Snake sitting a big male corn snake...YIKES!

Question
QUESTION: Hi! I need help PLEASE! I have learned some, but, I have a few questions.
I'm watching a corn snake, for my friend Luther. I, being somewhat afraid of snakes, was hesitant on taking him until I saw that the person who had him before me was neglecting him, re: water bowl dry as a bone & had not fed him at all in the 3 weeks he had him. GRRRRR!
His name is Fred, but I call him "BABY". Baby's owner GUARANTEED me that baby will NOT bite me, but I am still afraid. This is Luther's snake & although he has never bitten Luther, he does not know me from a can of paint. I am afraid to put my hand in the tank, though I did yesterday finally, to take out his water bowl to clean it. (Baby was in his hiding rock so I took advantage of the moment) lol
I started using a thingie that sucks water from my aquarium, to remove water from his bowl, so I didn't have to put my hands in there, for fear of being bitten. And I use tongs to clean his waste. He was freshly shed on the 31'st, when
I took him. I got him Friday (10.31.08) & immediately fed him 2 medium feeder mice, which of coarse he devoured in seconds flat! Here it is the 7th of Nov & I think if I brought another mouse, he WILL eat it. Will it be OK if I
did, rather than wait until the 14th?
There is an under tank heater & I am using "Critter Control Natural Bedding".
THANK~YOU SO MUCH IN ADVANCE!!! :)

1) My main question has to be, WILL HE BITE ME?? How can I know & do they have teeth? Venom?
2) Do I need a UVA/UVB hood/light heater thingie? If so,what exactly do I need to purchase?
3) Can he HEAR me speak to him?
4) He seems to be, like, "Hissing" at me? Why?

ANSWER: OK, here we go...

Corns are, in general, very docile.  While I will not promise he won't bite, I will say most don't.  The key to picking him up is to not do it like a bird would.  Don't come at him with a giant claw shaped hand.  Put your fingers together and your thumb next to your hand and slide your hand under his body.  He may be a little squirmy at first depending on how long its been since he was handled, but he should calm down.  Is there anyone you know who has some experience w/ snakes that could come help you out?  They do have teeth.  They DO NOT have venom.  A bite would be harmless, other than the heart attack...

As to feeding, you said he was big, but not how big.  Judge the prey items by how big around he is at his BIGGEST point.  Do not concern yourself with the size of his neck.  He will get it down.  One prey item per week is fine unless he is more than say 3 feet, then I would do two or switch to rats.  Feed him again on the 7th.

You do not need to worry about UV at all.  The undertank heater and a water dish big enough to get into is all you need.

He can "feel" you speaking, moving, cleaning, etc.  

It is extremely rare for a corn to hiss.  Are you sure you are not hearing him exhale?  If you are hearing him breath he my have a respiratory infection.  If you see any bubbles around his mouth or nose get him to a vet.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: EXCELLENT!
THANK~YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR YOUR HELP!!!
As for how big he is...I still don't know & can't know unless I take him out. My guess...about 3 feet long? But, can you say...B-I-G! ha ha ha
You wrote..."Feed him again on the 7th.", which I did. I gave him a small rat & he attacked it immediately, as I suspected he would. AMAZING how he can get that big thing down his throat. lol
I have since spoken to Luther, his owner, and he said he was feeding him small rats & was getting ready to start Baby on MED rats.  I feel horrible now, giving him medium feeder mice as this was merely a snack for this monstrous guy. lol
I felt as though I was starving him. :(
I video taped the feeding. :) Way cool!
You wrote..."You do not need to worry about UV at all." Hmmm? OK. I thought they needed it, something about "Calcium"?
Please, if you can, explain to me what you mean when you wrote..."He can "feel" you speaking, moving, cleaning, etc."? I am quite curious. He is so cool in the way he "Watches" my every move. His tongue goes in & out & I know he is checking out what I am doing. A bit scary, yet so cool.
I placed some plastic greenery in his tank. I read somewhere, perhaps on your site, that they enjoy this as means of "Hiding"? Is this OK? ;)

OK, I have flapped me gums long enough. THANK~YOU for being here for me. I am thrilled that I have someone with expertise to help me along. I CAN'T WAIT until I can hold him!!! :)  

Answer
UV and calcium is more for animals that bask (lizards/turtles), as snakes eat whole prey they don't need calcium suppliments and they don't bask.

They feel vibration but don't actually hear.  Their main sense is their sense of smell-taste (the tongue).

Plastics green stuff is fine.