Ball Python Bite General Information

I got inspired to write some general information about Ball Python bites and how to care for a them after getting bit by my little Pastel female (Bumblebee). She is alright and it was my fault that I spooked her. But, we live and we learn and I won't make the same mistake again!

Please note this is for Ball Python bites, those are the only snakes that I have bite experience with.

The most common question that seems to be asked among people who haven't owned a Ball Python and/or are new to getting one is "What does a bite feel like?" That question can be a bit tricky to answer, as it really comes down to the force the snake applies, weather the response was defensive or a feeding response, and individual pain tolerance. The reason I did not include size of the snake is that I found getting bit by my smaller Ball Python actually hurt me a slightly more then getting bit by a full grown one. But, once again, pain tolerance is a key factor in this situation. The amount of force that a snake applies into it's bit can change the pain of the bite. If you have a snake that nips you and doesn't put a lot of force into the bite, naturally that's going to hurt a lot less than a full on terrified snake that is striking out in pure fear and putting all it has into a bite. Weather it is a defensive or feeding bite can also play a vital role to the type of bite you are going to get. A feeding response bite consist of having the snake latch on and constrict. That is most likely going to hurt much more then a defensive bite where the snake will bite then let go. Sometimes however the snake might become stuck if it's teeth do not pull out of the skin. ​Please note that getting a snake that has a feeding response or has it's teeth caught during a defensive bite to come off can be a bit tricky. Do not tear away from the snake, that can result in the Ball Python loosing teeth and the bite you have received becoming a lot worse. Gently pry the snakes mouth open and remove them. If you cannot it is %100 OK to ask for help. Lastly, the individual pain tolerance is the main factor here. Some people can take a lot of pain, others cannot. That is really going to be deciding factor here.

Many are unsure of what a Ball Python bite may look like, and people who don't know much about the Ball Python may think it ends with two large wholes where the snake injected it's venom, the person being in terrible pain, and to top it all off the person going to the hospital at the end for an anti-venom. I am happy to inform you that all of that is false.
1. Ball Pythons do not have fangs, they have rows of teeth used to draw in there prey.
2. Ball Pythons are not Venomous.
3.I am almost %100 certain there has been no reported deaths caused by a Ball Python bite.
A Ball Python bite with have a handful of tiny wholes where their small needle like teeth went through the skin. Sometimes there can be a lot of blood, other times there not blood at all. It depends where you got bit and all the factors in the paragraph above (minus pain tolerance). Sometimes there can be some bruising from the impact, everything should heal in at least a week or two. Sometimes you may be left with a scar, (I have one where I got bit by a full grown female Ball Python but it's hardly noticeable.)​If you see that the bite swells up, becomes red, becomes tender, and/or begins to have fluid drain from it, these can be a sign of infection and you should contact your doctor immediately.

Caring for a Ball Python bite is simple, but vital. Like most animals Ball Pythons can transmit diseases, but caring for the bite quickly and properly will lower your chances to almost zero. There is not much to do except to flush it out with water and clean it out thoroughly with anti bacterial soap. It is best to apply pressure until the bleeding stops and apply ointment to the bite and let it air. They are simple bites to care for and if it has any of the signs listed above in bold, or you feel uncomfortable in any way contact your doctor.

I hope this helped at least a couple of people. I am still new to the Ball Python community and I wanted to share my knowledge with those around me! I really want to stress that just because a snake bites does not mean that they are a horrible animal. My Ball Python Bumblebee bit me because the lighting was dim and she did not know my hand was me. I did a test and did the exact thing that lead her to bite me in the first place in a better lit setting and she didn't even attempt to bit me. She just came up to my hand and wrapped around it, what a silly snake:P Please, have a great day everyone and stay safe!

Right after I said I never been bit. My Enchi bit me. But it didn't even hurt. I got a buttload of tattoos. And it felt like a tattoo gun to me. Ain't gotten one in such a long time it almost makes me Wana get bit more.

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Oh man Kit, I'm glad you posted this. I was told that ball python jaws are like a Pitbull and they never let go, so you have to chop their heads off.

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Originally Posted by RickyNY

Oh man Kit, I'm glad you posted this. I was told that ball python jaws are like a Pitbull and they never let go, so you have to chop their heads off.

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Even that statement about Pit Bulls is a myth, ahaha. Man, the ignorance.

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Originally Posted by RickyNY

Oh man Kit, I'm glad you posted this. I was told that ball python jaws are like a Pitbull and they never let go, so you have to chop their heads off.

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No no, they will let go. It may just take a bit of persuading on the humans part. most of the time if it is a feeding response they will realize their mistake and let go. The most important part is to not yank away. That would cause more harm than good to both you and the snake. Best of luck and take care!

I think the hardest part would be forcing yourself not to immediately jerk back when you get bit, since that will pull teeth out and then the snake will have trouble eating.

I've been bit a ton by Khaa and can say for myself that the worst part of being bit is the shock. A BP bite doesn't really hurt much, I've had worst bites from hamsters and rats. Got bit in the same place on my hand, BP bite barely had blood, but that rat bite was gushing blood, it was horrible. That being said, the rat did bite much deeper. If anything, watch out for those rodents lol.

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Originally Posted by PythonBabes

I think the hardest part would be forcing yourself not to immediately jerk back when you get bit, since that will pull teeth out and then the snake will have trouble eating.

I've been bit a ton by Khaa and can say for myself that the worst part of being bit is the shock. A BP bite doesn't really hurt much, I've had worst bites from hamsters and rats. Got bit in the same place on my hand, BP bite barely had blood, but that rat bite was gushing blood, it was horrible. That being said, the rat did bite much deeper. If anything, watch out for those rodents lol.

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Yes, absolutely! That is the hardest part! When I got bit by my pastel girl it didn't hurt too much, but it hurt worse than when I got by the full grown BP. The bite I got from the full grown was a lot bigger, had a good bruise, and there was a lot of blood. But when my BP bit me there was barley anything! She drew a bit of blood but you could barley see it. It stung more than anything though. And I totally agree with the rodents! I got bit by a Guinea Big once and it was a lot worse than the BP!

OK cool, so no cutting head off! How about the fangs, do they need to be broken off? :rolleyes: :rolleye2:

I'm just joking, and my previous post was as well. :P

I figured as much XD :laughing::laughing::laughing::laughing::laughing:

But I have heard of people thinking that, I just wanted to make sure no one was afraid lol!

Thanks man, I hope I never get tagged...but if I ever do I'll remember this thread. :gj:

Good! I hope you don't get bit either, it's not fun but not as bad as it seems!:D

It's actually very therapeutic

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Originally Posted by Kit

No no, they will let go. It may just take a bit of persuading on the humans part. most of the time if it is a feeding response they will realize their mistake and let go. The most important part is to not yank away. That would cause more harm than good to both you and the snake. Best of luck and take care!

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I found calling them names helps pass the time until they work out I am not a rodent. :P

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Originally Posted by dr del

I found calling them names helps pass the time until they work out I am not a rodent. :P

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That's great!! That had me rolling!!:8::8:

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Originally Posted by RickyNY

Thanks man, I hope I never get tagged...but if I ever do I'll remember this thread. :gj:

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That's what I like to do when I'm bleeding profusely.. To read stuff.

Never got bit, so not from experience...

But, thought I read somewhere that if the snake won't let go, you can gently run water over the snake and your hand, and that it eventually let go.

Any truth to that? Or harmful to the snake?

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Originally Posted by Charles8088

Never got bit, so not from experience...

But, thought I read somewhere that if the snake won't let go, you can gently run water over the snake and your hand, and that it eventually let go.

Any truth to that? Or harmful to the snake?

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I feel like I have heard that somewhere as well. I am unsure if their is any truth to it. I however wouldn't try just to be on the safe side just in case it got into the snakes lungs and made them sick. Sorry I didn't know the answer!

I seen this one dude get bit on his nose and it wouldn't let go and he poured some kind of juice into its mouth. Don't know what flavor it was. Was on a YouTube video.

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Originally Posted by Charles8088

Never got bit, so not from experience...

But, thought I read somewhere that if the snake won't let go, you can gently run water over the snake and your hand, and that it eventually let go.

Any truth to that? Or harmful to the snake?

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It's true, just doesn't always work right away lol
Most people just use listerine or white vinegar on a cotton swab, and wave it in front of their noses, and that gets them to let go right away. (Especially white vinegar, apparently)

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Originally Posted by redshepherd

It's true, just doesn't always work right away lol
Most people just use listerine or white vinegar on a cotton swab, and wave it in front of their noses, and that gets them to let go right away. (Especially white vinegar, apparently)

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Ah! Thank you!:)

Caramel is my rather nippy rosy boa. She routinely does the slo-mo bite thing Rosie's are famous for, and occassionally she actually connects. Then she sits there FOREVER just attached to my thumb or finger. I just run a trickle of lukewarm tap water over her back and wash the bite since I'm there anyway. :rofl:

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Originally Posted by redshepherd

It's true, just doesn't always work right away lol
Most people just use listerine or white vinegar on a cotton swab, and wave it in front of their noses, and that gets them to let go right away. (Especially white vinegar, apparently)

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I've heard rubbing alcohol works just as well too.
Wish I knew when I got bit by my Cinny. I spent a good half hour trying to gently pry her off my finger. It was a feeding response bite and it really didn't hurt that bad, she mostly scared the crap out of me when she latched on and wrapped all the way around trying to suffocate the tip of my finger lol.
It was my bad, she's never bitten before and is usually pretty placid.

I know that asking it nicely to let go does not work.

I've only been bitten by one BP (not my own, he's a big softy) and found that when the kind-of-scary, super hard latch-ons occur, quickly dunking the little guy in lukewarm/room temperature water once or twice (with the exclusion of the nose/mouth area) is the most successful way to get the job done. Even with the little jaws of death clamping onto the tip of my thumb the bite didn't hurt too much, and only throbbed a little after the snake showed me some mercy. There's not much to be afraid of as long as the aftercare of the wound is thorough. Hope this helps!

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Originally Posted by Maggie Louise

I've only been bitten by one BP (not my own, he's a big softy) and found that when the kind-of-scary, super hard latch-ons occur, quickly dunking the little guy in lukewarm/room temperature water once or twice (with the exclusion of the nose/mouth area) is the most successful way to get the job done. Even with the little jaws of death clamping onto the tip of my thumb the bite didn't hurt too much, and only throbbed a little after the snake showed me some mercy. There's not much to be afraid of as long as the aftercare of the wound is thorough. Hope this helps!

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Yes! Thank you! The first one I got bit by wasn't mine, then sure enough I made a mistake and got bit XD