Cornsnake Biting Question

[ALGeckos]

QUICK INFO
So, Leon and I purchased a lovely Okeetee Corn Snake on Saturday. We handled him on Saturday ONLY - once to take pictures... lol he was kinda passed around between me, my 6 y/o cousin, and my aunt... once to move him into his enclosure, and even though I knew not to, once again that evening to let my brother see and hold him (the first snake he ever held). He was pretty mellow and didn't mind the pick-up or handling at all.

Since that Saturday, we have left him alone in his enclosure to let him cool off from one heck of a stressful day.


NOW MY QUESTION...
Since this is the first time Leon and I have ever owned a snake, I have a biting question.

We understand that babies are nippy, but as corn snakes age, they become more calm with frequent handling. We also read that picking up from the side, rather than from the top will cause less stress. And we read that biting doesn't hurt either, more of just a shock, but that's where our question comes in...


When do they attack?
Is it ONLY when picking up? Or do they bite while being handled as well? Please share your experiences with us so we know what to be careful of

 

[Sunrise Reptile]

The ONLY time I've EVER had a problem with a small corn biting was during feeding time. I've never had a problem with intermediate to adult corns.

You will want to make sure they see you when you go to pick them up, and doing it from the side is a good idea for pretty much all snakes (you have to think like a snake, and what usually wants to eat them comes from above).

But bites from small corns are really pretty insignificant, and can be compared to a pin prick.

 

[David Loftin]

I agree completley with ink scorpion.

If they do bite you it really feels like an extremley soft pinch.. that may draw a VERY small amount of blood. It is something I would not worry about at all.

Being bitten by an Adult Leopard Gecko in comparison hurts a lot more.. I have one Mack Snow Female that gets overzealous during feeding time.. and mistakes my fingers for mealworms.. haha. she bites and then rolls like an alligator.

 

[Leopardbreeder]

Agreed, I have never been bitten. They sometimes become more hyper as an adult. They are a great snake to have though.

 

[The Sunset Gang]

Well, i have only been bitten once. I knew it happened but you really don't feel it. It was oh.... three years ago and i was holding the snake and i guess it got very startled and its neck made an "S" and just lunged. I got startled but really it was my fault. The snake was nice as could be and never bit again. Like stated above it does feel like a pin prick. I related it to getting your blood sugar tested if you have diabetes. Just ease into handling. And i think it does make a difference if you go from the top of from the sides, just like in leos.

 

[ALGeckos]

Thanks everyone!

When I open the enclosure (for both my corn & my leos), I always stand there, let my hand set in, make sure they know I'm there, and I talk to them for a minute (LOL, even though they don't understand me or can't hear me. Hehe!) before I start handling them. It may be unnecessary, but hey - I like doing it

A soft pinch and pin pricks sound fine to me, I'm not too worried about it because I feel like it's bound to happen at least once - I'm just curious as to when they do it most (if ever) so I can try and be prepared. So feeding time is up so far, probably because the feeder smell or thinking that there's more? Hehe.

But while we're on the topic, Wendell is... more than a baby I suppose - he's 1 year and 6 months and weighs in at 25 grams. Maybe a hard pinch? LOL :main_lipsrsealed:

Thanks again everyone, I appreciate it! Tryin 2 be prepared, even though I know you can never be prepared enough to know sometimes. Like the leo biting stories - never had that happen to me since 03!

 

[The Sunset Gang]

Yeah Wendell may be a hard pinch, but they don't latch on or anything. In the reptile world you can't be prepared for anything.... that would be too easy. LoL. In my personal opinion any animal senses that you are afraid or nervous, so try not to be although it is hard sometimes.

 

[susang]

Hey I remember your intro on CS.com, I'm new here. Agree the babies hardly hurt and really many think it desirable when they are fiesty as it signifies a good feeding response. I will say though when older they can latch on, but not very common usually a feeding response. I have been bitten once by a yearling when I was rushing and she could smell food, it scared me more then it hurt. I've been bumped a few times, today another yearling was unhappy because I was changing her water and spot cleaning and she finally let me know it but no open mouth, just "S" and strike. I currently have four hatchlings I had forgotten how really fiesty and quick they are, my older corns are so mellow. susang