What can I do to stop my snake trying to bite me?

Question

Hi, In winter I brought a Baby Corn Snake. I hold her often at least once a week and she has grown a bit. The problem is I went on holiday for 5 days and when I got back I tried to hold her but she bit and constricted my finger. It was very hard to get her off and now whenever I try to hold her she looks at my hand and comes towards it as if she's gonna bite me. How do I stop this?

Answer 1

Well Sweetie... it sounds to me like you have a hungry corn snake.  When a snake bites, it's usually just a strike, to warm you off.  It doesn't bite, hold on, and wrap around you unless it's planning on eating you.

So, feed the poor thing a bit more than you presently are, and it should make handling less painful for you!

Also, it's a good idea to feed the snake in a small tank, so it doesn't associate movement in its tank with feeding time.  Just make sure it has some heat on one end of the feeding tank, and a heavy small crock for water.  Leave it alone after a feed until the next day, then handle it gently to put it back in its habitat.

Let the snake rest and digest until it eliminates 2-3 days later, and then you can hold it again, but be gentle cause it won't be fully digested.

Also, handling a snake once a week is not enough.  You need to handle it for short periods at first, until it gets used to you and knows what to expect, at least every other day.

Another way you can prevent the biting, until the snake stops doing that, is to wear a thin pair of gloves when you remove the snake from the tank.  It won't be as likely to bite, once it's out of the tank.  Just slip the gloves off after you have it out.

But - in actuality, it might not be a 'biter' at all.  It's most likely hungry, and will stop that behavior once you start feeding it more.

Enjoy your pet.

I hope this has been of help.

Answer 2

You have to handle the snake more often to get her used to human contact.  The more human contact the more comfortable with people she will be.

Answer 3

i have a baby corn snake about a foot and four inches and she is about 9 weeks old.  she is a sweetie. i make sure i hold her EVERY DAY.  so that she can get used to me and won't hurt me when she is full grown (four feet or more) just handle her more, and can you please tell me what the bite felt like because i just want to know just incase mine bites me for some reason, but just handle her more, and get her used you you, and hopefully she wil clam down

Answer 4

I had a corn snake and he would always strike at me. so now i own a royal python. i was told i needed to hold it more. So... what i can think to tell you, hold her or him more. First... get 2 mouses and feed her or him. and then leave her alone in her houseing tank over night... tomrrow hold him for about 10 min. then put away. wait a hour or so then hold again 10 min. Clean up the house... wash something... just dont use the vaccume or crinkle any plastic bags... some reason these things scare them!

Each time you hold the snake make sure you are not squeezing or pinching in anyway. The snake will soon learn you are not trying to hurt the snake and you are not food.! the more you hold the snake... the better the snake is at being held.

I would really think about how often and how much you feed the poor thing... They do not constrict humans unless they are really confused about food....  Increase to two fussies rather then one. he seems to be still hungry! when is the last time he ate? He should be eating once a week. Least one fuzzie. unless he is on something else.