Biting - Front Opening Enclosures?

I am completely sold on a pcv enclosure for my new ball python but all the models I can find are front opening.
I have been told by a couple people that I have a higher chance of being bitten with a front opening enclosure.
Can I please ask your opinions on this??

I am no wuss but being bitten when reaching into his home is still a concern. I have only ever had my previous balls in glass tanks and have never recieved a bite.

I would assume the chance of being bitten is present for both types but with the side opening your hand looks less like a predator like a bird , I suppose it all depends on how defensive your noodle is, remember most large constructors are kept in side opening enclosures, best wishes on what ever you choose :)

IMO with a front-opening enclosure you are less likely to get bit as you can stand off to one side while opening the door, and if your snake is being obviously foody it's easier to open the door just enough to slip a hook or empty paper towel roll into the enclosure to tap your snake than if you have to take the top off.

Also your hand coming at the snake from overhead is a threat which increases your chance of a defensive bite. If you have a front-opening door you can get your hand around behind the snake to pick it up.

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Originally Posted by bcr229

IMO with a front-opening enclosure you are less likely to get bit as you can stand off to one side while opening the door, and if your snake is being obviously foody it's easier to open the door just enough to slip a hook or empty paper towel roll into the enclosure to tap your snake than if you have to take the top off.

Also your hand coming at the snake from overhead is a threat which increases your chance of a defensive bite. If you have a front-opening door you can get your hand around behind the snake to pick it up.

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^^^^ I agree 1000000% ^^^^

I've honestly never even heard a single person say that front opening enclosures create a higher likelihood of a bite. Seems like you've been misinformed to me.

Having come from years of tanks and switching to PVC for a few years now, I see no increase in probability in bites.

I can can tell you one thing positively for sure though. It is exponentially easier to put an adult constictor back into a Front opening cage versus a top one.

I have a couple of top opening tanks and tubs and a few front opening pvc enclosures. I do get more food strike attempts with front opening enclosures which is why I usually stand to the side and open the door with my hook. Once I tap them with the hook and they know there's no food coming they're all easy to handle.

I don't know about top vs side, but I've found with front opening cages you are more likely to get bit at feeding time if you have swing doors rather than sliding doors. Though in my case this applies to greedy feeding carpet pythons not BPs.

I’m with bcr229, in general our snakes are much happier being reached for on a level than from above.


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Originally Posted by EL-Ziggy

I have a couple of top opening tanks and tubs and a few front opening pvc enclosures. I do get more food strike attempts with front opening enclosures which is why I usually stand to the side and open the door with my hook. Once I tap them with the hook and they know there's no food coming they're all easy to handle.

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Originally Posted by DennisM

I don't know about top vs side, but I've found with front opening cages you are more likely to get bit at feeding time if you have swing doors rather than sliding doors. Though in my case this applies to greedy feeding carpet pythons not BPs.

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Thanks guys. This is one if the reasons I love this site, I learned something new today. That'll come in handy when I can finally afford my enclosure upgrade.

Actually I prefer the drop-doors for the retics. One person controls the door, the other uses tongs to put the feeder in, and both of us stand off to the sides and out of the way.

I think the point of avoiding a bite when coming from above stems from the fact that a Ball Python can't strike straight up into the air. They can strike forward however, and quickly so.

Coming from above works very well with a angry or defensive YOUNG Ball Python. The ones that coil up and are ready to go. I first lower my flat hand up against their body, coming from above and slightly behind. That snaps them out of the defensive or food mode and then I can easily pick them up. If you were to try that coming at them from the front, at their level, you can easily get tagged.

But this is something that I had to only do with a couple of defensive hatchlings and then, they quickly learned I was no threat and were good to go. All ended up easy going and no more striking and defensiveness.

If you have a truly aggressive snake and you move your hand towards the snake without getting it out of the mode first (tapping with paper towel roll or hook) you may very well get tagged. But even if you reached in from above, with an adult and an aggressive snake, you still risk a bite unless you can redirect them or snap them out of it.

So yes, I do think it works great coming from above in certain situations, like with defensive hatchlings. Or juvies. BALL PYTHONS!! Because they usually give up the bluff as soon as you lower your hand on them gently to tap them , before picking them up.

Establishing trust is something that will happen very quickly if done right, and then all this is a moot point. With a large cage I will always say, get front doors. Because I don't like glass cages. But when you have tubs, you always reach from the top, and my snakes are just as fine with that, as if I were to reach them from the front, or back, or which ever. Because they have learned I won't harm them ;)

I'd go with sliding glass doors if you want some "insurance". When it is feeding night and my boas are going nuts, it's easy to direct them to one side of the cage, slide open the opposite door just enough for the feeder and let them have it without putting my hands or face in bite range. I went with AP cages with sliding glass doors and opted for the locks also, just in case. I've been happy so far and the doors are super easy to remove if you need to clean the whole cage or get an uncooperative snake out.

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Originally Posted by artgecko

I'd go with sliding glass doors if you want some "insurance". When it is feeding night and my boas are going nuts, it's easy to direct them to one side of the cage, slide open the opposite door just enough for the feeder and let them have it without putting my hands or face in bite range. I went with AP cages with sliding glass doors and opted for the locks also, just in case. I've been happy so far and the doors are super easy to remove if you need to clean the whole cage or get an uncooperative snake out.

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I did that with my Dwarf Burm :)

It was an art luring him to one side whilst throwing the thawed rat in through the other side of the viv :)


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I agree with others, front sliding doors are the way to go if you have front doors. I find them easiest to deal with, whether that is feeding, cleaning the enclosure or cleaning the doors. But different things work for different people and their needs.

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Originally Posted by Reinz

Having come from years of tanks and switching to PVC for a few years now, I see no increase in probability in bites.

I can can tell you one thing positively for sure though. It is exponentially easier to put an adult constictor back into a Front opening cage versus a top one.

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^^^^ 100%


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