Harmless snake de-latching techniques??

I was hoping to get some of the experts advice on how to safely detach a snake that has bitten and wont release, Im sure myself, and other fairly new snake owners would benefit greatly from knowing how to handle that situation.

I personally have heard either:
-Wait until they stop biting
-Stick their head under water so they stop (is that even safe??)
-Try gentley pulling the snake off

I know it varies from case by case and snake by snake, but does anybody who has experienced this before have any general suggestions that they wouldnt mind adding?? Any advice would be greatly appriciated. Thank you! :D

i have also heard to run tap water over their head

is there a snake latched onto you right now?

It depends on the snake. Obviously a fully grown retic bite would be more of a concern than a Ball. If it's a Ball, just wait it out. They'll release you eventually and push the head forward a little when they do start to release to prevent the rear facing teeth from coming out.

For large snakes, I've heard of a number of different techniques such as running their head under hot/cold water, spraying alcohol on their head, and even bending their tails. Fortunately, I've never been in that situation so I couldn't tell you which one is the most effective method.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SkYyame

i have also heard to run tap water over their head

is there a snake latched onto you right now?

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Haha no, but tonight is feeding night. I was thinking about it at work today so I figured id ask incase im ever in that situation

Quote:

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Originally Posted by xdeus

It depends on the snake. Obviously a fully grown retic bite would be more of a concern than a Ball. If it's a Ball, just wait it out. They'll release you eventually and push the head forward a little when they do start to release to prevent the rear facing teeth from coming out.

For large snakes, I've heard of a number of different techniques such as running their head under hot/cold water, spraying alcohol on their head, and even bending their tails. Fortunately, I've never been in that situation so I couldn't tell you which one is the most effective method.

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Haha Im hoping im never in that situation either. I hope I never have to expirience a full grown retic or burm bite haha. thanks for your input!

I recently got a baby Firefly, and the first time I picked him up, he was fine in my hand for a little while, then he sniffed my finger, slowly opened his mouth, bit down, and constricted. I hadn't touched a mouse or rat in several days, so I have no idea what made him do this. I filled a large bowl with lukewarm water and dunked my hand in there with him constricting it. he instantly let go, and has been fine ever since.

Just my experience, he was very small, I have no idea if this would work on a larger snake.

If it's a feeding response, and you've got an ambitious feeder attached to you... hold as still as possible. Let your arm/hand go limp - if you twitch even slightly, you'll get coiled harder. I had one that got my thumb as I was moving a hut out of the way, and didn't even think that I smelled like rats from the other snakes... as soon as I let me hand go completely limp, snake let go and started looking for the head.

As far as quickest and one of the safest means of removing a snake (especially if it's a big one), have an ice pack or ice cubes handy. I've used cool water and even room temperature water poured over the face/into the mouth with luck... but I've also had a snake be completely submerged with no luck... ice cubes/ice packs put up to the snakes nose/heat pits if they have them works like a charm. Don't even necessarily need to touch the snake.... they feel that extreme cold and instantly release.

Mouth wash aka Listerine I probably miss spelled that.. A real little bit of mouth wash and tge get off.. Not in tge eye or face but on you so it drips down alittle towards them and light mouth contact not like pour on thier head till it popa off. No I mean light.


Sry for miss spelling new phone

I've heard that your best bet is to keep some Listerine in a spray bottle in your snake room. Just spray the part they're biting (basically so they taste it) and they let go. Any mouthwash with alcohol in it should do.

The alcohol tastes bitter to them, which makes them think 'Crud, I bit something poisonous, ew ew ew!' And let go.

Thanks for the responses all, looks like is time to start keeping some ice cubes/alcohol/listerine around.

Can I try using jack as an alcohol replacement? if i could get her to like it, she would be my kind of snake :P

mouthwash is a great, harmless idea! well i think it's harmless.

I've been bit verious times by my baby jungle/coastal carpet python. wasn't a big deal, of course, when she was tiny. she usually just bit, and let go, because she was scared. she's halfway over that...but now has gotten to where she may bit after a feeding when i try to get her back into her viv. she's twice the size she was (yes, yes, i'm getting a hook at the reptile show in a few weeks lol)
Anyway, this one time she'd eaten, and i didn't wait long enough to move her, so she struck...and held on! just barely....i laughed...but when i reached with the other hand to gently remove her....she cut her eyes over, and bit harder...and HARDER. lord i was surprised how hard that snake can bite for her size!!! The little jerk. thought i was food and that it was gonna get taken away, or something i guess.
Naturally, i pulled back and just waited for her to let go. she has such an evil little stare.
LOL
She hasn't done it since, but i've also been careful about waiting until she's done with feeding mode, and reading her body language.

Most of the time i would probably just wait it out...i don't know how possible or practical that is if they are a large snake though. Knowing me, i'd probably just get bit and wait since i wouldn't want to hurt them. BUT...if the snake was big enough i'd probably try to grasp behind the jaw-hinge, like you do when you are trying to open their mouths for inspection.