First snake bite.

[Ogre]

Well it took five years but one of my snakes finally bit me. I didn't post it at the time because I haven't been on here for awhile because life just keeps me busy. Anyways it happened purely because I for got the tempement of my RTB, he strikes at the air and you don't put your hand near his head in the enclosure... Also about one minute earlier I was boasting that I hadn't ever been bitten by either of my snakes. Of course I jerked my hand, even though I know I shouldn't, and I made it worse for me and probably him. All was good after the bleeding stopped and disinfection took place. I got him out, get back on the saddle mindset for those horse people out there. Anyways I'm happy it happened, it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought and I didn't think it would be bad really.

[Gio]

Hey,

These are learning experiences and they are worth going through. I've been bitten by 3 of our 4 snakes here. ALL being my fault and NONE of them were a big deal.

My boa constrictor bite was my first, carpet was #2 and my SD x Dwarf retic was the 3rd. My son's royal has never bitten.

Unless you have a really big example of one of the larger species, most bites are a non issue and require little more than a soap and water cleanup.

[Sauzo]

Haha welcome to the club. You eventually get used to it if it happens enough lol. I've been bitten by everyone except my retic(surprise eh) and my dumerils. Most were from me being stupid by handling food and thinking I was faster than the snake if I came in from behind. Words of wisdom, a snake can whip around 180 degrees a lot faster than you can move your hand haha. My big BCI girl has bitten me once and that was when she was a baby. Since then she is hasn't come close and you can pretty much do anything to her. Even my vet and nurses were surprised how mellow she was and how determined she was to get back to me whenever one of them removed her from me lol.

And like Gio said, most bites are a non issue. Even the food bites I took from my BP and my sunglow BCI bled a lot but that was about it. My JCP has bitten me at least 15 times but she is a spazz and just into being handled. She tolerant of it most of the time but doesn't seem to really enjoy it like the retic, my big boa Rosey and my dumerils do. My sunglow seems to take it or leave and sometimes seems to enjoy it. Other times, she just wants off me and finds a pillow or blanket to curl up under lol.

[Cwilson187]

So, what exactly happens when you get tagged by a big one? I'm guessing it hurts a lot more being the teeth are bigger. I'm talking like a nice sized BP, 4-6ft. Just curious to see what that feels like. Because I know my BP is going to reach that size at a point and time and I know I'll possibly get tagged before then.


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[Sauzo]

I've never seen a 6' BP. I've had Dottie grab my index finger up to just below the 2nd knuckle and try and drag my finger/hand into her hide to eat it lol. It was the only bite I had that actually hurt because all the other bites from everyone else were quick tags so you don't even feel them, just some blood. For Dotties bite I had to use my free hand to pick her up and dunk her head with my finger still in her mouth into her water bowl. Once her head was submerged, she let go and then looked at me , adjusted her jaw and crawled into her warm hide lol. This was a feeding error on my part as she was eating one rat and I figured I could reach in real quick and grab a piece of big aspen off her lip before she could finish swallowing. Yeah I know, stupid idea but it was only a 4.5' snake so I wasn't too worried.

A big one tagging you will mean bigger teeth and yes more pain. It's like put a bunch of thumb tacks through a piece of cardboard and then whack the top of your hand with the cardboard. That would probably be what it would feel like lol.

[Ogre]

Seems like that's about right, I imagine the thumb tacks would be like if a retic or an anaconda bit you.

[squatsnstilettos]

I got jabbed once by my BP once and was surprised that there was no pain. Makes sense considering they swallow their food whole so they don't need big teeth to chew and tear flesh. Bites from my guinea pig on the other hand, are far more frequent and painful!

[Lizardlicks]

Lol 5 years. Bean bit me at least 3 times in the last week! Mind you, I let her do that. She came to me a jumpy, nippy thing, so I've started to hold my hand to her and let her take a couple swings without reacting to it. Figure she'll get over it when she sees it doesn't work to scare me off.

[Merriah]

I've been working with mostly baby snakes that I adopt out to families (after they are 6-8 months) that can't have emotional support animals because of allergies (kids in hospitals, wheelchairs, etc.). So, they adopt my snakes. One of them (Harvey) came back because the family wasn't comfortable with feeding him. He came home, ate like a beast, and was very happy. In the last 6 weeks he has struck me twice, but didn't get a bite in. I don't know what happened while he was away, which was only 2 weeks. Before he left he spent 2 hours at a Halloween event being handled constantly for 2 hours without any indication of being upset.
How do I get him to settle back down? He's back on his regular feeding and bathing schedules. Just keep it up?
Thanks!

[Ogre]

I've been working with mostly baby snakes that I adopt out to families (after they are 6-8 months) that can't have emotional support animals because of allergies (kids in hospitals, wheelchairs, etc.). So, they adopt my snakes. One of them (Harvey) came back because the family wasn't comfortable with feeding him. He came home, ate like a beast, and was very happy. In the last 6 weeks he has struck me twice, but didn't get a bite in. I don't know what happened while he was away, which was only 2 weeks. Before he left he spent 2 hours at a Halloween event being handled constantly for 2 hours without any indication of being upset.
How do I get him to settle back down? He's back on his regular feeding and bathing schedules. Just keep it up?
Thanks!

I honestly don't know try making a new thread, you'll at least get a response or two. I would imagine if you just keep on as normal it might get better.