BP biting worries!

Hi, so i just registered here because I'm going to be getting a BP soon and I'm not worried about caring for it at all just the pain from a bite. Anybody that could help Idk convince me not to worry so much would be appreciated. On a side note, I planned on getting a normal from BHB reptiles but they never seem to have any. Can't bring myself to buy a different morph just because it looks different. Thanks!

Don't worry about getting bit. I have kept snakes for years and have yet to be bit. Just learn to read your own snakes body language, always approach from behind when picking up and you should be fine.

Don't handle when they are in shed. BP's are not generally an aggressive snake. You should be fine.

Even if he does bite you - from what I understand it is pretty mild.

Best of luck to you with your new snake.

My ball python got me one time when he was a baby. I had been feeding him in a separate contain from his normal cage so he didn't expect to eat every time I reached into his tank. I stupidly reached into his feedings tank to get him out and he got me on the finger. It didn't hurt, really just felt like I got pinched. Most ball pythons arnt going to bite you and as you handle them they should calm down and get used to you.


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My adult Cal King bit me yesterday. This is the horrific end result.
A BP bite wouldn't be much worse, if not less severe. I was bit my my BP a few months ago and he didn't even break the skin. Honestly, it barely hurts at all.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...91bfd6a008.jpg

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A bite from a ball does not hurt. If anything it will startle you if you don't see it coming. Good news is, most of them do not bite and most of those that do grow out of it quickly.

If you want a normal, you can get one for practically nothing. I would not recommend buying something like that online. Shipping would be way more than the snake is worth. Find a local breeder or go to a show. You can get one for $10.

Well to set your mind at ease a baby BP bite isn't as bad as a bee sting or a cat scratch
Bhb doesn't have normals because he wholesales them into the pet industry it doesn't pay him to try to sell them individually
If you want a normal find a local breeder and get one off them

a bite is more startling than painful. the force of the hit WILL scare you because of how quick it all happens, and depending on the type of bite (defensive or food response) it can be a bit painful and become a process to get the snake to release. the pain is temporary, and honestly not bad! also, beep bites look bloody because their saliva acts as an anticoagulant and thins the blood.

most people here will tell you any bite they received was because of their own error. beeps aren't going to seek out a fight, so just be very aware of what you're doing around them and you'll avoid a bite.

this is the video i watched to "prepare" myself before i got my first beep. his calm demeanor and talking the viewers through it was very reassuring that the fear is all mental and the pain isn't so bad.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWtRRsma1K4&t=1s

of course you can always watch Brian get bit up and down on his youtube channel.
https://www.youtube.com/user/SnakeBytesTV/featured

Well it's not if it happens it's when, the good news is that a bite from an hatchlings feels like a papercut, a bite from an adult especially a big one has more punch but it's still not a big deal.

I have been bit by rats, mice, hamsters,dogs, cats, horse, kids and I will take a BP's bite any day over any of those.

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Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

a bite is more startling than painful. the force of the hit WILL scare you because of how quick it all happens, and depending on the type of bite (defensive or food response) it can be a bit painful and become a process to get the snake to release. the pain is temporary, and honestly not bad! also, beep bites look bloody because their saliva acts as an anticoagulant and thins the blood.

most people here will tell you any bite they received was because of their own error. beeps aren't going to seek out a fight, so just be very aware of what you're doing around them and you'll avoid a bite.

this is the video i watched to "prepare" myself before i got my first beep. his calm demeanor and talking the viewers through it was very reassuring that the fear is all mental and the pain isn't so bad.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWtRRsma1K4&t=1s

of course you can always watch Brian get bit up and down on his youtube channel.
https://www.youtube.com/user/SnakeBytesTV/featured

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^^^ This is all true. ^^^

When my girlfriend asked if it hurt/what it felt like when I was bitten my answers were: barely and it's more annoying and uncomfortable than painful.
I showed my girlfriend some videos to ease her mind about bites as well, including the one tttaylorrr has in the link above.

I have one particularly snappy girl that's been getting better with slow handling sessions, but she's tagged me over half a dozen times at this point. I don't even feel it anymore.

Thanks everyone for all your quick and helpful responses! Really appreciate it. I planned on using a 40g breeder tank so he could have as much room as possible but a lot of people say it's harder to heat and humidity. Should I use something smaller. Also, everybody always says a hatchling in a large cage will get stressed. But in the wild they're not limited to small spaces and are just fine?

This fire girl I've been talking about on other threads is a 10 year old breeder that had probably never been handled outside of what it took to clean her tub. She is a real pistol. Wanted to bite me real bad so I let her. Tagged me three times in a row before she gave up. I should have taken a picture of the result. No big deal. She has been on daily five minute handling sessions for the past month and her attitude is slowly improving. I still don't trust her with my kids though.

To get a normal from BHB give them a call or email Lori and see what she can do for you. Worth a shot if you want one from them. If it's just a normal then see what the pet stores have. $40 normal + shipping could be the same cost as getting one at a store. Or spend a little more and get a morph. You can find something for $100-$150 range. Pet stores are $80 for a normal in my area.

The only reason I'm hesitant on getting one from a pet store is because they don't seem like they know a lot about the care and I don't wanna give them money for a potentially sick animal.

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Originally Posted by Crowley136

The only reason I'm hesitant on getting one from a pet store is because they don't seem like they know a lot about the care and I don't wanna give them money for a potentially sick animal.

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Makes perfect sense. Other options would be to look at morph market, look for a local breeder, or see if there is a reptile show close by. I've seen bhb sell normals and this is the time of year they will have them.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Crowley136

Hi, so i just registered here because I'm going to be getting a BP soon and I'm not worried about caring for it at all just the pain from a bite. Anybody that could help Idk convince me not to worry so much would be appreciated. On a side note, I planned on getting a normal from BHB reptiles but they never seem to have any. Can't bring myself to buy a different morph just because it looks different. Thanks!

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This is a rule, when BP hiss means leave me alone. My BP never bit anyone.

I would hop onto morph market and see if there's a local breeder nearby who has a normal you can pick up, or barring that, see if there's a reptile expo local to you. Having a normal shipped, you're going to end up paying more in shipping alone than the actual cost of the snake.