New to owning snakes

[toxicflash]

Hi
As the title suggests i am new to owning snakes , i have a wide variety of animals from Tarrantulas to Chameleons to Frogs and so on.

I am now the proud owner of an Anna Corn Snake, apart from him wanting to eat me everytime i go to pick him up but other than that ITS GREAT!!!, such a very misunderstood creature,

Just wondering is it normal for him to "S" posistion at me EVERY time i go to get him out to handle him, the shop where i got him from didn't have the time to handle him everyday and was wondering if his behaviour is normal and more patience and time is required , i have had him for around a month now.

Am i being too eager for me to earn his trust? , i have read through this forum and have learnt a lot from a lot of threads, when i have him out he is fine it just seems he gets the hump when i go to get him out, the method i found less stressful for both of us is too remove his hide and expose him,
then i wait for his little tounge to flick about and then when he goes to move elsewhere i (TRY TO) pick him up about one third away from his head and then get him out and sometimes its succesful but most times the famous "S" strike is ready.....


ANY HELP WOULD BE GREAT.

im hoping to own a royal python soon too as these are amazing animals and i dont think im prepared to get eaten everytime i go inside its viv.
Would it be worth investing in some snake hooks?


Thanks again for any help on this and sorry for the long post....

[delta]

hes acting defensive as he,s not used to being handled, but the best thing with that is even if he strikes at you is to still get him out as he,ll learn striking means left alone which you dont want, if your worried about getting bit then get a good glove to get him out and then take it of so he gets used to the feel of your skin and your scent not the glove,also a cloth with your smell on it in his hide will help heaps as well
when are you trying to get him out day/night?? cause iv a young royal that if i get her out during the day shes fine but at night she strikes and bites me
good luck

[delta]

oh and i would not bother with a snake hook unless you was gonna get something like a false water cobra corns are gentle snakes and so are royals but if they aint used to being taken out of there viv its just something new and will act defensive cause how does the snake know that you aint gonna kill it!!! it dont

[The Python Kid]

Tottaly agree with delta on that one!
Congrats BTW on becoming a new snake keeper!
It's worth it! Trust me!

[toxicflash]

thanks for the info and tips , its only day time i really get him out as i read its better to handle them during the day as they are more docile, but im going to go with what the owners say with this one because the interwebby may be good but experience is better,

I think its more i dont wwant him to nip me as i have it in my head once his bit me he will keep doing it, not just that i know they dont hurt its more the shock factor for me but from someone going from be scared ( not understanding them properly) to owning one i think i have made a huge leap lol.

i will try 2moro to just reach in and grab and will upload the wounds lol , apparently it feels like just a flick as he is only small at the min (14 inch long )

THANKS AGAIN FOR TIPS , if anyone can help with more info please do as its a nightmare trying to find info on this subject on the interweb