Lost confident around my Spider Ball Python

[rayray92]

Hey everyone

My 3 year old spider ball python Nagini, is the most docile snake that i have ever kept, she used to just hang round my dads neck and was very curious and would explore everywhere, and i was holding her today an she start rubbing her nose on my fingers and i thought nothing of it, so i carried on watching tv, then i felt a sharp pain on the tip of my middle finger and she had clamped down on it and wouldn't let go, and it hurt quite abit so i went out in the kitchen and submerged her in water and slowly prided her off my finger and my dad put her back in the viv.

So we fed her after, thinking she may have been hungry and she took the food , so obviously she must have been hungry and mistook my finger for food.

Now i'm gonna be a little nervous about holding her as its the first time i've been bitten by a snake and they have held on.

Any tips? or do i just have to keep holding her and slowly get used to her again?

thanks everyone

[dr del]

Had you been handling any fur-pets or putting out snake food to defrost?

[rayray92]

errrm i was stroking my dog about and hour before hand?

[dr del]

Might want to wash your hands to remove any animal scent before handling.

[ARBallMorphs]

The most important thing next tome you take her out is to ne just as confident as you always have been, Ans i know the first time an snake bites you ot can screw with your confidencen in that snake.

but to me this sounds kind like an feeding response as bp's usualy bite and let go if they bite to let you know to leave it alone.

Good luck next tome you gonna take her out , i am sure it will be doen next time

[Izzys Keeper]

This exact same thing has happened to me with no provocarion and no rat scent

[Sonny1318]

Sorry to hear that, unfortunately it sort of comes with the territory. Besides taking proper precautions, and practicing good husbandry. It's a snake, and that possibility of getting bit exists. It's happened to me with boas, it definitely can be unnerving. Be brave, it's worth it.

[ARBallMorphs]

omg i just sis read my post and all those typo's..... sorry for that.

i send that message with my iphone and i hate typing on my iphone. hope the thing i was trying to tell you was still understandable if not let me know and i'll repost it without the stupid typo's

[rafacacho]

Lol....I love spider. Kingsnakes are always trying to eat me, but never a ball python, might have something to do with spider morph special smartness!

[Gemma]

I was bit once. I was putting a baby ball python in a terrarium that housed 2 snakes (not sure what kind of snake the other one was). As I was lowering the baby in, the big one got me right on the side of my hand. I screamed (scared the beejeeezus outta me), dropped the baby python in the terrarium, & stumbled backwards. He only released because the screen top fell on top of him.

After that, of course I was nervous. But it never stopped my fascination. & every once in a while, I STILL get nervous. Usually when Gemma goes from moving hand to hand to just holding still & staring at me, I get her to move somehow because it freaks me out. But, nonetheless, I hold her. Love on her. Play with her. I'm sure you'll have no problem getting back into the routine of holding Nagini. :]