Agression bite? And question about new behavior.

[lunasjy]

I have a couple of questions for you guys...

I have owned a corn snake for a few years now and recently a couple years ago I got my first BP and now own 20. Only twice have I been bitten. The first time was when I was moving my kingpin into his new enclosure after bringing him home from the expo and then today my very small one year old normal female bit me. I usually know when I am in danger of an aggression, fear, stress or food response bite. But why else would a snake bite you? While holding my normal she seemed fine but kept staring at my hand. No coil, no open mouth, she was tasting the air, normal stuff besides the staring. When I moved my hand, she would slowly search for it again. I repositioned her from one hand to another and she got really close (like have a centimeter) from my finger and just bite it. After that she kept looking at my hands again. I put her back quickly (no one likes to get bitten). I only had her out for about 2 minutes. She has never bite me before although I only got her about a month and half ago. I have never seen this before and have no clue why she would bite me. Anyone else experience this behavior before? Is is aggression, hunger?

Also, I have had a queen bee for about a year now. I got her when she was so tiny. She is a year old now and growing like a weed. She has always been a great eater and super friendly but lately, whenever I open her cage, she launches for me. On feeding day, she doesn't strike then coil the F/T rat, she strikes at it defensively. She now only eats it if I leave it on the floor of her tub. If I am holding it up for her (with tongs) she just repeatedly strikes it. It is so weird. Once I get her out of the tub, she is as tame as you can get them. Can anyone explain this behavior as well? This aggression seemed to change when I switched them to aspen bedding. I used to use newpaper where they could crawl under. The tubs are too small to put a hide in but I am wondering if this may have something to do with it? What do you guys think?

[Aercadia]

a couple years ago I got my first BP and now own 20.

One of us, one of us... ;)

The first bite you described (normal female) is very curious. When she bit you, did she whip back afterwards, or wrap, or did she just grab and then let go? Is it possible that you had the scent of another animal (dog, cat, rat, bird, etc) on you when you picked her up? It almost sounds like she smelled something on you that she wanted to eat, and was trying to figure out if your finger had become something eatable!

The second set of behavior (queenbee) sounds like a classic case of change-fear. You have changed something the snake doesn't like, she no longer feels secure, and her behavior has shifted to reflect this insecurity. There is no hide in the tub, and she no longer has the ability to hide under newspaper (since the bedding is now aspen), and you are experiencing the kickback - she no longer has the option to be visible or invisible when the tub opens, so an intrusion is considered an act of aggression until proven otherwise - prey will not be taken until she feels alone and safe enough to attend to it. If the tub she is in now is too small for a hide, consider moving her to a larger tub with a hide, or switching her bedding back to newspaper until you can do so. :)

[lunasjy]

One of us, one of us...

The first bite you described (normal female) is very curious. When she bit you, did she whip back afterwards, or wrap, or did she just grab and then let go? Is it possible that you had the scent of another animal (dog, cat, rat, bird, etc) on you when you picked her up? It almost sounds like she smelled something on you that she wanted to eat, and was trying to figure out if your finger had become something eatable!

The second set of behavior (queenbee) sounds like a classic case of change-fear. You have changed something the snake doesn't like, she no longer feels secure, and her behavior has shifted to reflect this insecurity. There is no hide in the tub, and she no longer has the ability to hide under newspaper (since the bedding is now aspen), and you are experiencing the kickback - she no longer has the option to be visible or invisible when the tub opens, so an intrusion is considered an act of aggression until proven otherwise - prey will not be taken until she feels alone and safe enough to attend to it. If the tub she is in now is too small for a hide, consider moving her to a larger tub with a hide, or switching her bedding back to newspaper until you can do so.

Thanks for your input!

It was just a tag. Very small too. No coiling. It litterally seems like she didn't put any effort into it.

The tubs are 40q, but they are shallow, thin but very long. I really cannot afford to make a whole new rack right now. I will put the news paper back in and see if she goes back to normal. I figured this could be the reason.