candy cane corn snake

Question
QUESTION: hi i have a candy cane corn snake and he usually very easy to pick up but for the past three times when iv tried to pick him up he has been flinching and tensing up and its like he inflated the middle of his body and he hardly comes out of his cave and when he is in his cave should i lift the cave up to pick him up or wait for him to come out please help

ANSWER: Hi Dean,
   Handle his as normal. It could be a shed cycle or just a stage he is going though. The more you handle him, the more he will get used to you.

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QUESTION: what about the hideout do i pick that up to get him out or shall i wait untill he comes out. do i still handle him if hes going through a shedding cycle.

Answer
Opinions differ, but I prefer to move the hide and approach the snake from behind. Touch his body and let him know that you are there. Do not show fear under any condition. A bite from any corn snake is very minor and although there is no scientific data to back this up, I believe they can sense fear. I also think it is ok to handle him during a shed cycle, but keep in mind the snake cannot see well when his ocular scales are cloudy. He is much more likely to be aggressive due to his lack of vision.