I have been given a corn snake which is about 5 maybe 6 feet long. It has never been handled and i'm pretty scared of it but i feel its cruel locked up in the tank all day everyday. Is it likely to bite? Can it sense i'm scared?
2006-08-15 04:38:02 · 17 answers · asked by Darla 3 in Pets ➔ Reptiles
it used to be a friends pet who is no longer here, i want to keep him and have spent a fortune on a really big tank for him. I may be scared to touch him but selling him isn't an option.
2006-08-15 04:49:26 · update #1
If the snake has never been handled before it could definitely have the potential to bite. I would suggest putting on a pair of heavy gloves before you reach into the tank. Move very slowly, and be sure that you have not handled any other pets before handling your snake (the smell could signal food reponse and they may strike). Gently pick the snake up as close to the head as you can get. Don't try to handle him a lot, just hold him quietly and gently for maybe 5 minutes the first few times and increase the time until you feel comfortable that he's not pulling back to strike or being too jumpy. As long as you keep an eye on the head, you have less of a chance of being struck. A corn snake's head is relatively small, but a snake that long can still pack quite a wallop if it bites you. It has raker fangs in the back of it's mouth that generally pierce the skin if you are bitten. However, it's usually not that serious. It hurts, don't get me wrong, but you won't die, or be terribly injured. Just go slow, and be patient, don't make sudden moves and you should be able to acclimate him to human touch. Good luck!
2006-08-15 04:52:53 · answer #1 · answered by bibliophile_1976 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Go for it, corn snakes are naturally docile, and honestly bites don't hurt THAT much, it's mainly just a shock... Snakes are the most defensive when you are taking them out of the cage, after that, just let it flow through your hands and make it feel secure (they don't like feeling like they might fall) and try not to grip it if you can help it. If you're gentle and passive about your handling, it shouldn't feel threatened. Work with it for a few minutes each day and it'll "tame" down in no time. If it would make you more comfortable, use gloves at first, though in my experience it just makes things more difficult. As far as sensing you're scared, the only chance of that is if you freak out and grip him too hard or drop him... Just be calm, gentle and use slow movements and it won't be a problem. Just stay clear of it's head, especially if it's a little freaked out, some snakes get really defensive if you touch their heads...
Good luck! I'm sure you have nothing to be scared of.
2006-08-15 04:56:16 · answer #2 · answered by snake_girl85 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I used to have a corn snake. You can pick it up. It will be scared and might bite to start with, but it will get used to you. One thing I will tell you to look out for though. When it's tail goes up, it's about to make either you or your floor a tiny bit dirty. You also need to be careful when handling it's food, and need to by mice from a pet shop, freeze them, then when the time comes to feed it, take the amount of mice you need, defrost them then pat them dry and put into the tank. Any more details, go to local pet shop and ask.
2006-08-17 01:10:37 · answer #3 · answered by gr_bateman 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Corn snakes are common in many areas of the US. If domesticated then tend to be more docile then boas or other snakes. If you are fearful of snakes I'd say a snake is probably something you should keep as a pet. Perhaps you ought to take it to someone that can provide it interaction or give it a home.
If it was taken from the wild you could return it to the wild where snakes can catch their own prey..
2006-08-15 04:46:12 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I had an albino Corn Snake. They do like running away (yes I know they have no legs). If it hasn't ever been handled you need to be careful that you don't expose it to too much human bacteria wear gardening gloves. Also get someone who is used to handling snakes to guide you.
2006-08-15 04:47:29 · answer #5 · answered by David M 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you don't handle your snake he will bite you. The snake has to get to know your smell and touch.
2006-08-15 05:42:08 · answer #6 · answered by Tapanga 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course it senses that you're scared. If you're afraid - don't do it!!! Otherwise you can be damaged by your own pet. Don't think your corn snake is cruelly locked. It has to be like that. You are not expecting him to go out, are you? lol
2006-08-15 04:45:02 · answer #7 · answered by Vaida M 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
its a corn snake... just reach in there and pic him up youll figure out the rest.. there VERY reluvtant to bite and there teeth are small... i HIGHLY doubt youll get bit and if you do you wont even care.
2006-08-15 05:25:02 · answer #8 · answered by meaningless endeavor 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
pick it up hold it get used to it if you have a room that you dont use go in and seal off any holes and use it as a large cage just get some braches for it to climb on and handle it as often as possible
2006-08-15 05:26:04 · answer #9 · answered by jax 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well if you do choose to try an handle it remember snakes have necks too! so don't grip them round their neck it makes the frustated and more likely to bite so do try to aviod the neck
2006-08-15 04:47:09 · answer #10 · answered by ? 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋