BP bite

I've had my female BP for almost 3 yrs. Assuming she's between 3 and 4. She has always been super docile. Example, she never sheds well so I'll soak her and can rub the majority of it off with a cloth. There have also been times her eyes were capped a little longer than usual. Which I'm assuming made it harder for her to see. All this, never any bites.
My buddy was over, he asked if he could hold her. Sure, she's gentle. Just don't startle her. He didn't startle. She almost immediately bit down on his wrist and coiled around his arm. Thankfully he was super calm about it. We walked back to the tank. I looked up what to do. Got hand sanitizer, stuck it near her to sniff. A drop definitely hit her mouth. She immediately let go and clearly did NOT like the taste. Mouth wide open for about 20 secs, moving around. I think she's ok. Thawed an adult mouse and fed her later in the evening.
Why did she bite him? Do I have to start thinking she might bite me now?? Does she maybe have a taste for human blood now?
I usually take her out of her tank when she is fully out of a hide and pick her up by bottom half. She just slithers across my hands, arms, on the furniture or my knees. I pet her, sometimes even on her head she lets me now.
Funny enough, I had her out once before when he was over and I had this gut feeling she would bite him. Lol
Any help is greatly appreciated

Your friend has a pet rat.

Sometimes snakes bite, I don't think you have anything to worry about. Remember that one, you and your friend are giant predators picking her up, and two, these are still wild animals regardless of how much we handle them. Even a domesticated dog will bite if you put it in the right (or I should say wrong) situation. My BP has only tagged me once and it was my fault, but my hognoses are bullies and mock strike me once or twice every few months. It's just part of keeping reptiles. I even have a crested gecko who, although they can't do any harm, tries his very best to nip my fingers every time I'm in his enclosure for something.

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Originally Posted by Slownlow

I think she's ok. Thawed an adult mouse and fed her later in the evening.

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Pretty sure she was just hungry and thought to bite first ask questions later. that fact that she wrapped him means it was probably a food bite vs. a defensive bit.

Really impressed that your friend handled the situation so well.

So she recognizes your scent, but not the friend- & she was very "optimistic" that this was a new kind of upsized rat, :rofl: Now you know-

And I would NEVER put any hand sanitizer in a snake's mouth- it can contain toxic chemicals that could kill your snake & I don't think her offense should be punishable by death, just saying. ;)

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Originally Posted by Slownlow

Does she maybe have a taste for human blood now?

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:rofl:

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

So she recognizes your scent, but not the friend- & she was very "optimistic" that this was a new kind of upsized rat, :rofl: Now you know-

And I would NEVER put any hand sanitizer in a snake's mouth- it can contain toxic chemicals that could kill your snake & I don't think her offense should be punishable by death, just saying. ;)

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It was never my intent for the sanitizer to touch her. Was my first experience dealing with how to handle a snake bite and I was a little freaked out. Upsized rat lol. I do wonder if an adult mouse is enough for her.

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Originally Posted by Slownlow

....Thawed an adult mouse and fed her later in the evening.
Why did she bite him? Do I have to start thinking she might bite me now?? Does she maybe have a taste for human blood now?....

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She was hungry, & did not recognize your friend's scent as she does yours- she was very "optimistic" that this was dinner, but no, she does not have a taste for human blood now. :rolleyes:

You should ALWAYS be aware that your snake "might bite you" but all it takes is paying attention to their body language & telling them (using your scent & touch cues) that it's you, not their dinner.

Snakes can see but they do not identify us visually. However, if you forget that, many snakes will be good enough to remind you. :D

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Originally Posted by Homebody

Your friend has a pet rat.

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Nope, 2 cats. But we did come from eating ribs and I'm assuming he didn't wash his hands lol

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Originally Posted by Slownlow

Nope, 2 cats. But we did come from eating ribs and I'm assuming he didn't wash his hands lol

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Ribs or chicken or pot roast or pork chops or anything else you might eat are VERY UNLIKELY to interest a snake. Especially a picky BP, lol. They DO recognize warmth, movement, & by some accounts, "hairy arms" as potential dinner. ;)

I was impressed myself at how well he did. I just said let's go to the tank and put your arm in there, keeping your face away while I figure out what to do. He has a clear little outline of her mouth on his wrist now but superficial and clean. At least now i feel as though I might be better prepared if she makes a mistake and bites the hand that feeds her in the future. I did jump pretty good when she took her mouse lol

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Originally Posted by Slownlow

It was never my intent for the sanitizer to touch her. Was my first experience dealing with how to handle a snake bite and I was a little freaked out. Upsized rat lol. I do wonder if an adult mouse is enough for her.

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Unless you're dealing with a large snake that can really hurt you, a better thing to use would be a dab of vinegar. Or a dunk in cold water (under faucet, or using the snake's bowl of water) will usually startle them enough to let go, without harming them.

But now you'll be better prepared, hopefully to prevent this situation from happening, but also what to do if it does.

Anytime you're not sure what your snake is thinking, show them something NOT edible & NOT appetizing first -like your sleeve, or the cardboard roll from paper towels, so they get the idea it's not incoming food. Always pay attention to what signal you might be sending to your snake, & make sure they read you correctly.

Snakes, like dogs, are good judges of character. :):P Just kidding.

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Originally Posted by Slownlow

I did jump pretty good when she took her mouse lol

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Maybe she's due for the next size up? Depending on her size she may be ready for a little more in her meals and was probably just hungry and ready to go.
Especially since you said she wrapped his arm? I'm thinking that's a decent size and ready for a small rat over a mouse.

If you haven't already, a good idea is to pick up a scale and weigh her. Typically we feed around 10% of the body weight as a meal every 7-14 days depending on factors like age, sex and if they are being bred.

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Originally Posted by Armiyana

Maybe she's due for the next size up? Depending on her size she may be ready for a little more in her meals and was probably just hungry and ready to go.
Especially since you said she wrapped his arm? I'm thinking that's a decent size and ready for a small rat over a mouse.

If you haven't already, a good idea is to pick up a scale and weigh her. Typically we feed around 10% of the body weight as a meal every 7-14 days depending on factors like age, sex and if they are being bred.

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Thanks for the useful info. I've never had issues putting my hand in, I generally make sure she's fully out of her hide or rock and pick her up by the mid section and just hold her, let her roam.
Her neck is so tiny, like width of a dime that I'm always worried the mouse is too big. I do understand they can handle the widest part of their body. But she also has I'd say or at least I think they're 1 to 2 logged poops lol. It's dark brown, solid. Doesn't seem to be regurg.
I do have a scale I can use. I am going to give her a couple more weeks of feeding before I take her out again in case she got a little stressed herself over the ordeal.
I picked her up from Pet Smart back in April of 2019, the assumption then was that she was about 10mths. Not entirely sure.
I do want to bring her to the vet just for an overall check up as she's only ever had 2 good sheds. I've always had issue with humidity and she actually seems rather happy in her enclosure. She prefers to sleep in the hide that's away from the heat source. When I've switched the rock and hide from under the heat. She also switched. She goes under the lamp when she's interested in heat.
I also have cardboard over the screened lid with venting and the opening for the lamp. That never helped me with the humidity.
I'm always greatful for any advice and help with Nyx

Thanks as always

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Originally Posted by HoosierHerper

Snakes, like dogs, are good judges of character. :):P Just kidding.

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