Handling Corn Snakes

[MindUtopia]

I'm planning to pick up my first corn snake at the White Plains show in 2 weeks and I wanted to get some feedback on handling them from anyone with experience with corn snakes. Are they easily handled? Do they bite? Are they fast? How should it be picked up and handled safely? I'm used to T's, but I've never held a snake before (okay, except when I was a kid and got to have my pic taken with a giant boa, but I don't think that counts). I don't exactly want to play with it every day, but I would like something that isn't aggressive and is fairly easy to handle on a regular basis. Just want to make sure I'm getting the right thing and that I am able to handle it safely.

Also, any good websites you would suggest on corn snakes?

Thanks,
Karen

 

[Hoosier]

You should def. check this site out:

http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/

 

[RVS]

I'm planning to pick up my first corn snake at the White Plains show in 2 weeks and I wanted to get some feedback on handling them from anyone with experience with corn snakes. Are they easily handled? Do they bite? Are they fast? How should it be picked up and handled safely? I'm used to T's, but I've never held a snake before (okay, except when I was a kid and got to have my pic taken with a giant boa, but I don't think that counts). I don't exactly want to play with it every day, but I would like something that isn't aggressive and is fairly easy to handle on a regular basis. Just want to make sure I'm getting the right thing and that I am able to handle it safely.

Also, any good websites you would suggest on corn snakes?

Thanks,
Karen

In my experience corn snakes are the most gentle and easy to handle snakes.
Good luck!

 

[fleshstain]

i just got my first corn a couple weeks ago....an amelanistic....i'd say for a first snake you couldn't make a better choice....they are naturally a lil skittish when you first try to pick them up but they calm down very quickly once in your hand....i liked my lil guy so much i went and got him a cage mate lastnight....a female snow corn....

 

[pharaoh2653]

its is generally not good to house cornsnakes together. you should check out the website also. there are many threads about the subject

 

[mybabyhasfangs]

A corn snake is an excellent starter snake. And there are tons of different morphs to choose from. Great snakes all around. My first was a corn snake, many many many moons ago. I wouldn't house any snake together unless breeding. Eariler this year we put all of our baby corns in the same tub to take them to a show, when we got to the show we were missing one corn and one was extremely fat. It was the first time we've had that happen before and were quite puzzled.

Good luck and make sure to ask alot of questions and get the name and number of the person whom you buy it from.

Christina

 

[fleshstain]

its is generally not good to house cornsnakes together. you should check out the website also. there are many threads about the subject

my critter guy told me as long as they're about the same length and are properly fed i shouldn't have any problems....and it's working out fine so far....everytime i look they are coiled around eachother....

 

[ingas866]

I have breed corn for about 15 years and i have never had a well feed corn eat an other. if you put same size and op. sex two will do fine if you have more you need more room and feed in their own bag. never feed them in the same bag or tank. keep them feed and with a good water bowl and you will have a good snake. if you do not feed them they could maybe eat each other????? they are not like kings that other snaks are their food. i housed over 20 in different tank but i had at two or more in each tank for years.

 

[pharaoh2653]

could this critter guy be from petco. if so they usually dont know jack. two cornsnakes coiled together doesnt mean happy cornsnakes. also a male and a female shouldnt be housed together because the female could get pregnant prematurely. check out this thread from cornsnakes.com about cohabitation http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26675

 

[ingas866]

you can put op.sex together they do not just have sex any time like rats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! they need to be hibernated!!!!!!!!!!!!!! if you need to know more do not ask here. go to kingsnake.com there are some of the best in the biz on there.

 

[pharaoh2653]

corns can mate without being hibernated. it just isnt common. but it does happen. im no novice to corns ive had and bred them for some time.

 

[fleshstain]

could this critter guy be from petco. if so they usually dont know jack. two cornsnakes coiled together doesnt mean happy cornsnakes. also a male and a female shouldnt be housed together because the female could get pregnant prematurely. check out this thread from cornsnakes.com http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26675

NO SMARTA$$ he's not from petco....Zookeeper....been in business for over 10 years here in Austin and are probably some of the most knowledgeable people you'd ever meet....

 

[MindUtopia]

Folks, it would be nice if one of you actually answered by original question.

How do I safely handle a corn snake? Read the question above again if you have too.

 

[pharaoh2653]

NO SMARTA$$ he's not from petco....Zookeeper....been in business for over 10 years here in Austin and are probably some of the most knowledgeable people you'd ever meet....

watch your mouth. did you even read the thread i posted. pet stores are there to sell. i wouldnt trust anyone who tells me it is alright to house two cornsnakes together. it is not natural of corn snakes to cohabitate. people force this upon them and they make the best of it. just because they are curled together doesnt make them happy. they could just be in the only warm or ideal spot in the tank. besides i wasnt being smart just asking because the two forms of snakes you have are commonly found at petco. i also know petshop owners who dont know jack no matter how many years theyve been in business. just the facts just because one person tells it to you doesnt make it truth. you should know better than that.

 

[pharaoh2653]

Folks, it would be nice if one of you actually answered by original question.

How do I safely handle a corn snake? Read the question above again if you have too.

first let it get acclimated to its new surroundings. then just gently pick it up and let it crawl on you. just dont squeeze them. corns are some of the easiest to handle.

 

[MindUtopia]

But that is my question...how DO I safely pick it up? I'm sure you don't just go in there and grab it, the same way I wouldn't recommend someone just grab a tarantula and pick it up. Do I lift it at the head end or the tail end? Do I need to come at it from the side or the top? I don't want to stress it and make it think I attacking it.

I guess I'll just ask elsewhere because you guys obviously aren't very helpful and are more concerned with your own egoistic posturing than actually being helpful to someone with a legitimate question.

 

[pharaoh2653]

try to go from the side of the snake and the middle of his body and move slowly. if the snake coils up or seems as if it wants to strike leave it alone. they normally just try to slither away when you go to pick them up. its not difficult. just dont go for the head or tail.

 

[mybabyhasfangs]

Pharahoh has some excellent advice. I actually had to think about how I pick ours up, after awhile it just becomes second nature as it will for you after you have done it a few times. If it does coil up or starts rattling it's tail and you need to get him out (For cage cleaning or whatever) take a wooden spoon or something to nudge it to get it moving. IMO they are a little less likely to bite that way. I do this all the time with the dumerils. Most corns are really docile and just great little snakes. Good luck with yours and I would love to see a picture!


Sorry about getting off topic, it wasn't my intention and I am sorry. Hopefully I have helped out some! Have fun at White Plains, that was the first reptile show I went to on the east coast!

Christina

 

[Daisey_Boo222]

I usually pick up mine (3ft, your might be smaller-and advice may vary) with a blunt (not sharp) stick towards the middle of the body. wedge it under the middle of the body. Then bring it up and touch it with your hands until it gets used to you. Then you can pick it up. You dont have to pick it up and touch it, just that my snake it a little skittish

 

[GootySapphire]

I would go with a ball python over a corn snake.