Snake bite question

I've been biting by my snake before and he/she came of my hand on its own right away. I was curious though if your snake latched on you and wouldn't let go, how do you take him off safely?

Pour some Lisertine on his mouth.

Though I've never had a problem, I keep a small travel bottle by the enclosure in case I screw up during a feed.
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I put a dab of rubbing alcohol on the tip of a paper towel and hold it a couple inches from their snout. While I've never had to do this with a ball python; carpet pythons have afforded me numerous opportunities to deploy this tactic.

I wouldn't POUR Listerine into a snake's mouth. The risk of them getting it into their lungs is far too great. Can't imagine that swallowing it would be good for them either. If you're going to use it, it should be in a squirt bottle and simply misted at their face. Even that, I would save for something more intimidating and damaging than a simple ball python.

Best thing to do if there's a feeding error with a ball python is to simple sit still and stay calm. It may take a few minutes, but the snake will realize it made a mistake and let go. But the more you wriggle, squirm, and try to pry it off, the more it's going to continue to try and "kill" you. :P

Depends on the snake.

With a ball python I just run cold water down their nostril.

Good news is that those kinds of bites are rare.

If you got the time all you do is wait. Usually only takes a few minutes. They will let go.

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Originally Posted by JLC

I wouldn't POUR Listerine into a snake's mouth. The risk of them getting it into their lungs is far too great. Can't imagine that swallowing it would be good for them either. If you're going to use it, it should be in a squirt bottle and simply misted at their face. Even that, I would save for something more intimidating and damaging than a simple ball python.

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First of all I did NOT say pour Listerine INTO the snake's mouth.

I said I said ON. I should have been more clear and said splash it on the site.

And the idea of getting it in the lungs is very doubtful. Also, Listerine is harmless to humans if we swallow it. So a little is not you to hurt the snake.

Also got the information from Brian on Smake Bytes TV, which I should have posted. I just thought it was common knowledge. And snakes are his business.
If I recall, he said it works pretty much every time. Whereas he reported even putting the snake under the faucet (hmmm, no lung trauma) only works less than half of the time.
He also uses it for the giant snakes.

I do like your idea of mist bottle. :)
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Nnn, it's not EXACTLY harmless to people if swallowed. It's pretty much souped up mint flavored booze, I can't imagine it being very good on a much tinier animal's liver if they swallowed it.

Relax people, I swear some of you act like your snake will croak if you look at it wrong. They are hearty animals, a little splash of mouth wash to get the snake off isn't going to kill it.

With my rare feeder bites, I never used any alcohol based thing to scare them away. The water worked just 40% of the cases for me. With the smaller ones, like colubrids or even the last time with a ball, I just wait a littlebit and try to slowly hook out the teeth and decoil the animal without causing stress. They took the prey every time without problem after the accident. Once I've got a bigger burm in my face. That was a different story about who stress who...

I bite it back until it releases.:D

I've never been bit, but I was told that if I was bit, to squeeze at the corners of the mouth and they usually let go.


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I personally like the sound of holding the alcohol near its nose vs direct contact of any kind. Saves the whole safety vs harm vs swallowing vs inhalation vs biological harm arguments; I would imagine the abrasive smell would be more than enough to make the snake want to move away.

But as the others have said, with a breed like a BP, the bite is pretty much harmless (just wash it after) so there's no need to worry. Just give your little guy or gal a stern glare until they inevitably realize you are gigantic and it's a futile endeavor to try and eat you, no matter how tasty you might be or how determined they are.

I've had a few nips myself and honestly the cat hurts much much worse and usually puts up a much longer fight than any of my snakes ever have.

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Originally Posted by LivingwithBalls

I've never been bit, but I was told that if I was bit, to squeeze at the corners of the mouth and they usually let go.


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Just behind the jawbone on either side of the head I believe; but unless you are very experienced and know exactly what you are doing, you could easily cause serious harm to your snakes jaw. Especially if you're talking about a non emergent type of snake bite like from a pet BP vs a wild Rattler. (in the latter case, you can pretty much worry about the health of the random snake after you make sure you don't die.) For the former, it's better just to wait it out; even if your snake has no common sense about size ratios, I've heard they have short attention spans and will get bored quickly to find something else to do :)

Thanks guys for all the advice! Sorry to start a little debate battle lol. As I have said before I've been biting so it's whatever to me, usually when feeding I'm in no rush so if he/she gets me I can always just wait it out, but it's good to know of these other ideas people listed for back up scenarios.