| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| samf74 |
Posted - 28/07/2011 : 09:29:00
Hiya, some of you may remember that I have been trying to sell this corn snake due to my son's lack of interest and problems with finding people to feed it when we are away. Well the good news is that one of our good friends is now trained up to feed him while we are away. The problem is I would like to take over the caring of him from my son but am unsure how to start handling him as he has not been handled for some time now. He is very lively and will come out as soon as you open the doors. I am worried about him biting. Any advice? |
| 17 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| thistle |
Posted - 06/08/2011 : 16:21:00
Excellent news. |
| a33272 |
Posted - 06/08/2011 : 16:04:16
well done Sam :D |
| tordyjo |
Posted - 06/08/2011 : 13:35:31
fab news on keeping him and well done on your first hold |
| kdlang |
Posted - 06/08/2011 : 12:32:02
Well done, I'm sure you will gradually get more and more confident now |
| Fluff |
Posted - 06/08/2011 : 12:07:18
brilliant news. |
| samf74 |
Posted - 06/08/2011 : 11:40:33
Thanks to everyone, I did as gingerpony suggested and started to let him come out of his own and then just got a hold of him. Held him no problem, big relief! Feel much better now that I have done it once :) |
| gingerpony |
Posted - 29/07/2011 : 13:56:23
i wouldn't go for the snake hook option......if you're not used to handling them they can be quite cumbersome and could easily, accidentally hurtg the snake
if he's quite willing to come out of his own accord when you open the viv i'd let him start to come out then support his weight under his body (not squeezing) until he's moved himself fully out of the viv and you're holding him |
| a33272 |
Posted - 29/07/2011 : 11:56:34
u can try an do it visually by the length an tapper of the tail from the vent, but its no where near as accurate at probing an is mainly based on guess work lol |
| samf74 |
Posted - 29/07/2011 : 11:37:20
Thanks to everyone for your replies. Gonna feed it tomorrow and then will have a go on Tuesday! Will let you know how it goes. I have held him before (but he was a lot smaller then!). By the way, is there anyway you can get an indication of whether it is male/female apart from probing? We have always called it 'him' but would be nice to know! |
| samf74 |
Posted - 29/07/2011 : 11:36:31
Thanks to everyone for your replies. Gonna feed it tomorrow and then will have a go on Tuesday! Will let you know how it goes. I have held him before (but he was a lot smaller then!). By the way, is there anyway you can get an indication of whether it is male/female apart from probing? We have always called it 'him' but would be nice to know! |
| Aegis |
Posted - 29/07/2011 : 00:29:14
I actually agree with the above! Its what i done when i first picked up a snake our her viv. Bold as brass (fair enuf my heart was racing) But just done it. The first time was the hardest, gets easier from then on :) x |
| stotty01 |
Posted - 28/07/2011 : 21:29:20
im gonna be honest and frank....go in and just pick it up, none of this poking, proding just grab it (not to hard) then it should be fine:) |
| Spreebok |
Posted - 28/07/2011 : 14:18:30
I know the fear, I got bit by Rimmer when I first got him, and the shock of it rattled me a bit. Just reach in and pick them up is all I can say really. The bites honestly do not hurt, like brushing your finger on the male side of a velco strip. |
| stuart619 |
Posted - 28/07/2011 : 13:28:56
You could always try a snake hook if you are a little apprehensive. This will allow you to get him out of his viv without the fear of being bitten.
In my experience once a snake is out of it's viv the chance of being bitten is reduced dramatically. I am sure if you do use a hook, after a while your confidence will grow and you wont need it anymore. It is all about confidence and once you get in to the mnental state of being confident you will be fine.
Good luck anyway and keep us posted... Also well done for taking him on  |
| Aegis |
Posted - 28/07/2011 : 12:58:49
Iv done exactly as the above have said! Had a clean sock (it was a lonely odd sock) in my bra for like 2 days and its now in Karuza's Viv. Being scared to be bitten is something everyone goes through im sure! If your unsure, put a flat palm up to them (basically if they strike there is nothing to grab because your palm is too big) and use your other hand to go towards its belly :) But dont be scared. :D I quite look forward to being bitten (sad i know) but its just to get it out the system so i know what its like. But my girl has never taken a bite at anyone and she is nearly 4. |
| a33272 |
Posted - 28/07/2011 : 09:52:22
YAY ya keeping him
as mamma has said put something in that he can associate your smell with, ideally not a used sock, he might not like ya smelly feet  but try putting a sock in ya bra for a few hours. give him a few days with that to learn the smell. main thing is dont panic when ya holding him. as said the bite isnt as bad as u think its the strike that scares most people. if you are worryed about being bitten get a thin pair of gardening gloves, i believe you have a very good garden centre near you an they sell good gloves there.
as ive said previous ya only 10 mins away so if u need a hand gettin started let me know |
| Mamma |
Posted - 28/07/2011 : 09:35:26
best thing to do is just be confident. Being bitten isnt as sore as you think it is... its more the shock of it happening. Corns are more likely to retreat than strike when feeling threatened. The only times I have been bitten by one of mine (twice) was purely accidental during feeding.
What you can do is put something with your scent on it (like a sock) in the viv/rub making the snake slowly used to your scent xx |
