Rash After Holding Ball Python?

I recently got my Ball Python and I handle her at least once or twice a day. After about five days after I noticed a rash on my hand. I thought it was something I might have contracted something but then I thought "What if it was my BP?". I've checked her thoroughly for mites but I haven't seen any. Can some snakes give you rashes? If so, is it the snake or something they've contracted?

Are you hand sanitizing or washing with a soap you normally don’t use before/after handling your noodle?

In my experience, I would say reaction to hand sanitizing or “over washing”.




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I have been washing my hand before and after I handle her. I haven't used hand sanitizer as much. Is that stronger then washing your hands?

What substrate are you using in the cage? Ball pythons themselves are not really known to be allergens but the material they live on might be something you are sensitive to. This might be an option if the soap you use to wash your hands is not the cause (as in you have used that soap for years without issue)

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Originally Posted by SDA

What substrate are you using in the cage? Ball pythons themselves are not really known to be allergens but the material they live on might be something you are sensitive to. This might be an option if the soap you use to wash your hands is not the cause (as in you have used that soap for years without issue)

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I was using Aspen bedding for a few days but it didn't hold the humidity very well, so I switched to the, Zoo Med Cypress Mulch.

So does that cypress mulch give you a rash? Hold it in your hand for a while and see if you have the same effect. Essentially rule out the mulch before ruling out the snake. If the mulch does give you a rash switch to coconut fiber.

Okay, I'll try that.

Side note: how recently did you get your BP?

With the extreme safety of using substrates, so much so snakes can eat it, I find it hard to imagine any substrate could cause a rash.

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Originally Posted by craigafrechette

Side note: how recently did you get your BP?

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December 27

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Originally Posted by ILuvDangerNoodles

December 27

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Ok, not trying to be a buzzkill, but it is strongly advised to not handle your new snake for a little while as it acclimates to its new enclosure.

I personally suggest waiting until the animal has eaten 3 consecutive meals without refusal prior to handling.
Getting the snake eating regularly is important, as Bps can be finicky eaters. Stress and poor husbandry are the main causes that a snake will refuse food.

I know it's tempting to hang out with your new pet, believe me, I get it. I just added a new snake two days ago and it's already killing me, hahahaha. But think if it this way, the animals health is most important. And you'll have plenty of time to handle your snake once it is eating, 25 years or more...

Sorry to be a buzzkill, I just want your new pet to work out well for both of you.

Weird


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Originally Posted by craigafrechette

Ok, not trying to be a buzzkill, but it is strongly advised to not handle your new snake for a little while as it acclimates to its new enclosure.

I personally suggest waiting until the animal has eaten 3 consecutive meals without refusal prior to handling.
Getting the snake eating regularly is important, as Bps can be finicky eaters. Stress and poor husbandry are the main causes that a snake will refuse food.

I know it's tempting to hang out with your new pet, believe me, I get it. I just added a new snake two days ago and it's already killing me, hahahaha. But think if it this way, the animals health is most important. And you'll have plenty of time to handle your snake once it is eating, 25 years or more...

Sorry to be a buzzkill, I just want your new pet to work out well for both of you.

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Okay, I'll do that. Thank you! :)

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Originally Posted by Momokahn

With the extreme safety of using substrates, so much so snakes can eat it, I find it hard to imagine any substrate could cause a rash.

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I think what people are saying is that the OP may be sensitive to the substrate, not that there is anything in the substrate that would be a problem for the snake. People can have a sensitivity or allergy to aspen, cypress, coco fiber, etc. and the rare person is allergic or reactive (there are disorders out there that aren’t true allergies, but the body reacts like an allergy - I have one of those disorders thankfully not reactive to snakes - yet) to snakes (it’s rare but not unheard of).




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He could be sensitive to just about anything in his home or at work , couldn't he ??

New soap , detergent or something.. does it have to be snake related ??


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Originally Posted by Zincubus

He could be sensitive to just about anything in his home or at work , couldn't he ??

New soap , detergent or something.. does it have to be snake related ??


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It might be, but the rash appeared after I held my snake.

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Originally Posted by Momokahn

With the extreme safety of using substrates, so much so snakes can eat it, I find it hard to imagine any substrate could cause a rash.

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Actually, not at all uncommon. Might not be a "allergy" per se, but many people can have sensitivities to different kinds of wood shavings. (the oils in the wood) Most cypruss mulch is actually a mix of different kinds of woods, oftentimes mixed with pine.

edited to say...guess I should have finished reading the entire thread, since rvnhawk already made the point I was trying to make ;)

The problem with allergies is that they come and go or are present when you are young and disappear as you get older or vice versa.

IMO and experience having suffered from allergies when young and being married to someone suffering from allergy now, the best is to proceed by elimination diet and other various thing like soap perfume etc, then slowly re-introduce things one at the time.

I have never heard of anyone being allergic to snake usually animal allergy are due to pet dander, now could you be allergic to cypress and by contact contracting a rash, absolutely people who have peanut allergy can go in anaphylactic shock by touching someone that has been in contact in peanut so the same depending on your sensitivity could happen.

After that if you still have rashes but cannot find an obvious cause the best is to do an allergy test.