Jackson struck at my friend!

My friend came over tonight and I wanted to show her my BP Jackson. So, I took him out and held him, and when she put her hand out to pet him, he struck at her!:O I've never seen him strike at anyone, he's such a chill little guy. And when i picked him up, he didn't seem antsy or skiddish at all, he was very relaxed. She wasn't handling mice or anything, and she was going for his middle- not the head...I can't imagine why he did that. I felt so bad. For scaring Jackson and my friend. Anyone seen behavior like this with unfamiliar people before?

a warm hand coming at him hmm, My little ones do it all the time.

Behavior like this from a snake? A wild animal?

Nah..... Never.

Lol!

Even the tamest pet snake can get spooked or have an off day. I trust my female SD Retic fully and will handle her by myself with no problems. Even though she is easily the strongest snake I have ever owned. Even at less than 6ft long, she can almost instantly cut off circulation in an arm if she decides to tighten. She's stronger than a burm I had which was larger. But she's completely puppy dog tame and calm.

Does this mean I would be surprised if she ever decided to bite me for "no apparent reason"? Nope.

I sold a baby BP a few weeks ago that was a great eater but never once struck at me or anyone else. I handled this one often. As I'm telling the guy who showed up to pick him up how nice he his, he proceeds to strike out at the guys movements in front of him... Turned me into a liar lol!

It happens. It's a snake.

Snakes aren't the brightest creatures and they don't have predictive behavior like dogs and cats. They operate mostly on instinct. For whatever reason, your snake felt threatened (fast movement, warm hand, who knows?) and did one of the few things snakes can do when they feel threatened: they strike.

Older snakes don't strike as much as younger ones, but they still can. If you can't handle a snake strike, don't get near one.

FWIW, BP bites are pretty minor. I'm pretty good at reading my snakes and avoiding bites now, but they still occur and it isn't that big of a deal.

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Originally Posted by Foschi Exotic Serpents

It happens. It's a snake.

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This.

Yeah, true! I was just suprised because he's never been aggressive before! If it was me he had struck at or even bitten, it really would have been fine. I mean, I still wold have been like- "WHAT?!" but I felt bad because I was just telling her about how he's so calm and docile, and he pulls that. :P:rofl:

We all have our bad days! :D

Snakes bite

It can happen for various reasons.

I can tell you that most every time someone next to me is holding a snake the snake will strike in my direction :rolleyes: (only happens with snakes that do not belong to me)

It's a snake it's not a puppy nothing I would worry about just something I would make people unfamiliar with snake aware of.

:)I've had a few balls that have never bit at me, and my girlfriends sister had her new pastel sent to my house. I was taking a picture of it with my cell phone to show her, and it struck my hand. So might want to watch out if you're using a cell, as it puts off a fair amount of heat, although it's not really painful. Just my .02

Possibly, because your friends scent was unfamiliar...

Heh heh,

My dinker female struck at my mums husband last friday. :twisted:

She was shedding, building and had just been woken up so I couldn't really blame her. Well for those reasons and the fact he makes me want to do the same. :cool:

But it happens even with snakes you have had for years - as everyone said they are relatively ....er..... uncomplicated mentally. :rolleyes:

Just remember not to take it personally and instantly take pics before wiping away any blood they manage to shed. :gj:

Entry to bite club demands nothing less. :ninja:


dr del

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Originally Posted by Deborah

It can happen for various reasons.

I can tell you that most every time someone next to me is holding a snake the snake will strike in my direction :rolleyes: (only happens with snakes that do not belong to me)

It's a snake it's not a puppy nothing I would worry about just something I would make people unfamiliar with snake aware of.

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Yes indeedy! And it's great fun to watch too! She's just a huge heat emitting predator, and the snakes love to strike at her!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dr del

Heh heh,

My dinker female struck at my mums husband last friday. :twisted:



dr del

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:rofl: Ummm... your smilie is perfect....

When I worked at the pet shop 10 years ago or so, we used to get farm raised BP's in quite a bit. Besides the massive blue ticks all over them, they also had quite the ugly attitudes. Needless to say, I would get bitten almost every time I was in their enclosures. The bites weren't as bad as..say..some of the coloubrids that clamp and wiggle their heads, or a burmese baby even..It eventually got to the point where I would just let them strike me while changing their water or spot cleaning, otherwise I could have sat there for an hour trying to play "dodge-ball"! It just makes things worse if you let the anxiety and paranoia build and you become "scared" of the snakes striking. It can really put a damper on things, when you should be enjoying your snakes. Basically, I have the mentality that whenever I reach into a tub to grab one of my snakes while he/she is looking grumpy, its best to just get them right away because the longer you hesitate, the more ready to strike get. A little off subject but hopefully helpful.