hey my corn snake who usually is very nice tried to bite me through the screen of her tank I saw her getting in the striking position so I took my hands out of the tank and washed my hands because they might have smelled like mice. then I had my hands on the opposite side of the screen and she striked the screen. what do you think I should do? handle her more often? i try to do that but I love to bring my Mali Uromastyx outside.

If there is a chance you smelled like mice, then she probably thought you were dinner. And once they are in hunt mode it is hard to change their minds....feeding in a seperate bucket will ease the hunting mode and they wont associate opening the cage with feeding. Good luck!

__________________
Warmest Regards from Lyn

Chances are that it's a one time event due to shed or hunger. A few months back I had the same thing with one of my 06 corns. I opened up his box to get him moved for feeding and he struck at me for a good 5 min. non stop until I got him back in his cage. No interest in food just getting at me. Next feeding was the same and than he just stopped and is back to normal now.

__________________
"Tonights forcast..... Dark." Al Sleet, the hippy dippy weather man, George Carlin. You will be missed.
http://schlange-titus.de
http://dght.de

thats what I was doin I was getting her out to move her to the tank I feed her in. i thawed the mice first and I think thats y she tried to bite me my hands probably smelt like mice. thanks.

i handle crickets on a regular basis to feed them to my lizard. do you think that that might be y my hands smell? and that smells a little like dinner.

The crickets would not cause a feeding response in the snake. They don't eat crickets.
Just having the mouse in the room wil put the odor in the air. When its feeding day at my place and the rats are thawing everybody is out and about waitng for dinner!

__________________
Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

ok. i tried it again today. she didnt bite at firs but then she stiked at me and missed so I put her back. do u think that she is just hungry and the very suttle smell of mice on my hands is enough to be good enough dinner for her. i really hope she gets back to normal because befor she was awsome and very nice to me without one strike in like a year.

Ok heres the deal. Any snake is capable of biting. They are a wild animal. If something triggers their instincts they wil strike.

Any scent of mouse and your warm moving hand can present a target
Check later after you are sure that the mouse scent has gone. Wash your hands with rubbing alcohol or vinegar and then wash themn good with soap and water. See if the striking continues.
And putting her back when she strikes is teaching her that is how she can get you to leave her alone. Don't do it. Try having a towel or something to toss over her head if she strikes.
If the behavior persists I would suggest a vet check up next. Behavior changes can be indicative of illness.

__________________
Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

ok thanks.

last night I handled her with gloves on and she didnt strike at all.