HI ALL

[andrea]

Hi all! Nice to be back! I havent been on this site for approx 2yrs. Been a little busy as you might recall I had a few things to deal with such as moving, divorcing and sorting out stuff. However all is sorted now so much happier.

Last time I was chatting on here my corn Homer was being a bit of a fussy eater. I am very glad to say that he is now scoffing adult mice with ease and is currently about 4ft long and quite thick!!! So much for me worrying!!!

I have a question for you all and would appreciate any help and advice: Homer is becoming a bit skittish when I come to get him out of his viv! He is extremely quick at first but he calms down after a couple of minutes. However he makes me jump and I dont want to startle him further. Anything I should be doing so hes more laid back???

[John Pilling]

Glad to see you back, and glad things have settled for you.

I'm glad Homer is eating again, and as to his behavior i would suggest starting again like a little 1, placing your hand in the viv or (if he's curious) open the viv door (if a front opener, sorry can't remember off hand) and just let him climb out and over your open hand (blizzard comes out this way now 9/10 times, but i still need to go in for chocky, but and he to can be skittish very fast and occasionally tail rattling at me, but 9/10 times he's fine).

Just be patient and always put him back when he's feeling comfortable, that way he'll learn he always goes back home on a positive (might take a month or 2 to sink in tho).

Good luck, and keep us updated.

[andrea]

Hi Thanks, Glad other corns rattle their tails too! Really made me jump when he first did that! I have a front opening viv and am always worried that he will be so quick and get out past me?! Why do you think he started doing this? He was always really laid back and I could pick him out every day without him being bothered? Is it an age thing?

[John Pilling]

I just put it down as a male thing, (and that coming from me , lol).

Seriousley tho, just be patient as i think it might just be a phase, esspecially if he hasn't breed, i know chockys more aggressive and rattles more whilst in breeding season, and he also goes off his food (as do most adult males, for anything from 2-3weeks, upto 14-16 weeks). This alone is enough to stress him as he only has 1 thing on his mind, and it's not being handled.

Saying that, at this time of year it's very late in the season for breeding, and is rare, but can and does still happen.

Apart from the breeding suggestion I'm stumped as thats usually the main reason, unless he's like that 24/7/365, but again thats a rarity in itself.

My best suggestion is to just leave him alone for a while (a week to 10 days, just go in to change the water and feed him), and see if that settles him down, if not let me know and i'll see what else i can dig up in the meantime, the other thing is check his temps in the viv, more so if the heating isn't on a stat as it could be spiking with the weather, and his being more aggressive could be his way of telling you.

Anyway, good luck and keep us posted, and if i dig anything else up ill post it here for you.

[andrea]

Hi again and thanks. Ive been just changing his water and straightening his viv a little and keeping my hands around him without picking him up and he seems to be relaxing a bit. He is not rattling his tail as much and is not dashing around the viv to escape. His temperature is fine and Im hoping its just a male hormone thing he he! LOL!

Also he got out of his viv the other night and i managed to catch him and put him back in without him being too furious! He did try and stay roaming round my kitchen though!

Hopefully wont be too long before he is friendly again.