Why did my ball python bite me?

hi all, im a first timer to this forum and a first timer to keeping reptiles, hope you guys can advise and help.

so i have a 6 month old mojave ball python and today for the first time it took a bite at me.

when i feed it, i normally put it in a plastic container and drop a mouse in it to feed. today as i was getting ready to feed it. i placed the container right next to its cage and when i opened his cage door and tried to pull him out he took a bite at me. i was thinking maybe he say the container and thought it was accosiated with food? any ideas?

Probably because he thought you were food.

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when i feed it, i normally put it in a plastic container and drop a mouse in it to feed. today as i was getting ready to feed it. i placed the container right next to its cage and when i opened his cage door and tried to pull him out he took a bite at me. i was thinking maybe he say the container and thought it was accosiated with food? any ideas?

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Because the best way to get tagged is by moving a snake in feeding mode to another location.

Snakes are easily condition to know when feeding day is and on feeding day they can be on feeding mode up to several hours before the actual feeding.

You try to move a snake in feeding mode and you will get tagged.

On feeding day, I do not handle nor do any maintenance, I feed and feed only, I open the enclosure and drop the prey before moving on to the next one.

Also keep in mind those are wild animals and sooner or later you will get tagged anyone that hasn't has not owned enough animal or has not for a long enough amount of time. ;)

Snake was scared or saw your fingers as food.. Mine seems to be I striking mode every other day.. Hester she was sweet as can be letting my 2 and 3 yr old cousins hold and pet her.. With my supervision of course and she's only 6months..

Yet tonight I went to pull her out and she wanted nothing to do with me.. Had a bit of a hard time getting her back in after changing her water and straining up after the party she had last night

My two bps know when feeding day is. Every other day of the week if you go into the rack and check on them they're in their hides. Feeding day they're pressed right up against the front of their bins, with their faces riiiggghhhttt at the top edge so they can be sure to get their rats as quickly as possible. Mind you - this is hours before I even thaw their food. Half the time they're the ones that remind me it's feeding day :P

Most people here feed in the snakes enclosure. I do that as well and have never had any negative results from it. The less you move a hungry snake, the less likely that you'll be bitten by a hungry snake :)

Because he wanted too. Lol.

It bit you because no matter what you think about your relationship with your BP, your BP does not like you. It may tolerate you, but it by no means likes you. If you understand snake behavior you got bit for one of 2 reasons;1. it thought you were food and/or 2.it was scared of you and felt threatened. Either is acceptable and understandable.
The best outcome for taming a snake is not that it will like you, it's that it will tolerate you enough not to continue to bite you.

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For some reason I do not think this is totally true. I have owned my corn snake for about seen years he does not like to be taken out of his enclosure by other people and when i let certain people hold him he will try his hardest to get back to me. When he does he is as calm as can be. I can literally swing him like a rope if I wanted to and he will rub his face on my chin after :) Not that I actually do that!!!!!!

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Originally Posted by the_knot

For some reason I do not think this is totally true. I have owned my corn snake for about seen years he does not like to be taken out of his enclosure by other people and when i let certain people hold him he will try his hardest to get back to me. When he does he is as calm as can be. I can literally swing him like a rope if I wanted to and he will rub his face on my chin after :) Not that I actually do that!!!!!!

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Lol, well if you believe he likes you then I am happy for you. But scientifically it is highly highly unlikely that the snake actually likes you. But it could be a new special morph. ;)

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Originally Posted by Jesse Hermanson

Lol, well if you believe he likes you then I am happy for you. But scientifically it is highly highly unlikely that the snake actually likes you. But it could be a new special morph. ;)

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Do you have links to the scientific report you mention. I don't think animals such as snakes have true emotions however I do believe in survival instincts. If the_knot handles her snake often I do think it is possible for the snake to recognize her and feel security there. I don't think there is an eternal love affair by any means. Just mho. But to clarify I'm very very new to the reptile world!

That her you speak of is a he hahahaha.. And no, my snake does not love me but I guarantee he knows me does not matter what someone says.

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Originally Posted by Seanjackmc

Do you have links to the scientific report you mention....

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I actually did not mention a scientific report. :D



It may recognize your scent and remember that you mean it no harm. That may be true. But any type of feelings or anything I doubt.

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Originally Posted by Seanjackmc

.. If the_knot handles her snake often I do think it is possible for the snake to recognize her and feel security there!

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More likely then the snake recognizing its owner I'd say its the way it's handled. Ie the owner goes in a grabs the snake with confidence and the snake reacts appropriately. If the owners friend goes to grab it, he/she will most likely be a bit more timid and this will cause the animal to act differently.

I have seen snakes behave differently when handled by a nervous or scared person as opposed to a calm assertive experienced person. I think animals can sense energy or fear or whatever you want to call it or maybe just a familiar energy? Not sure how to explain this just my observation.

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Originally Posted by West Coast Jungle

I have seen snakes behave differently when handled by a nervous or scared person as opposed to a calm assertive experienced person. I think animals can sense energy or fear or whatever you want to call it or maybe just a familiar energy? Not sure how to explain this just my observation.

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I have seen this too. A perfectly calm snake turn around and bite another person.

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I believe it... I can hold my guy, when anytime my fiancee goes to hold him, he usually strikes.

Maybe he just has it for the ladies...

Snakes DO recognize individuals the same way they recognize familiar surroundings. Back in the olden days when I kept my snakes in aquariums, I used to have them stacked up next to the washing machine in the basement. When my wife walked by their cages they totally ignored her, when I walked by they would immediately come out of their hides and press their noses up against the glass. It's not like they felt anything special for me, I'm just the one who fed them and just the sight of me would put them in feeding mode.

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Originally Posted by Jesse Hermanson

I actually did not mention a scientific report. :D



It may recognize your scent and remember that you mean it no harm. That may be true. But any type of feelings or anything I doubt.

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I honestly wasn't trying to ruffle your feathers. I'm curious as a new reptile owner. Actually it's my six year olds snake but we know how that works. When I read you say it's scientifically highly unlikely I just wanted more clarification. To me that's like saying I'm 100% almost certain. Just trying to clarify if you actually read a scientific report or just your opinion. Sorry for the confusion.

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Originally Posted by the_knot

That her you speak of is a he hahahaha.. And no, my snake does not love me but I guarantee he knows me does not matter what someone says.

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Sorry about that :confusd:

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Originally Posted by Seanjackmc

I honestly wasn't trying to ruffle your feathers. I'm curious as a new reptile owner. Actually it's my six year olds snake but we know how that works. When I read you say it's scientifically highly unlikely I just wanted more clarification. To me that's like saying I'm 100% almost certain. Just trying to clarify if you actually read a scientific report or just your opinion. Sorry for the confusion.

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I was just teasing too. No worries. :beer:

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I dont believe my snakes love me or even like me. I believe that they get use to a certain routine and if that routine is positive and I am a part of that routine then they will feel comfortable with me being around and handling them. Just my opinion

If they taste rat in the air, off your hands.

I used to transfer my snakes to separate containers. I had just pre killed a rat. When I took her out of the cage she struck about 8 inches toward my erect thumb. She literally stopped a half inch away from my thumb with her mouth open. She backed her head up and closed her mouth! It shocked me! Something ill never forget! :-)

That was my first ball python I ended up having to give away because I moved some where, not allowing snakes.

If they taste rat in the air, off your hands.

I used to transfer my snakes to separate containers. I had just pre killed a rat. When I took her out of the cage she struck about 8 inches toward my erect thumb. She literally stopped a half inch away from my thumb with her mouth open. She backed her head up and closed her mouth! It shocked me! Something ill never forget! :-)

That was my first ball python I ended up having to give away because I moved some where, not allowing snakes.