First time BP owner question

Hi! My boyfriend and I just got our first ball python. He is just a baby, about 4-5 weeks old.

My question is: if he should bite one of us, what do we do so we don't hurt him? Will he immediately removed his teeth after striking? If he doesn't, what should we do to get him to let go?

He hasn't shown any indication that he will bite or strike at us, but if he does in the future for some reason, I want to know what to do properly so we don't hurt him. I'm more worried about his well-being than us getting a couple of puncture wounds (I mean, I'd probably cry cuz I'm a huge pain wienie, but I'd live). :P

Thanks for any advice you have!

Most of the time they will just strike and let go right away. All you have to do is try your best not to jerk back as you could end up injuring his mouth or breaking his teeth. In the extremely unlikely case that he bites and holds on or wraps you, best thing to do is run a bit of cold water onto his head. He should let right go.

bp's almost never bite though

yeah, your best bet is cold water =]
and not to jerk your hand or whatever when he does, if you think he is going to, move your hand back as SLOWLY as possible, so if he does, you arnt yanking back already =]

but a bitty thing like that shouldnt do much to yah =]

Thanks everyone! I don't really expect him to bite us, unless we starve him, rub our hands all over a mouse then wiggle our fingers in his face (which is all pretty easy to avoid doing ;)).

I more just wanted to know what to do *just in case* the situation ever came up.

Thanks for the responses!

if the cold water method doesnt work... as i didnt for a sanke of mine, if you have alcohol, u can use a drop...

like vodka, or somthing like that, and they will let go....

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Originally Posted by FIEND_FO_LYFE

if the cold water method doesnt work... as i didnt for a sanke of mine, if you have alcohol, u can use a drop...

like vodka, or somthing like that, and they will let go....

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Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong but I thought I'd heard that this isn't very good for the snake?

ive heard mostly the water spritzing thing but i have heard the alcohol one too.

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Originally Posted by spix14

Most of the time they will just strike and let go right away. All you have to do is try your best not to jerk back as you could end up injuring his mouth or breaking his teeth. In the extremely unlikely case that he bites and holds on or wraps you, best thing to do is run a bit of cold water onto his head. He should let right go.

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Keep in mind though with this method the snake may not let go for a solid ten minutes.... Personal experience your hand will be purple and bloody but they will be safe in thier tub with all thier teeth giving you the :cool: whats the problem look!!!

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Originally Posted by juddb

Keep in mind though with this method the snake may not let go for a solid ten minutes.... Personal experience your hand will be purple and bloody but they will be safe in thier tub with all thier teeth giving you the :cool: whats the problem look!!!

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I have heard a drop of alcohol (in their mouth, obviously not on their head/eyes) in the case of really large snakes that refuse to let go.

Has anyone here ever actually had BP latch on and refuse to let go?

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Originally Posted by Thor26

bp's almost never bite though

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lol.. you haven't met some of my females. :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by Sonya610

I have heard a drop of alcohol (in their mouth, obviously not on their head/eyes) in the case of really large snakes that refuse to let go.

Has anyone here ever actually had BP latch on and refuse to let go?

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Me personally, no. But it never hurts to be prepared, especially with snakes. Never can tell what's going on in their heads.

Thanks, everyone! I'd heard the thing about a drop of alcohol, but wasn't sure if that was urban legend. I'm glad to know about the cold water thing as a safer alternative to try first. I didn't really want to share my premium vodka! :D

On another note, Marv (the BP) ate for us on the first try last night! He'd eaten 3 times at the pet store before we brought him home, but I was a little concerned that he wouldn't eat for us the first time. No problem, he ate that mouse right up! Yay! :banana:

Is it wrong that I'm insanely proud of him?

Just wait till you get excited when they poop! :rolleye2:

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Originally Posted by Sonya610

I have heard a drop of alcohol (in their mouth, obviously not on their head/eyes) in the case of really large snakes that refuse to let go.

Has anyone here ever actually had BP latch on and refuse to let go?

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In the past, I have owned large burms and retics. One day a friend of mine had the bright idea of cleaning out one of my burms cages while she was still in it. I was in another room and heard screaming. He learned the hard way of what not to do lol. She had bitten him on the hand and had his arm wrapped up all the way to his shoulder and wouldn't let go. I tried the alcohol trick and it worked like a charm. She released his hand and I was able to uncoil her before any major damage happened to his arm.