Tricks to getting a reptile to release their bite?

Hey folks,

As all of us know, owning reptiles (or any animal, for that matter) means you're going to get bit at one point in time. I was "fortunate" enough to have an adult savannah monitor who's on a diet latch on to my finger that, apparently, looked and smelled absolutely delicious.

I've been working with various herps my entire life, and am no stranger to getting tagged by a snake from time to time. However (until today) I'd only had a ball python bite and hold on. I've always been a "wait it out" type of person, but I can't say that this particular bite was very pleasant. Not worse than what an amped up bearded dragon has done to be, but still not comfortable!

I've read that many people will hold a cottonball or rag soaked in rubbing alcohol up to the nose to get them to release, as this stings the mucous membranes but doesn't harm the animal. Any one have any other suggestions or success with this method? I've heard the stories of holding the animal under water until they release for air, but I was hoping for something a little more "gentle" than that in the case I'm ever in this situation with a larger reptile again.

Thanks!

Mint Listerine has been said to work very well for Brian ant BHB.


Sent From an Enclosure

m Mint mouthwash does work,
I know this from personal experience.

Here I was hoping you'd have a "rapid response needed" at the beginning. XD

But, at the last show I was at when a very small Children's Python decided to bite someone (the boy looked to only be about 8 and wasn't phased in the slightest, too) he put some hand sanitizer on his finger and held it to its nose and it released. So I have seen that rubbing alcohol does work, at least for snakes.

I know mouthwash but not sure what kind or if it doesn't matter, because I've personally never used that method.

I use a cool water spray bottle and when one of my snakes bit me I sprayed it with the bottle and it released quick, now I've only had to do that once so I don't know if it works everytime or if it just worked for that snake.

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Originally Posted by Neal

I know mouthwash but not sure what kind or if it doesn't matter, because I've personally never used that method.

I use a cool water spray bottle and when one of my snakes bit me I sprayed it with the bottle and it released quick, now I've only had to do that once so I don't know if it works everytime or if it just worked for that snake.

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I was wondering if that would work, actually. Maybe something to keep in mind, at least!

I've only had a snake latch onto me a few times, but I just sprayed them with the spray bottle, since it was right there in the reptile room and they let go.

I must be lucky. never had an animal bite and hang on yet. They always seem to figure out that the arm in question is not going to fit in thier mouth very wel. Good info though.

Rubbing alcohol, hand sanitizer, and sprayed water all failed to work with my king snake when she grabbed my finger - she was in food mode, it wasn't just a bite, it was grab, wrap my wrist with her tail, and start trying to swallow. A few drops of white vinegar on a cotton ball waved in front of her nose finally convinced her to let go.

I've never been tagged by any of my snakes to date (over 15 years now) so I guess I'm pretty lucky as well. I've always thought I would wait it out if ever, but its good to know there are some "let go" remedies out there. I may feel froggy and take one for the team and test out the 3 remedies. Who knows... :rolleye2:

Good info.... Thanks...:gj:

Oreo likes to start swallowing fingers to tell me he is super hungry. He doesn't strike or wrap, he just opens his mouth and works his way up to the finger tip. I put his head facing down under cold running water then slowly make it hot. Straight cold water doesn't work on him anymore; neither does putting his head in his water bowl. Obviously this is if you aren't in a terrible hurry.

Snakes and lizards can hold their breath a long time. You will definitely get sick of having them attached before they ever let go. Rubbing alcohol works good with my Calking that bites me and holds on every week. I had a Sav and a Flavi/argus cross. The Sav never bit me. The Flavi/argus bit my toe a couple times (I never wear shoes or socks in the house) but he just shook his head and let go. Ripped me up, but I didn't have to pry him off. With a monitor I suspect the alcohol or listerine would probably work, but might not if he's really hungry. You might want to have a rubber spatula ready and be prepared to pry him off.

Bite them back :D

Thanks everyone! I always have vinegar in a spray bottle on hand, so hopefully that will work, but I'll probably get some mouthwash or alcohol to ensure I have a "back up" just in case.

The savannah monitor was hand raised since a hatchling, and at two years old he's just a wee bit over weight when he was adopted (fortunately not nearly as overweight and obese as many of them get). He just got super frisky and decided to not let go of my finger. The worst part was the fact he bit through my fingernail so that wasn't really the most painless experience. My snakes fortunately don't bother me too much, but having to pin a writhing savannah monitor down while he tried to rip a chunk out of my finger wasn't something I'd like to have to wait out again if at all possible! Especially because it makes me feel bad because it's not aggressive at all ;)

My flavi/argus monitor was the same way. He was such a sweetheart and a pleasure to interact with, but loved his food. When he saw my toe wiggle at feeding time, he went after it instead of the mouse. They do bite hard and when they do that head shake thing it really does damage!