Ball Python bit without striking first

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Originally Posted by kathleenwdwrd

So just tried to take him out to feed him and he bit me almost immediately -_- I'm afraid the taste of human blood has turned my friendly little guy to a meanie :(

Even made sure to clean my hands up to my elbows

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He is not mean. He thinks you are into BDSM. :P

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Originally Posted by craigafrechette

Am I the only one who sometimes wishes I could play with my snakes the way we play with dogs, cats, ferrets, etc... just some gentle rough housing and a few play bites?? Maybe a little tug-of-war, chase the toy, etc...Hahaha!!
I said that to my girlfriend a while back and she looked at me like I had 7 heads!!
Maybe it is just me??

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This.

Hahahaha, that’s exactly how my little scrub first bit me! At the store in the first 20 seconds of holding him. I thought he just wanted a snuggle ;) He still loves to rub his face into my skin and if he does it too hard, his teeth prick me. Don’t think it’s intentional; he just likes face hugs!


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Originally Posted by CALM Pythons

What exactly happened? Why would you be taking him out to feed him? This is the snake you've had foe 2 years if i remember correctly...where was the food compared to you and the snake?


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I feed him in a separate container to avoid him associating me with feeding time. I was putting him in his feeding tank and he was mostly in but clinging onto the edge. I went to pick his tail up to get him all the way in and he bit me and let go. I did jerk away a bit but hopefully he let go cause he realized it was me and not a rat. I'm just gonna get some gloves to avoid this in the future until I'm sure he's not gonna bite me. I work in the service industry and my hands can't have open wounds all the time or I wouldn't care so much. My feelings are hurt more than anything lol.

I think it was because it was a separate enclosure lol. He now associated that with food and well...ya. Lol welcome to the bite club lol.

Sorry your little guy turned on you, LOL! I wouldn't take it personally. At least he has a good feeding response! My female hasn't eaten in almost 5 months!

Having said all that, do you feed live or F/T?

Are you against feeding in the enclosure?

I feed all my snakes in the enclosure and have had zero issues. Well, had a (mistaken) feeding bite this past week from my BCI, but she was more upset it seemed than I was. I am now hook training her.

My corn is aggressive at feeding, as is my BCI (lol - see above), and my BP can be from time to time, but I still feed in the enclosure. I have heard of more stories where feeding outside led to trouble than the other way around.

Others can chime in, but I'd be interested to see what your responses are.

It could also be dumb luck that it happened twice in a couple of weeks. I am sure he doesn't hate you! Just a confused little guy.

I was adamant in the beginning to feed in a separate box. Deb set me straight. I feed both my babies in their tanks and have never been bitten or mistaken for food. I also have a routine set up with them. They know feeding day. They are both out and telling me it's time. They also know that I take them out, weigh them, and then feed after they go back into their enclosure. I also wash hands before taking them out and after I put them in so there Is no rat smell on my hands. Odyn is my chow snake and will keep eating if I let him, while booplesnoop will take her small rat and be satisfied.

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Originally Posted by kathleenwdwrd

I feed him in a separate container to avoid him associating me with feeding time. I was putting him in his feeding tank and he was mostly in but clinging onto the edge. I went to pick his tail up to get him all the way in and he bit me and let go. I did jerk away a bit but hopefully he let go cause he realized it was me and not a rat. I'm just gonna get some gloves to avoid this in the future until I'm sure he's not gonna bite me. I work in the service industry and my hands can't have open wounds all the time or I wouldn't care so much. My feelings are hurt more than anything lol.

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There is the problem. It's a misconception people have thats its good to feed snakes in a separate enclosure. For one moving a snake after they eat is bad, and for two now he tagged a heat source as soon as he was getting into the feeding tub.
This is why people hook train or do things to condition the snake before picking them up so that they don't think it's feeding time. I rub my snakes with the hook or I just pick up the hide and rub them with the hide a little bit. When I'm feeding I put the Rat in front of the hide door and right away they know it's time to eat and strike from inside. One thing I wouldn't do is dangle my finger in front of the hide door because that would be a trigger for them.
I would try feeding in the enclosure like everyone will mentioned, of course it's only a suggestion for ya.


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Originally Posted by CALM Pythons

There is the problem. It's a misconception people have thats its good to feed snakes in a separate enclosure. For one moving a snake after they eat is bad, and for two now he tagged a heat source as soon as he was getting into the feeding tub.
This is why people hook train or do things to condition the snake before picking them up so that they don't think it's feeding time. I rub my snakes with the hook or I just pick up the hide and rub them with the hide a little bit. When I'm feeding I put the Rat in front of the hide door and right away they know it's time to eat and strike from inside. One thing I wouldn't do is dangle my finger in front of the hide door because that would be a trigger for them.
I would try feeding in the enclosure like everyone will mentioned, of course it's only a suggestion for ya.


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+1 and I also feed live, they will eat 100% of the time if it's live. I let the fella go in front of my beeps hide and it's usually pretty quick right after that.

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Originally Posted by dakski

Sorry your little guy turned on you, LOL! I wouldn't take it personally. At least he has a good feeding response! My female hasn't eaten in almost 5 months!

Having said all that, do you feed live or F/T?

Are you against feeding in the enclosure?

I feed all my snakes in the enclosure and have had zero issues. Well, had a (mistaken) feeding bite this past week from my BCI, but she was more upset it seemed than I was. I am now hook training her.

My corn is aggressive at feeding, as is my BCI (lol - see above), and my BP can be from time to time, but I still feed in the enclosure. I have heard of more stories where feeding outside led to trouble than the other way around.

Others can chime in, but I'd be interested to see what your responses are.

It could also be dumb luck that it happened twice in a couple of weeks. I am sure he doesn't hate you! Just a confused little guy.

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I feed him F/T or fresh killed. I am going to try feeding from his enclosure from now on, makes it easier for us all lol.

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Originally Posted by kathleenwdwrd

I feed him F/T or fresh killed. I am going to try feeding from his enclosure from now on, makes it easier for us all lol.

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Cool. I feed all my snakes F/T. Better for all involved in my opinion.

I think the switch to feeding in the enclosure will be pretty easy.

Just make sure you have a nice set of hemostats/tongs, etc. to hold the rat!

I don't know if it makes a difference, but I also feed all my snakes (nocturnal - BP, BCI, and Corn) at night in near darkness. I only handle with lights on in room and/or tank.

My corn and BP don't even think food unless it's nighttime and the lights are out, but then, especially with the corn, watch out!

Behira, my BCI, has a real strong feeding response, and has only been with me for a few months, so we will see how that will work with her. However, even my corn, got conditioned pretty quick and has never mistaken me for food.