Hocotate (Hoco) - Anery Corn Snake Progression

A more proper update this time. Did a little handling session and he's doing much better. Still a bit cranky with getting out of the enclosure but he's not all flighty anymore once I'm holding him, much more relaxed and curious instead of nervous and flighty.
https://media.discordapp.net/attachm...506&height=675
https://media.discordapp.net/attachm...506&height=675
https://media.discordapp.net/attachm...506&height=675

Well, nearly had a double feeding failure today. It was technically feeding day for him and after several minutes searching for him with a thawed fuzzy ready (he's still so small and hard to find in his 4x2), he finally popped out, and was in blue. But thankfully he ate anyway. Don't normally feed during shed but I wasn't aware he was in the cycle and he was willing to eat so might as well. Given his heritage I'm not surprised but after Mira's refusal I'm just anxious at this point...

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Originally Posted by Snagrio

Well, nearly had a double feeding failure today. It was technically feeding day for him and after several minutes searching for him with a thawed fuzzy ready (he's still so small and hard to find in his 4x2), he finally popped out, and was in blue. But thankfully he ate anyway. Don't normally feed during shed but I wasn't aware he was in the cycle and he was willing to eat so might as well. Given his heritage I'm not surprised but after Mira's refusal I'm just anxious at this point...

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Now & then one of mine gets fed while in shed too, if I don't realize ahead of offering them dinner & they grab it anyway. Usually it's not a problem, but I really hate it when it messes up their shed, so I try not to feed snakes in blue. I'm glad you didn't have a double-feeding flop- that's discouraging.

I'm aware shed skins aren't remotely accurate to gauge the actual animal's size, but all the same look at the difference between these two sheds that are barely a month apart (bigger one from today). I think he's hit that growth spurt.
https://media.discordapp.net/attachm...900&height=675

Someone wanted out. :snake:
https://media.discordapp.net/attachm...506&height=675
https://media.discordapp.net/attachm...506&height=675
https://media.discordapp.net/attachm...506&height=675
A little hard to tell from the pics, but with his latest shed the pinks from the Red Factor gene have started to come in more. Used to be over half his body past the neck was gray, but now there's an overall more pinkish blush. :wuv:

Also he was completely calm when I took him out. No hissing, no tail rattling, no nervous attempts to flee, just pure curiosity. He's come so far. :)

Really can't wait until he's older.
https://media.discordapp.net/attachm...506&height=675
https://media.discordapp.net/attachm...506&height=675
This is what I had to do to find him, even at his current size he hides under the substrate too well for his own good and gives me a mini panic attack every time I need to get him out for something. :taz:
https://media.discordapp.net/attachm...900&height=675
My rant aside, it's fascinating how stark of a contrast Hocotate's behavior is compared to Mira in regards to different colubrids leaning more towards terrestrial or arboreal lifestyles. Even when he was in a tub with paper towels he spent most of the time going underneath them and nowadays I swear he's part sand boa. :P Mira meanwhile I can count on one hand the number of times she's ever been under her paper towels. She uses her hides quite a lot yes, but almost never "buries" herself.

It was a rare feeding night last night where everyone got fed (Zebes only eats around once a month now), but Hoco didn't touch his pinkies even overnight. I knew that was not like him so I searched for him and yep, deep in blue.
https://media.discordapp.net/attachm...506&height=675
Only after I, of course, once again almost completely dismantled his setup just to find him. He's not that small anymore, idk how he keeps managing to give me the runaround like this, it's practically a comedy routine. :rolleyes:
https://media.discordapp.net/attachm...506&height=675

:rofl: :snake: "Made ya look!" I'll bet HE can't wait until he's older (bigger) too.

I think I've reached a level of understanding with Hoco's habits. Basically just wait until he reveals himself to actually handle him. :rofl:
https://media.discordapp.net/attachm...506&height=675
https://media.discordapp.net/attachm...506&height=675
The camera isn't picking it up well but he's really starting to pink up.
https://media.discordapp.net/attachm...506&height=675
Also haven't gotten a good pic of his headstamp before. Like an arrowhead with a melting tip.
https://media.discordapp.net/attachm...506&height=675

Feeding's been a breeze too. I don't even bother trying to find him knowing what that entails, so I just leave his meals on a rock in the enclosure like a dinner table and he quickly smells it out and goes over to eat. :snake:

You're doing great with him- corn snakes are fun to feed & handle, but they do take some time to grow, & to grow into their colors too. Snakes always seem to teach us patience...:rolleyes: