help!!

[katieam]

i was recently in the hospital for about a month, and during that time i left my 6 month old corn with a friend who also has corns. i picked him up the other day and brought him home, but have just found out that he was never held during that month, except to feed once a week. now he is extremely nervous around me and keeps striking. any tips on how to calm him down, because im having a really hard time getting him out of his tank.
thanks

[Sunny1]

It may just be stress from being moved from one place to another. Even though your corn may have been in the same enclosure and all, I have read that even moving an enclosure from one room to another can sometimes stress out a snake. You may just need to give him a settling in period and then try handling him.

[dalvers63]

Let him settle in for a week or so, then just start holding him. He really can't hurt you if he bites, and he'll calm down soon enough with some gentle handling.

One suggestion though: If, when you're holding him, he's very flighty and trying to get away, just let him run through your hands while you gently support him (the snake ladder). Don't put him back until he calms down. Snakes may not be the brightest animals, but they do learn and if you always put him down or don't take him out if he's being defensive that teaches him that the behavior works. Once he sees that it doesn't work, he'll stop and will be fine.

[Jenn]

Young corns can be nippy at times. It seems like they start out calm, then go through a phase where they don't like to be handled. Then when they get a bit older they settle down again. I would just leave him alone for a few weeks.

I usually only handle my snakes when they are wide awake and alert (night time). But with a frightened snake I find it works pretty well to just lift the hide off him during the day and pick him right up from a sound sleep. By the time he figures out what's going on he's already in my hands.

Most important is YOUR attitude. Snake handling requires a fearless approach. If you show him his aggression works he will continue to use it against you.

[clipclopclip]

If you are nervous wear gloves until he calms down too. That will help out your anxiety levels.

[katieam]

thank you. i was just worried about him. i dont want to scare him too much. he is still so tiny. ill try leaving him alone for a couple days and see how that works.

[wilomn]

He may also be going into a shed cycle.

A little bit of handling won't hurt him.

I wouldn't recommend gloves though, especially with such a small snake. It's difficult to be gentle with gloves. He could slip off your hand or be accidentally squeezed just because you couldn't feel him through the glove.

[Argentra]

I agree. Gloves are totally unnecessary with corns as it is. Even if they bite you, you'll hardly feel a thing...trust me, the one that got me was really trying.

But yes, leave him be for a few days and let him calm back down from the moving around. Then, just be persistent but gentle and he should be back to normal in no time.

[LIZARDLADY]

I hope you're okay from your hospital stay. I have a baby corn too and I know what you mean that you see 'em being tiny, they seem to be fragile, but they're strong little suckers! Its very important that you are also calm there is no need fo both of you to stress Don't let this deture you from handling, do it as much as you can after your corn has had it's down time. I hope everything goes well and enjoy your critter :

[katieam]

i think he is settling down now, its been a couple days since he has been home n he was ok when i held him today, i little more nervouse than usual, but he wasnt striking at me, which is an improvement. i wasnt planning on using the gloves, he doesnt hurt when he bites me, its actually kinda cute because he thinks hes so big and bad.