Ball python bit me, but "without teeth"?

[spottedsnake]

So I was holding my BP, who's been pretty scared lately as I've been rubbing an eye cream on his eyes for his retained eyecaps and he doesn't like it, and I put my hand near him. He got scared and bit my finger, but it just felt wet and there was absolutely no pain. He didn't even leave a bite mark, it's like he didn't even have teeth (which his teeth aren't tiny or anything, he's 4 years old). This was pretty weird and funny. Has this ever happened to you, and if so how? BPs don't have retractable teeth so I'm not sure how he did this.

[RickyNY]

Probably it was a 'leave me alone' tag. I believe a feeding bite might hurt a little.

[spottedsnake]

Oh okay, I honestly didn't even know they could do that. He's only ever bit me 3 times, once when he was really tiny and barely had any teeth to bite with, once during feeding (it hurt quite a bit and bled a lot) and once when he was freaked out in his tank (he hardly grazed my finger though since I pulled away).
Does this mean that when they're freaked out they can bite you in a non-painful way? I thought all bites were equally painful and bloody as the feeding bite he gave me. If that's not the case, that does make me a bit more comfortable with handling him when he's scared like this.

[Bogertophis]

Yes, some snakes show a lot of self-control...they are just being defensive & some seem to recognize us in the very moment they start to bite so they
hesitate and don't clamp down...I think it's awfully cute. But don't "count on it", lol.

[spottedsnake]

Oh okay thanks! I feel a little bit silly for not knowing that, but it is comforting to think that it's possible he didn't want to bite down fully so just warned me.

[Bogertophis]

It even happens with venomous snakes. Sometimes a person will get a 'dry bite', like when a rattlesnake realizes that hiker's ankle isn't food & doesn't want to
waste venom...the strike was only a panic reaction on their part to someone who got too close, just self-defense. Like I said though, "don't count on it".

[spottedsnake]

That's really interesting, and it makes a lot of sense! Thanks so much for your help

[Spechal]

I was just "leave me alone" tagged as well, but felt the tooth and it did draw blood. What's interesting to me is the shape of the bite mark. It's circular.