Snake question!

[essme]

I am a middle school librarian that brought home a teacher's class pet-- a two foot long corn snake. Roxie is super personable, and is great with the kids.

Yesterday, while her cage was on a cart going to the car, she went into strike position, and then burrowed under her shavings. I moved her into the dining room, and totally left her alone. This morning, I had to change her water, and she was clearly pissed off- came out of her house and bit me.

I am talking to her, and letting her get used to me after the big move--- my question is, "how long will it take her to get used to the dining room?" She'll be going back to school in 6 weeks. I don't want to stress her out--- she's a really good girl, and was clearly saying "Get the "f" out of my cage! I have had enough crap!"

I am thinking a week or so? And yes- I'll be wearing gloves when I change her shaving/ bedding-

[missingthebigdog]

1. Is she shedding her skin?

Snakes who are shedding are often more aggressive because they cannot see well. If that is the issue, she will be fine once she is finished.

What do you feed her? Do you feed her in her tank?

[essme]

2. She's not mine- she belongs to the science teacher

She ate last week, and shed her skin then.

I am thinking that she is just upset due to the move-

I love snakes, and just don't want to stress her out--- she loves being a middle school classroom snake, and has not had as much attention for a few months. She would have gone home with the teacher, but his wife was in ICU with Covid 19--- so, she had to move to my dining room.

[MuseRider]

3. Shedding could very well be the answer.

I worked with snakes at the zoo for a while. Small to large Burmese pythons and poisonous like Gaboon Vipers and the one thing they all had in common was getting really cranky when opaque and shedding. Did her eyes look like they were covered in a white film? Whatever, change is hard for everyone and it could have been the environment changing too. I would go with the shedding.

About the feeding, ask the person who was taking care of her. I would not change the routine at all. It sounds like you are someone who actually cares about snakes, that is really nice to hear. Have a great time with her.

[essme]

4. She shed last week

before I brought her home.

I really think this is "moving stress." She was so scared of the car ride (5 miles- I went slow)---

I wouldn't have put my hand in her cage at all this morning, but her water dish needed to be changed.

I do like snakes! She's a sweet girl normally, and really likes the students talking to her. She loves being held during classes, and is normally totally relaxed-

[MuseRider]

5. I did not see that above my post, sorry.

You are probably right then. Be very careful and wash that out well, snake bites can get infected easily and also remember if you can to not pull away if the snake bites you. They get infected easier than we do and a missing tooth has been know to kill a snake due to infection.

I bet you have had this challenge and everything will be good from now on. This is a lucky snake, there are so many people who would never do this. I do not know where you live but if you have any problems and the regular teacher who cares for her is unavailable you can always call the zoo in your area. We used to field calls all the time about any animal but since you are the caretaker I would hope that they would spend some extra time if you have questions.

[samnsara]

6. ive had all kinds of snakes... my boas would get in a strike position and look up at the cage lid..

...when it was hungry. Have you fed her lately? Then again I had a rubber boa who would just bite me because..

[Ferrets are Cool]

7. You are a very good person

[essme]

9. I just love little critters

I always have.....except for giant flying roaches here in the South. Then I stand there and scream until I am rescued!

[Ferrets are Cool]

11. LOL

There are only a few things that I WILL kill and those are roaches, ants, mosquitos and fleas.

[mopinko]

8. play some music for her.

[essme]

10. Well, I mostly listen to Bruce and Willie

But maybe she would like John Denver or Peter, Paul and Mary😁

[mopinko]

12. bruce and willie would work fine for me.

aint never had a pet snake, tho.

my middle kid's asshole boyfriend once stole a snake, tho. an albino something. it got lose in my house, got attacked by my terriers, and curled up and died in my closet.
to this day the most foul stench ever to hit me in the face.

great story, tho. stiinnnnkin dead snake in my closet!