Handling my corn

[Blitzjg]

I have an Abbott Okeetee corn that is probably about 5 or 6 years old now, Got him when he was 1-2. He's my first snake and has been pretty low maintenance. I have him in a cage built with a front-facing plastic door. He tends to be pretty active, most likely thinking there's a meal in his near future whenever I get close. I wanted to know if there is a best way to get him out of the cage to handle in these instances... When I'm there he's pretty much alert to any stimulus and obviously I don't want to grab at him head on. But if I just open the door and wait, he is super-cautious and would probably sit with his head out 2 inches for about 15+ minutes before venturing out any further, let alone all the way.

I also would like your opinions on the cage and its setup later when I am able to get a picture. I'm sure there is plenty I could do to improve it.

[BHReptiles]

I have an Abbott Okeetee corn that is probably about 5 or 6 years old now, Got him when he was 1-2. He's my first snake and has been pretty low maintenance. I have him in a cage built with a front-facing plastic door. He tends to be pretty active, most likely thinking there's a meal in his near future whenever I get close. I wanted to know if there is a best way to get him out of the cage to handle in these instances... When I'm there he's pretty much alert to any stimulus and obviously I don't want to grab at him head on. But if I just open the door and wait, he is super-cautious and would probably sit with his head out 2 inches for about 15+ minutes before venturing out any further, let alone all the way.

I also would like your opinions on the cage and its setup later when I am able to get a picture. I'm sure there is plenty I could do to improve it.

I have a snow motley that is just really curious by nature. She acts like this A LOT. I usually just open her tub and grab her.

I would just grab him from behind and not towards his face. As long as he's not in striking pose, he shouldn't strike.

[kameo37]

Our amel is the same, too. She is out and about quite a bit for a nocturnal or even crepuscular creature! She doesn't have a problem being handled even when she's "hunting", though she is quicker!
I just went to look in on her and here she is...it's 2:30pm.

[BFT12890]

My Corn can also be active at any time of the day, sometimes I feel like even the weather change (upcoming rain or whatever) gets them riled up and looking for high ground (I have heard they can sense a change in the barometric pressure)

Anyway, as others have said if hes not coiled up and looking like he is going to strike, try getting him towards the center/back of the body and come up from underneath and support the front half of the body.

As for cages, what size/bedding/heat ect do you use?

I have mine in a front glass sliding animal plastics t8 (48x24x12) some may say that's excessive, but I feel he enjoys it, he eats very well and has ample hiding spots so I don't feel stress is an issue.

I use aspen snake bedding, and he seems to love it he has like an underground city of tunnels to roam though,

hope that helps!

[kameo37]

Ditto on the aspen! That's what we use (as you can prob see) and she is tunneling and mounding it up all the time! I use cypress for my bp, but even when we had her on aspen at first she didn't tunnel...so she's not missing it.

[Blitzjg]

I'm pretty gunshy when he's acting curious, like hes expecting a mouse and will mistake my hand for one. He is in aspen bedding, I use a heating pad, I will post pics next time I'm home, currently pet-sitting.

[Neal]

Just grab about half way or far enough away from the head to where he doesn't try to jerk back. If he does seem like he wants to strike, maybe start hook training him.

[kameo37]

They are just curious snakes. My 8 yr old (who the snake "belongs" to) picks ours up on her own. I taught her to always go in with two hands, one for the front third of the snake and one for the back third. Or if she's curled up in the hide, scoop with both hands. Let them see you coming. I'm not saying dangle your your hand in front of them, but let them know you're there.
Also, watch some videos of snake bites. It helps. It's not that bad (not that I've been bitten...hehe) and once you see that it's like literally like a scratch it's hard to be that scared anymore.

[Blitzjg]

I've been bitten once. Its not bad at all, but it is still startling, because it is so quick and (acutely) unexpected, I don't know that I could ever not be phased by it when it happens.

[jclaiborne]

I have a Motley Okeetee and he is always riled up. I have to pull him out with a hook, if I reach my hand in the tail goes crazy and he coils up. He has been that way since he was a baby. Once hes in my hands he refuses to sit still for about 15 minutes then after that he will sit in my lap or arms for as long as I want.