I Admit. I'm Scared!

If it helps allay your fears any Karen my husband and I purchased an adult female BP last year from a pet store. If you search using the word "Brannagh" you'll see lots of write-ups on how aggressive she was (she was just afraid not mean). She did bite each of us but only through our own inattention or error. She was 2,000 grams and 4 feet long back then and she left nothing more than a small bite really. I've had cats and my own kids bite me far worse. Most of the damage was more from us pulling back instinctively and dragging her teeth through our skin then anything Brannagh truly inflicted. They don't usally grab and clamp and certainly don't chew like a dog might do. It's normally no more than a fast jab at you, a few pinprick marks if any. Just wash the area well with warm water and soap and dab on a bit of neosporin. It's more likely the snake will lose a tooth and hurt worse than you'll ever be.

Btw with care, gentle but firm handling for very short periods of time, respect for the snake and routines...that once very difficult 2,000 gram female is now handled by 5 year old children. She's a glorious snake and was worth all the time and effort to get her to this point.

I have felt the same way. Nervous to pick it up. Well now i pick mine up without fear and let it crawl (slither) all on me. Now I have no fear even if i get bit.

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

Just a thought here but since you've only had this snake 2 weeks and I'm assuming here she's an 06 hatchling you may be pushing it with 30 minutes of handling or any handling at all right now. The biggest priority with any new snake but especially a little one is a solid feeding pattern, well established before handling begins. Personally I'd give the snake a few more weeks of weekly feedings that are successful then start with handling sessions of less than 10 minutes. It may take weeks or months to work up to 30 minutes at a time but please believe me it's very worth your patience.

Think of the 20 years ahead of you with this lovely snake and a few weeks or months now of patience will seem like nothing.

Also I believe that fear radiates from humans on a level we can't sense but I feel snakes and other animals do. When you do handle, try to remain as calm as possible. Wear gloves if it makes you feel more comfortable (it is NOT wimpy to glove up if you are a bit nervous or the snake is acting up, no matter what some people will say). Have your snake crawl on a blanket on your lap so if she nips she can't reach your skin. Whatever it takes to bring down your level of fear and stress.

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With my retic I wore gloves! That beast scared the poop out of me! but it was the only thing that made me feel better about treating him.and once he was treated it was a good thing I did have the golves. :eek:

My Royal, Byron only ever once bit me and that was when he was a tiny hatchling and he bit me out of fear. I didn't put him down, just carried on handling him. He decided very quickly I was not going to eat him. My BRB did the same thing once - again not long after I got him. He's never done it again as he also learned very quickly I wasn't a threat to him.


Does it hurt? No. A paper cut is far, far worse.

Also when moving her from one hand to another instead of comming down and in front of her try comming up from the bottom of her. Baby snakes are usally jumpy from this movement simply because predators usally come from above ie..birds, mammals etc....
Bites come with the territory, many will go years with out being bit, others only minutes. There is really no question of "IF" but "When". I had my first snake over 6 years before experiencing my first bite, from a friends snake my wife held on closer to 9. My first tag was a Rosy Boa her's was a Retic.