Probably the most common question I am asked is - Will he bite? Does he have teeth? Will it hurt?
Your snake is an animal with small teeth. These teeth are not used to kill the prey - a corn snake is a constrictor, and can do little damage to you. Teeth are used to hold onto prey, and pull them down into the throat. Your corn snake is a wild animal - it is possible that they will bite, after all, any animal will bite if they feel threatened, or if they think the target is food - including a cute fluffy hamster!
We recommend always washing your hands before handling your snake, as they have an extremely acute sense of smell, far more accurate than their vision, and if they smell food, they might get confused and bite.
Do not let your fear of being bitten affect you handling your snake - a hamster bite is a lot more painful than the bite of an adult corn snake!
Handling should be done with confidence, but also with due care. Young hatchlings can be flighty and fast, and should be handled either in the vivarium, or whilst sitting down on the floor or on a bed, to ensure you can easily catch them again.
Try not to hold your snake tight, they don't like being grabbed, as this is what a predator would do when catching them. Let them roam freely on your hands, arms or through your fingers, without putting pressure on them.
If you need to pick them up, a firm grip along the midsection will do it, and support their bodyweight with your hands. Do not pick them up and hold them by the tail alone, this is fragile, and can be broken.
It is best to avoid touching the head areas, as almost all snakes are irritated by having their head touched, and the same goes for the tip of the tail.
Wash your hands again after handling, before eating food.
It is best to avoid handling 24-48 hours after your snake has eaten. They have a slow metabolism and the prey sits quite heavily in their gut. If handled the digestive process may be reversed, resulting in a regurgitated mouse and a stressed snake.
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Introduction
Housing
Heating
Handling
Feeding
Health
Breeding
Incubator Guide
Egg Binding
Housing Together
If you are thinking about purchasing a corn snake, and require a setup, please visit Reptile Cymru in Cardiff, who sell plastic starter kits from £30, and full setups for adults in 3 foot wooden vivariums from £125 (including heating/lighting).