Why are people so scared of a ball python bite?

I have been bitten several times and it is really more of an itch than anything else. I'm not going to go stick my hand in the cage and try and get bit or anything but it really isn't sometime to be deathly afraid of. The fast movement of the snake is startling but the bite itself really doesn't hurt all that much; yet I know people who act like if they get bit they are going to die. What is the deal?

I think it is the fear of getting bit by a venomous snake that is ingrained in our psyche from a young age. Even though we know they aren't venomous, the fear is still there until it happens, then you realize that other things hurt far worse, like cat claws, puppy teeth and tattoos...

For those who misunderstand snakes, they exaggerate(sp?) a bite to be more hurtful than it really is, even though they have never been bitten in their lifetime.

Although, for some of us snake keepers, getting bit is more of a not-so-often thing so we tend to be a little more frightful of being bit. As they say, the strike is more shocking than the bite.

For more experienced keepers and hobbyists, they find a bite to be nothing even if they haven't been bitten a several amount of times.

Some people are more careless and get bit more often (careless meaning they make the mistake more often than a precautious person would).

But, most find it to just be a bite and get on with their lives.

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Originally Posted by Vypyrz

I think it is the fear of getting bit by a venomous snake that is ingrained in our psyche from a young age. Even though we know they aren't venomous, the fear is still there until it happens, then you realize that other things hurt far worse, like cat claws, puppy teeth and tattoos...

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I agree, that and just the general survival instinct to be alert for danger. Just like if someone walks quickly into a room, you naturally will at least glance.

And as far as the pain, it's like getting a shot at the doctor. More anxiety caused by fear than actual rationality. Great, dude.

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Originally Posted by Vypyrz

I think it is the fear of getting bit by a venomous snake that is ingrained in our psyche from a young age. Even though we know they aren't venomous, the fear is still there until it happens, then you realize that other things hurt far worse, like cat claws, puppy teeth and tattoos...

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This reminded me: Some people do have an instinct that they cannot help, like being scared of snakes and not willing to get bitten. I guess as generations and evolution go humans have some instinct of thinking "Snakes are bad, no touchy! They can kill!", which is understandable.

Edit: You are very right too.. Cat claws HURT! Man I tell ya, when my cat scratched me on the side of my finger.. it unbelievably hurt so bad, and the bleeding wouldn't stop until after 5-6 minutes:(. This happened more than once too!:P

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Originally Posted by CoolioTiffany

This reminded me: Some people do have an instinct that they cannot help, like being scared of snakes and not willing to get bitten. I guess as generations and evolution go humans have some instinct of thinking "Snakes are bad, no touchy! They can kill!", which is understandable.

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Word. See my above response.

Ive only been bitten once in my left hand (my thumb) and it bit me right on both of my vains (top and bottom). The most I felt was the numbing sensation, like anesthetics. It was actually cool knowing the sensation and not being carefull about it, like in the future I'll just ignore it :)

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Originally Posted by 17sleep

Ive only been bitten once in my left hand (my thumb) and it bit me right on both of my vains (top and bottom). The most I felt was the numbing sensation, like anesthetics. It was actually cool knowing the sensation and not being carefull about it, like in the future I'll just ignore it :)

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This is exactly why I require all my friends to get voluntarily bitten by my snake before they hold it; so they won't fear it anymore. Then once bitten, I point and laugh at them. It makes for great Saturday nights. :)

I don't know about you...

But I personally would rather not get bitten by anything. Bugs, mice, dog, cat, snakes... doesn't matter.

:snake::snake::snake::snake::snake::snake::snake::snake::snake::snake:
btw do any of you know how to instigate the snake into attacking?

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Originally Posted by 17sleep

:snake::snake::snake::snake::snake::snake::snake::snake::snake::snake:
btw do any of you know how to instigate the snake into attacking?

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Seriously?


How bout you dangle your finger in front of its face.

Ive noticed that if i hold it a certain way from its tail it gets pissed
but im not sure why:confused:
i mean i dont squeez it or anything...
thoughts anyone?

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Originally Posted by 17sleep

Ive noticed that if i hold it a certain way from its tail it gets pissed
but im not sure why:confused:
i mean i dont squeez it or anything...
thoughts anyone?

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Wait... are you saying you hold its tail and don't support the rest of the body... letting the snake hang in mid air?

Instigating a bite on purpose is stressing out the animal and could potentially cause dangerous stress or damage directly.

There was a case of a boa constrictor biting the owner and dying afterwords because it wouldn't eat at all. Risking that amount of stress on a ball python is wrong. It could also miss biting you and hurt itself on something else like glass, as well as it could end up becoming more aggressive in general and bite someone else.

You should never do it, it is irresponsible ownership if you do.

Edit: Also, holding a snake by the end of it's tail alone without any support anywhere else could seriously injure their spine, especially in ball pythons who are not adapt to climbing.

:taz:<------- my snake :P
no, of course not. you know how they wrap around you?
well i dont let it and i just grab its body (support) and with my OTHER
hand i grab the point of its tail. Then it just stares at you, literally turning around to see you.
scary huh?:rolleye2:

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Originally Posted by 17sleep

:taz:<------- my snake :P
no, of course not. you know how they wrap around you?
well i dont let it and i just grab its body (support) and with my OTHER
hand i grab the point of its tail. Then it just stares at you, literally turning around to see you.
scary huh?:rolleye2:

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Oh lol, sorry that's just what it sounded like to me!

My big girl gives me the evil eye whenever I open her tub, so I do know that look very well. ;)

My other two are puppy dogs, but they will just watch you sometimes and it is sort of creepy, my normal guy likes to stretch out towards ppl too :P

It is an attack..there is something in our mind when an animal "Attacks" or defends itself that makes us step back and take note..

P.S. Wait till you get bit by something bigger that a couple of hundred grams..they really know how to aim for the soft parts.

Ok I could use alittle clarification on a few posts, because at first glance they disturb me..
things like asking how to instigate a bite and that you require your friends to be bitten. First thoughts that come to my head are that, to get your snake to bite require it to be stressed or in feeding mode. So, removing feeding mode from the equation, why would you stress your animal out to make sure yourself or someone else gets to experience a nip?

Now Im not trying to bash anyone or start online bickering, Id just like to clear the air alittle. If Im confused on this then someone new to the forum and BP keeping might wonder as well.

That said, even the best of us can get tagged at feeding time during a lapse moment. I've gotten two bites in my time as a keeper. One from a bin of babies that I reached in to single one out and one from my fire during.. you guessed it, nomnom time.

Im not afraid of the bites, im afraid of getting scared crapless by the strike. If you even watch a horror movie with me youll get what im talking about... Im a jumper.

Ive been bite before and the snake constricted my arm by a 1000 gram spider( Feeding mistake I made...) Didnt hurt one bit, you learn after a while not to freak out, I wasnt scared but its one hell of an annoyance.

not been bit yet. is it wierd that i kind of want to just to get it over with lol

My husband was nervous about being bitten, but not really bad. Then his big girl got him.

It was really weird, she didn't strike, she just opened her mouth slowly and then closed it over his wrist. You couldn't even see the mark by the next day.

But sine then, he is terrified of even a hatchling strike. It's so sad. Little bitty thing can't even open it's mouth wide enough to bite you, but if it snaps a little, he freaks out and won't come near it. Worse than that, he's afraid I'm going to get bitten.

Me ? I got tagged once. You needed a magnifying glass to see the blood, and I quit being scared. One of our hatchlings got me, made me bleed a bit. I just started laughing and couldn't stop. This sweet little thing, scared out of his mind, and going to show big, bad me who was boss. It just cracked me up. I'm not in the least bit scared of being bitten by a ball, they just don't do that much damage. I've had a pet BIRD do worse! And don't get me started on kittens.

Gale

I have been bitten a few times. I don't fear getting bitten, but the strike itself makes me jump. Sometimes I still jump during feeding when one of my snakes has a really nice feeding response and hits the rat really hard. I don't want to get bitten so I avoid doing things that would get me bitten but sometimes they take me by surprise and I barely have time to move.

For instance, last night I was checking on all the snakes to change water and I fed a few. Well dumb me, I smelled like rats and mice and when I opened my female normal's tub she literally flew at me. Her tub is at the same height as my face so she was basically striking at my face! Scary stuff when you see a snake's open mouth heading for your nose. Thankfully I moved back enough that she didn't get me, but she was darn close.

I think most people that get bitten lost that fear of getting bitten. Those that have not been bitten before, usually fear it more because they are not sure what its going to feel like. But like I said, I'm not afraid to get bitten again. I know how it feels. I know how much I bleed from it and I know what to expect. But when they strike, it still makes me jump a little. Just a little startling I guess. :rolleyes:

This thread is a bit distressing.. Lets try to be a little more responsible for the HSUS-PETA narcs which may be lurking, shall we?

"Why are people so scared of a ball python bite?"

Because they have not been bitten yet. Not that anyone really wants to be bitten but its true. Facts: The strike will freak you out. The bite will make you point at the BP and laugh. If there is any blood there wont be in about 10 seconds or so.. Anything that moves that fast is too much for our senses. Its natural to jump and fear it.

Some people have never expierenced a ball python bite, it can be scary if you dont know its coming..

-Payson!

I still haven't been full out bitten yet. My lil het albino girl, who was sold to me on the terms that she was a bit of a moody one, was always SO sweet since she'd been here so I was really shocked the other day when I opened her tub to check temps and she struck at me!!

She got me with one tooth and left a little tiny pin prick hole. I have to admit I jumped (I'm very easily frightened...dont sneak up behind me haha!) but then I laughed. It definitely eased my nerves a bit. I'm still not looking forward to getting full out bit but now I'm not as nervous as I was before.

Well, kind of a silly question.

We dont like ANYTHING biting us. Dogs, cats, mice, snakes.. other people.. etc..

Biting is just something we as humans OVERALL are afraid of.

I attribute that to the fact we dont have any natural predators so its turned our species into a bunch of softies.

Bottom line is its not just snake bites.. No one enjoys being bitten by anything.. Makes sense to me :D

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Originally Posted by EvesFriend

I have been bitten several times and it is really more of an itch than anything else. I'm not going to go stick my hand in the cage and try and get bit or anything but it really isn't sometime to be deathly afraid of. The fast movement of the snake is startling but the bite itself really doesn't hurt all that much; yet I know people who act like if they get bit they are going to die. What is the deal?

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I don't know if you have aver been hit good by a large ball python, but they can definitely give a bite that causes more than an itch. I have been caught by a 4500g female and I was still picking teeth out of my hand two weeks later.

Yeah, I agree that it's the strike that's the startling part. Then it's like, "you bit me? really?". My first bite was pretty normal, except that I was extremely undereducated about BP's (thanks Big Box PetStore). I ended up getting a tetanus shot that night, and because it was after 8, it turned into an ER visit. I called Nurse Direct to see what I should do to clean the bite and the nurse told me to go the ER right away if I hadn't had an updated tetanus shot. You live and learn I guess.

I wouldn't say people are scared of being bitten so much as we dislike it.

Getting tagged by a baby is nothing, but when it's an adult...well, the level of dislike raises considerably, they can hurt.