing he has to give." I have no idea if it is true or not, but my male was faintly nodding his head in agreement while she was saying this.
 
To the question of "Why do my snakes always poop on me???" ...
Because you are there at the right (errrr wrong) time.;)

If they are due to defecate, they will do it no matter where they are.
Of course, as has been pointed out, exercise can help move the process along.
 
Check for swelling by the vent before you handle them and periodically after you have them out. If there is a bulge leave them in their cage or put them back. It's harder to tell on adults but mine act antsy/restless when they are out and it's time for #2. It's not foolproof but it's kept me from getting pooed on for quite some time now.
 
This especially works with the Amels,Snows, etc.! If you hold them up to a light or window you can see the poo. After my first christening by my Amel I always always check with the light!
 
I just brought my first corn snake home tonight, but I was at the pet shop handling her yesterday and guess what she did? Yep, she pooped on me!

At least now I know I'm not the only one :)
 
My snakes usually give a warning sign before they go while being handled. They will stop moving and lift their tail. I keep a paper towel near by in case I notice this behavior and I am almost always able to put the snake on the towel before its too late.
 
Ours poo during handling too, but especially when we let them swim. There must be something about the warm water and the motions they make swimming. Poo. Every time.

Like Chris, I have a Kingsnake too, (Black Mexican) and if I am not very careful about how I get him from his viv, he will poo EVERYTIME! And boy does it stink!! I hear that is a different story though. Kingsnakes are notorious for musking when ticked off. If I am slow and careful about getting him out and let him recognize me first then he may or may not musk.

I know that was slightly off topic, but it relates because it the kingsnakes will do it for a reason, I think corns do it because it just seems like the thing to do at the time. :grin01:

Jimmy
 
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