Advice needed please..

tanzi · 11-19-03, 04:37 PM

I have two corns and have just (two days ago) moved them from their small vivs and now put them in their bigger ones they are 15 months old and about 2'6" long I have just tried to get them out just for a few minutes as I do all the time one was fine but when I went to pick up the other(who was always so placid and real gentle) he shot out of my hands like a whippet and now he won't let me go near him when I open the glass doors and put my hand in to get him he looks so scared and runs away he has never been like this before I am worried in case I have scared him as I couldn't hold on to him he really flew out of my hands he went right up in the air up the side of his viv and he will never let me pick him up should I leave him for a while any suggestions on how to get him out, please help as I don't want to frighten him anymore..

mark129er · 11-19-03, 04:38 PM

Let them get used to their new surroundings. After 3-4 days things should be back to normal. Also you may want to consider washing your hands when you switch from snake to snake. The first reason is that one could be sick and you could pass the germs to the other, the second reason is the smell may stress out the second snake.

Big Mike · 11-19-03, 04:59 PM

He might be spooked from the change of scenery. Is he shedding? Some snake's behaviour changes dramatically when they are shedding.

tanzi · 11-19-03, 05:27 PM

Thanks for the replys I always wash my hands every time between picking up my snakes I always have done I leasrnt so much from this site before I joined, No he has just shed a week ago, he really has changed from being so placid to being so skitty he has never attemted to bite me but I think he would have done if I tried to get him out but I just let him go he really moved so fast out of my hands, he now seems so on edge, I will just leave him alone for a bit, I will need to get him out though in a few days to feed him as I always feed them in another tank never in their home..

mark129er · 11-19-03, 11:01 PM

Keep us posted on his progress

Weather1 · 11-19-03, 11:38 PM

I'm stumped...I have never had that happen to me with any of my corns.

vanderkm · 11-20-03, 10:41 AM

I would definately give him time to settle in to his new environment as Mark and Mike have suggested. Snakes are individuals and vary in how they respond to a major change, but going from a small secure cage to a larger one that they are unfamiliar with can be quite intimidating to these youngsters. He has no idea what predators may exist in the new area and now his first major experience with you since the move has been an added stress because he freaked out and shot across the cage. He will certainly recover from all this - corns are very resiliant - but there is no harm in giving him 5 days without handling at all to settle down, explore and regain his confidence. When you see him out cruising around the enclosure in the evenings, and once he has fed successfully since the move, then you might resume handling him - going slowly at first so there are no more setbacks. I have had some corns take a couple weeks to venture out of their hides when moved to a much larger viv - they actually seem even more sensitive when they are at an adolescent age than when they are young babies. Give him time and work slowly with him and you will have your confident pet back soon,

mary v.

lintz69 · 11-21-03, 08:45 PM

Like others said, but I give my snakes a week to adjust to new cages. And he might be snapping, but won't actually bite. I know this is terrifying I have a ball that will snap at me EVERY time, but she never actually bites. And her scare tactic worked for about a month I couldn't get over my feer. Finally I said heck with it and I pick her up she USUALLY JUST snaps. I think there was one time when she bit me but it wasn't any blood and no pain so I think she was snapping and got to close. Just get over the fear and keep holding it.

tanzi · 11-27-03, 06:49 AM

Hi I thought I would update you about my little corn who I moved and couln't pick him up, well I am very pleased to say that after 4-5days he has settled down and I picked him up last night and he also fed well thanks for all the help and advice that you all gave me, I am so glad that I have a site like this for advice it makes all the difference, thanks agin..