My red tail tagged me good today

So I was feeding my balls mice and after washing my hands noticed my red tail had made a mess of her cage and shed. She has been very well behaved since I brought her home and have no problems handling her so I didn't even think twice about reaching in to clean it up. My hand was no sooner in her cage than she bit my middle finger on my left hand pretty darn good. It startled me more than hurt though it didn't feel good for certain lol. My finger bled like a stuck pig and instantly swelled up 2x the size of normal and is now turning blue. My fault for sticking my hand into the cage of a hungry snake while smelling of mice but that really doesn't make it any more pleasant lol

Pics or it didn't happen! Lol


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I can say this, my Hogg island is the most docile boa ever (I say that about all mine :)) and when its feeding time, do NOT stick your hand anywhere near her cage even, otherwise she will hurt herself lol.

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I agree with the first comment, pics or it did not happen.

If the bite was that bad, you probably have some broken off teeth in your finger.

Use some hydrogen peroxide, a lot.

Poidh!

You need to supply pictures to get included in the Boa Bite Club........ :D

Here is a pic 2 days after the fact. I know some of you can't see my profile pics somehow but i'm still working on trying to figure out this bullcrap iphone. And yes, I have pulled two teeth out of the side of my finger so far lol http://ball-pythons.net/gallery/show...mageuser=29659

Good one! :gj:

Yep that's worse than my bite. I actually laughed at my bite. I was all chuckles and a bit relieved when it happened, however I think as he gets bigger I won't be as jovial.

It was my fault in the first place so it maybe would have never happened if I was actually thinking.

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Originally Posted by Gio

Yep that's worse than my bite. I actually laughed at my bite. I was all chuckles and a bit relieved when it happened, however I think as he gets bigger I won't be as jovial.

It was my fault in the first place so it maybe would have never happened if I was actually thinking.

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Lol yea there was no laughing at the time. It was fairly painful and was instantly swollen. There may or may not have been a few colorful words unleashed:rolleyes:

OWWW!!!!!! I'm so not looking forward to that day. One boa, one beeper, no tag. I know it's coming but as every day passes they are just getting bigger. Yikes.

I kinda wanna get at least one bite in sooner or later. For my own well being, so ill know to never let it happen when my girl gets bigger. I don't want an 8ft boa latching on lol.

She tagged me the other day but she couldn't "set the hook" lol. Plus she still sub 100g so it wouldn't matter anyway. I just wouldn't want her to get hurt loosing a tooth or anything.


0.1.0 Normal Ball Python
0.1.0 Columbian B.C.I. 2013
1.0.0 EBV Red Group Pastel Hypo Jungle B.C.I. 2013

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Originally Posted by Expensive hobby

I kinda wanna get at least one bite in sooner or later. For my own well being, so ill know to never let it happen when my girl gets bigger. I don't want an 8ft boa latching on lol.

She tagged me the other day but she couldn't "set the hook" lol. Plus she still sub 100g so it wouldn't matter anyway. I just wouldn't want her to get hurt loosing a tooth or anything.


0.1.0 Normal Ball Python
0.1.0 Columbian B.C.I. 2013
1.0.0 EBV Red Group Pastel Hypo Jungle B.C.I. 2013

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Its good to get it over with while they are young obviously. I think using the special handling gloves is always an option but they are a bit expensive at $163 I believe.

They go up to the elbow and are better than welder's gloves because of added dexterity.

Jonathan Brady of DEVIANT CONSTRICTORS has a blog with a video of the gloves FYI.

I am not going to be able to wait to move into my new house in September to get my Moonglow. Seeing more and more boa posts its driving me crazy.

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Originally Posted by Gio

Its good to get it over with while they are young obviously. I think using the special handling gloves is always an option but they are a bit expensive at $163 I believe.

They go up to the elbow and are better than welder's gloves because of added dexterity.

Jonathan Brady of DEVIANT CONSTRICTORS has a blog with a video of the gloves FYI.

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Even as an adult I'd rather just do things right than wear gloves. If I get hit so be it lol. Obviously they make them for a reason, but I'll live through a bite, and I'm sure if a 8-10' female hits me, I'll have a cool story and scar lol.

Thanks for the info tho.


0.1.0 Normal Ball Python
0.1.0 Columbian B.C.I. 2013
1.0.0 EBV Red Group Pastel Hypo Jungle B.C.I. 2013

Yikes! That looks pretty painful. My boyfriends' taken all the tags so far. :P I ALMOST got tagged one day when I was feeding my girl. I accidentally dropped the rat (the tongs I was using were WAY too small) and made the stupid choice to try and pick it back up. As soon as I started lifting it she shot for it, missed, bounced off my hand (grazing me with her teeth) and latched on to a pair of pajama pants that were on the floor (she was being kept in our bedroom at the time). We had to wait for her to let those go before we could try feeding her again. xD

But so far, no real tags. :please: I'm not looking forward to the day I do get tagged, because she's edging the ~15 pound end of the scale and is at least 6ft. So it's gonna hurt when it happens. :(

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Originally Posted by xFenrir

Yikes! That looks pretty painful. My boyfriends' taken all the tags so far. :P I ALMOST got tagged one day when I was feeding my girl. I accidentally dropped the rat (the tongs I was using were WAY too small) and made the stupid choice to try and pick it back up. As soon as I started lifting it she shot for it, missed, bounced off my hand (grazing me with her teeth) and latched on to a pair of pajama pants that were on the floor (she was being kept in our bedroom at the time). We had to wait for her to let those go before we could try feeding her again. xD

But so far, no real tags. :please: I'm not looking forward to the day I do get tagged, because she's edging the ~15 pound end of the scale and is at least 6ft. So it's gonna hurt when it happens. :(

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This makes me almost re think on getting my red tail soon. Almost 3 years with snakes and I haven't been tagged once. I've gotten close but I'm like lightning.

I was terrified of snakes 3 years ago and the first snake I held and wanted was a baby red tail, I then decided to get a smaller constrictor to work with until I worked my way up to a boa. I know I'm ready now im not scared at all but that adrenaline rush of never getting tagged is still there till it happens.

My red tail tagged me on the wrist last year and happened to pierce both my radial and ulnar nerves. Incredible pAin and then my thumb was numb for about 3 months. The doctor was fairly sympathetic but couldnt help me other than give me a brace and tell me to wait it out.


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Originally Posted by Expensive hobby

Even as an adult I'd rather just do things right than wear gloves. If I get hit so be it lol. Obviously they make them for a reason, but I'll live through a bite, and I'm sure if a 8-10' female hits me, I'll have a cool story and scar lol.

Thanks for the info tho.


0.1.0 Normal Ball Python
0.1.0 Columbian B.C.I. 2013
1.0.0 EBV Red Group Pastel Hypo Jungle B.C.I. 2013

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I don't have gloves either. Doing things right is what we all try to do, but as mentioned in a post above getting a good bite can involve more than just a scar and a good story. There are a few people, while not a lot, that do get a more serious bite.

I never thought I was going to be bitten but was assured by experienced boa owners the situation was not "IF" but "WHEN". I hope it never happens again but the gloves are a nice tool in the event they are needed. I also try to hook train my guy like a number of retic owners swear by.

I agree that I'd not rather wear gloves during handling, but I'd consider them for removal of snakes from the cage especially if they are a bit moody but maybe for $100 plus dollars its worth the risk LOL.

Still no picture???? Lol I say it didn't happen ;)

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Originally Posted by BTennant

This makes me almost re think on getting my red tail soon. Almost 3 years with snakes and I haven't been tagged once. I've gotten close but I'm like lightning.

I was terrified of snakes 3 years ago and the first snake I held and wanted was a baby red tail, I then decided to get a smaller constrictor to work with until I worked my way up to a boa. I know I'm ready now im not scared at all but that adrenaline rush of never getting tagged is still there till it happens.

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Hey,, never let that stop you. As Expensive Hobby said, doing it the right way is really the best way. We all try, but sometimes we fail or for reasons unknown to us the boa decides it wants to bite.

However,,,,,,,, I think you are excited about a boa and I think you should look at a male like I have. You will still get plenty of snake, but probably won't see anything over 8 feet and the girth of a male is usually less than a female.

I seem to have a big boy going here as he is over 3 and a half feet at just over a year old and approaching the 4 foot mark but even if he bit me again, there would be no worries. Maybe it won't happen. I'm more cautious than before.

Start with a nice neonate male boa and be happy! You can do it!

If you want a nice thick but short boa, you should go with one of the island bcis, beautiful animals in a smaller package!!! I personally own the Hogg island bci and she's awesome, would never go back and pick the rtb instead!!!

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Originally Posted by hypnotixdmp

If you want a nice thick but short boa, you should go with one of the island bcis, beautiful animals in a smaller package!!! I personally own the Hogg island bci and she's awesome, would never go back and pick the rtb instead!!!

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Also check out a BCA. Tom McCarthy has some beautiful ones. They are THICK but shorter.

I personally can't say enough about a Colombian BCI. Hardy, big yet not huge. The selection of morphs is unreal. The true locality Colombians are arguably as beautiful as the BCC's.

The Hog Island boas are beautiful.

I think anybody looking for a decent sized but not huge snake can't go wrong with a boa.

Yup, pretty much any boa will do, except anacondas if your looking for something smaller yet still nice and thick. Dumerils boas are also nice, they get about 8ft and have the same husbandry requirements of a ball python. They are super docile and so pretty. They grow kind of slow compared to even other boas!!!

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Originally Posted by hypnotixdmp

Still no picture???? Lol I say it didn't happen ;)

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Yes there is a pic in my profile.

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Originally Posted by Diamond Serpents

This makes me almost re think on getting my red tail soon. Almost 3 years with snakes and I haven't been tagged once. I've gotten close but I'm like lightning.

I was terrified of snakes 3 years ago and the first snake I held and wanted was a baby red tail, I then decided to get a smaller constrictor to work with until I worked my way up to a boa. I know I'm ready now im not scared at all but that adrenaline rush of never getting tagged is still there till it happens.

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Oh, don't let it stop you. Even with her being nearly 5' it didn't hurt as bad as say smashing a fingernail with a hammer lol. I love my balls but my boa def has more personality and is totally different to handle. I think the occasional bite is a small price to pay. Imho :D