Getting bit by our beloved snakes....

I think that is still my biggest fear. I have given birth four times and am afraid of a snake bite!!! It's almost like I want to get bit just to get it over with so I won't be afraid anymore!!! Sounds stupid, I know. I have read the other posts about those of you being bitten and just letting the snake "chew" on you and I freak out!!! I've had a few of those SFE's and almost gotten bit, but thankfully I was quicker than my boa!!! How do you get over the fear? It doesn't keep my from holding them, but I have to admit, my heart starts pumping a little faster when I go to pick them up!!!

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Originally Posted by stephg

I think that is still my biggest fear. ... How do you get over the fear? It doesn't keep my from holding them, but I have to admit, my heart starts pumping a little faster when I go to pick them up!!!

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Two thoughts come to me: First is what I do now...which is to try and fully visualize the event and my reaction to it if it actually happened. I imagine a snake mistaking my hand for food and lunging...and then I imagine myself holding perfectly still and dealing with the issue in a slow, considerate manner. Most likely the snake will realize its error and let go right away. Jerking my hand away (or whatever body part) would simply make whatever small injury there was much worse.

The other thought: There is definitely an emotional reaction to seeing a snake strike...even a tiny baby snake. When we first got our gopher snake...he freaked me out a couple times by being defensive and striking. SO...my suggestion would be to find a place where you can interact with some nervous, flighty babies. If you see it a few times, you can condition yourself to not react reflexively...and if you happen to get bit by a baby, it's nothing more than a pin prick, if that....and then you can say you've "been bit" and realize it's not that big of a deal.

That's great advice, JLC!!! A friend of mine is a breeder so when I get up enough guts (HA HA HA) I'll go see his "nervous, flighty babies!!!" :D You said it perfectly - to condition myself not to act reflexively because now that's all I would do and make things worse!!! Last night when I was feeding my boa, I did something stupid and dropped the mouse then tried to pick it up again... needless to say, Ty lunged at my hand and I just instinctively pulled away. Luckily I was faster!!! :oops:

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im not so much afraid of getting bit as waiting for it to happen. back in the day my baby corn snapped at my jacket when it got in the way of his feeding (only logical explination i can come up with). Crowley has been very docile up until this past feeding when he actually bit my boyfriend- SFE on my part as i wanted to get that dead rat out of there (but i smelt like mouse and had tony do it). i felt bad that it was mostly my fault in the whole incident but tony didnt mind at all. it drew a bit of blood, but on the whole was very shallow (he immediatly let go after striking). Tony's kind of how i am about the biting. get the first one out of the way and its all good.
like falling off a bike. it happens eventually.

so long as you remain calm, and dont exaggerate the wound- i rather get a few needle pricks than a skent knee anyday. (but then again, i dont have some of the 'big boys' some of you guys have ;D. )

To put it into perspective.. the bite I got four days ago from a lhasa apso (little foo foo dog) hurt more and longer than either bite from the big boids (8' burm and 7' dumerils boa)

The other day the girl and I were at my buddy's shop. She was trying to pick out a snake she liked...for the sixth time. She fell in love with a newby there...a Red Blood Python. It was baby still, but I know how those babies are. She was bound and determined to get it. I knew this wasn't a first time snake, so I demonstrated. I reached and picked it up, and sure as s##t, Wham. Right on me. She didn't get it, she is going with a Western Hognose instead. LOL

Yep baby bloods are stinkers. I'm glad mine have settled down.

I'll take a bite to warn someone who doesn't know any better...lol. It was quick too, wow. They have quite the bite for such a little sucker.

Yes, it's amazing the strength they have to explode out at you!

Being bitten sorta scares me too - I've been bitten by my parrot numerous times and he digs in well and good and hangs on and on and on ... Little Emily's so sweet I can't imagine her ever biting me. I'd like to get an RTB one day - are boas more likely to bite than BPs?

I know it's gonna happen one day - especially now we've got a Sav - and I'm kind of dreading it though I know it can't be as bad as a parrot or a dog ...