My BP Just Bit me, What should I do??

So I was holding my snake. I was laying down with him and he was doing the usual just constricting my arm and all that. Then my brother comes into the room and then I ask if he wants to hold the snake. I gave him the snake and then the snake was looking at me all in attack mode. So I tell my brother to put him in this cooler that I always feed him in and it's lined with paper towels.

So then I feed the snake and he finishes and then I just grab the corners to the paper towel and then bring him to his cage (so that I don't grab him and hurt his stomach). Then I went to grab the corners and he struck at me and bit me. I started to bleed, but I went back in and grabbed the corners and brought him to his cage because after he bit me he crawled into a ball so I figured he wouldn't bite me again.

What should I do, I don't want him to bite me or anything. He's more aggressive than when he was little, is it because he's growing up and getting more into killing animals? Should I start feeding him F/T? Any suggestions will help.

~Thanks for reading

Sounds like he was still in feeding mode. Give him a little bit of time after he eats. And I have to ask, did you handle the mouse with your hands? If so, did you wash them before trying to move him back to his cage? Just sounds like a feeding error to me.

Sounds like he was still in hunt mode. Maybe next time you can wait longer before you pick him up (let his body language direct you) and make sure your hands don't smell like prey ;)

Is there a reason why you don't feed in his enclosure?

EDIT: Floridahogs is f-a-s-t on the keyboard :)

I'd check the temps and stop feeding him in a cooler. Feed him like clockwork and leave him alone for a couple of days to digest his food. Moving him and messing with or around him probably just makes him nervous when he wants to be left alone.

Edit: I'm super slow today.

I don't move my animals on feeding day - I don't want to handle them in feed mode. They are fed in their enclosures, and they aren't aggressive on non-feed days.

I suspect it was a combination of a) he knows it's a feeding tub - so he's amped up for feeding b) he was still in feed mode and c) you probably still smelled of rodent.

That paper towel trick isn't going to work when he's a full grown adult.

Try feeding him in his enclosure next time. When he's done eating, you don't have to move him, and he can calm down in his own time and have 48 hours to digest his meal! :)

Feeding outside the enclosure + feeding mode = BITES

Start feeding inside the enclosure, and watch your snake body language.

And remember this is a wild animal and while rare due to their docile nature, bites can happen.

BP are not more aggressive than others because they eat live preys ;)

Feeding in a separate enclosure is unneccesary IMO and opens the door for situations like this! When I first started keeping snakes, that's what I did (thanks for the advice Petco!) and Floyd kept biting me after eating his meal. After I switched and fed in their normal enclosures, I never got bit again! I'd consider that if I were you! :D

EDIT: Oops! Looks like a couple people beat me! lol

Thanks for all the advice. I always pick the mouse up with latex gloves cause the mouse always poops in his little container from the pet store. I heard that you should never feed the snakes in the enclosure but I'll do that for now on, it's so much easier!!!
Thanks!!!

Bite back;). Kidding, great advice from the above posts!:gj:

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Originally Posted by rabernet

I don't move my animals on feeding day - I don't want to handle them in feed mode. They are fed in their enclosures, and they aren't aggressive on non-feed days.

I suspect it was a combination of a) he knows it's a feeding tub - so he's amped up for feeding b) he was still in feed mode and c) you probably still smelled of rodent.

That paper towel trick isn't going to work when he's a full grown adult.

Try feeding him in his enclosure next time. When he's done eating, you don't have to move him, and he can calm down in his own time and have 48 hours to digest his meal! :)

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:hijackd:Robin i love your new avatar, great looking snake there:gj:.

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Originally Posted by Houzi88

I heard that you should never feed the snakes in the enclosure but I'll do that for now on, it's so much easier!!!
Thanks!!!

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Pet stores usually tell you to do that so they don't associate your hand with feeding, etc. But, as you've seen first hand, you still get bit!

As long as you keep your snakes on a pretty well set feeding schedule, it really isn't a problem. Most snakes are intelligent enough to figure out that you're not dinner!

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Originally Posted by juddb

:hijackd:Robin i love your new avatar, great looking snake there:gj:.

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Thank you! Deb made it for me - I can't wait to bring that girl home!

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Originally Posted by Houzi88

My BP Just Bit me, What should I do??

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Take pictures :D

yeah, sounds pretty normal...

when a snake gets into "rawr im eating now!!!" mode, they usually do this....

i wouldnt worry, its normal.

Id call 911 stat and get the anti-venom! Hurry your time is limited:O

Take a picure! that is always the first rule when you get bitten!

You can't avoid a bite, because usually when you get bit, its your fault. ;]

If you have a snake, your going to have to expect to get bitten at some point. Feeding outside the enclosure isn't a good idea and most petstores tell you everything that they shouldn't.
Maybe for other snakes, but not ball pythons.

Take pictures or make a tattoo!

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Originally Posted by Beardedragon

Id call 911 stat and get the anti-venom! Hurry your time is limited:O

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:rofl::rofl::rofl:

i thought you weren't supposed to feed in the enclosure because the aspen bedding (or whatever you use)could be swallowed and i thought that was harmful.

We feed in a seperate enclosure because my son feels more comfortable doing so and also so we don't have to worry about bp getting substrate with the prey. But, we also don't move her back right way either. We will give her time to settle a bit before even attempting to move her and by that time our hands are clean and free of prey scent. Maybe grabbing the papertowel and moving your bp that way gave her a sense of insecurity and that is why it bit you. I may be imagining it wrong but moving a bp with paper towel just doesn't sound safe...for either one of you. You can pick up a 10gal tank at Walmart along with a locking lid for a reasonable price. This would give you peace of mind that your bp can't escape while you are giving her time to settle after a feeding.

Sorry...headache coming on and can't get my thoughts out like I want to!

Feeding in another enclosure is unnecessary and added work. I used to feed my snakes in other containers because I was a worry wort about them swallowing bedding...but then I thought 'wait, snakes can digest BONE. A little wood isn't gonna hurt'

As has been said, if you get your snake(s) on a regular feeding schedule, meaning feed on the same day or at least the same interval of days every time, then they'll learn that that day means food and will be sweet and gentle the rest of the time (usually).

You'll get better results all around if you just feed in their home enclosure. And if you're really worried about bedding, put down a piece of cardboard or something when you feed. :)

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Originally Posted by Argentra

Feeding in another enclosure is unnecessary and added work. I used to feed my snakes in other containers because I was a worry wort about them swallowing bedding...but then I thought 'wait, snakes can digest BONE. A little wood isn't gonna hurt'

As has been said, if you get your snake(s) on a regular feeding schedule, meaning feed on the same day or at least the same interval of days every time, then they'll learn that that day means food and will be sweet and gentle the rest of the time (usually).

You'll get better results all around if you just feed in their home enclosure. And if you're really worried about bedding, put down a piece of cardboard or something when you feed. :)

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DIGESTING the substrate isn't what worries me, it's getting it stuck in the mouth, throat, whatever is what I'm worried about. The bones at least come in a nice little furry package that prevent the problems that substrate can. But, I know a lot of people still feed in their enclosures, but using a seperate tank is just what works for us.

Oh, I understand the concern. You just have to use a substrate that isn't sharp.

I tried using cypress but stopped right away when I found it was all splintery. Even regular Kaytee Aspen has some sharp pieces...but then I found Harlan Teklad shredded aspen. The stuff ROCKS! Perfect for snakes.

But you do whatever works best for you and your snake. :)

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Originally Posted by Argentra

Oh, I understand the concern. You just have to use a substrate that isn't sharp.

I tried using cypress but stopped right away when I found it was all splintery. Even regular Kaytee Aspen has some sharp pieces...but then I found Harlan Teklad shredded aspen. The stuff ROCKS! Perfect for snakes.

But you do whatever works best for you and your snake. :)

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Harlan Teklad.. I'll have to make a note of that..

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Originally Posted by Houzi88

Thanks for all the advice. I always pick the mouse up with latex gloves cause the mouse always poops in his little container from the pet store. I heard that you should never feed the snakes in the enclosure but I'll do that for now on, it's so much easier!!!
Thanks!!!

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All I can tell you is based on my own personal experience. We feed 30+ snakes here every week, from little hatchling ball pythons to big mature ones, to boas to a milksnake. All in their enclosures, all on a variety of substrates that range from newspaper to aspen to an aspen/cypress mulch mixture.

If feeding in the enclosure or feeding live caused a snake to bite you, well I'd be pretty much chewed to pieces. I'm not. :)

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Originally Posted by chopsdsp

i thought you weren't supposed to feed in the enclosure because the aspen bedding (or whatever you use)could be swallowed and i thought that was harmful.

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Their digestive acids break down fur, teeth and bone completely - a bit of fine shred aspen isn't going to create an issue. If they get a bit stuck in their mouth they can usually dislodge it, if not then you can pull it out with a pair of tweezers. If you're concerned about loose bedding then a few hours before feeding time you can always lay down a big square of newspaper over the area of the enclosure your snake is feeding in. Leave it there until the next morning or at least a few hours later so you don't accidentally get nipped by a still hyped up, just had it's dinner snake.

I would suggest though that on future feeding days that you keep handling the snake to a minimum, especially handing it around for someone else to handle too. These snakes get to know what day you feed on and can become very hyper sensitive on their feeding day. Too much handling that day can get you bit or the snake so freaked out that it then refuses to feed that night. Just a thought....

I feed all of mine in a seperate enclosure, and what I usualy do it kinda tilt it a little bit to move the snake closer to me, and because I've noticed that when I move it it startles them for a moment and it goes out of feed mode, allowing me to gently pick up the snake with no problems and put him/her back into their cade :) But ya, I've been tagged before feeding by putting them into the enclosure before having the mouse/rat ready to throw in and them seeing my hand and mistaking it. No biggie, She's never intentionaly bit me even after that.

Hm...I've been feeding mine in a seperate enclosure. I put her in there and leave her there for a few minutes while the f/t mouse heats up, so that she doesn't expect to eat the moment she gets moved. If moving her doesn't help her know not to bite a hand coming into her vivarium...at least it helps ME go into feeding mode...and that means me being more careful.

That's how I got bit the other day...my Kenyan was still hungry (I gave her a smaller pinkie than normal b/c the rat pups looked a little large for her) after she ate the pinkie I gave her a few minutes then went to get her out of her feed tub. She struck me as soon as my hand was in there. I gave her one of the larger pups, she ate, and was fat and happy. No striking.