ball python bite question? aggresive forever

[JOKERMAN]

Today while i was feeding my ball python who has no history of even stricking at me bit and held on to my finger and i was woundering cause it didnt hurt but i dont want it to happen again will she always be tring to kill me or she just mistaked my hand for food any help would be nice.

[The Serpent Merchant]

Sounds like an honest mistake on the snakes part.

How are you feeding? Are you using tongs of some sort?

[Daybreaker]

Trying to kill you lol she probably bit you from a feeding response: my pastel tagged me when she was younger when she missed the rat and got my hand instead and she held on for a bit too before she figured out I wasn't the feeder. I wouldn't worry about her making a habit out of it.

[JOKERMAN]

i feed her frozen thaw with tongs but since i misplaced them today i did it by hand and i was making sure she would get it down as she just went from eating fuzzies to hoppers i went in to pull out some shed i had missed a few days prior from threre i think you know

[towelie4365]

If they smell a rodent, then you're in danger of getting bit from a feeding response. Snakes aren't too bright, so they can't distinguish you from a meal in that situation.

To them, they smell food, sense your heat, see movement, and think that you are their meal. Depending on how aggressive of a feeder you have, any one of those, or a combination, can cause a feeding response. Its your responsibility as an owner to understand this aspect of your pet, and to exercise the necessary precautions to not trigger a feeding response. The longer you have your snake, the more you'll learn its body language, and what triggers a feeding response.

In short: the snake isn't trying to kill you, just be more careful during feeding time.

[Raven01]

Little bitty pythons like Balls only strike you for 2 basic reasons.

1. (a)A fear/defense response. It does pay to double check husbandry if this is the case. Temp's, high traffic insufficient hides(if your set up requires them), etc. The snake may just be "in a bad mood" and intolerant of handling at that time although, this seems pretty rare with any larger snakes. Hatchlings can be a different matter, they are tiny and lots of things see them as an easy meal so they can be defensive at this stage, by all means not all are, it is just a possibility.
1. (b) Sometimes something may just startle a snake and it will react with either a fight or flight response.

2. A mistaken feeding response. Most of us can tell you exactly what we did wrong when this is the case (although not always, that vid of the BP slowly deciding to gnaw on a thumb was both hilarious and confusing). A set of tongs that are used for only feeding is a great starting point(personally I do prefer forceps as I find them far more comfortable). Also a weight check on both the snake and prey items will help determine if the snake is being underfed(the feed schedule can also be altered to suit the individual snake, juveniles will eat more frequently than adults).

Most of the time observation and perseverance will result in you having a great relationship with what is for all intents and purposes a lovely "tame" wild animal.
Good luck and don't sweat it.

[200xth]

i went in to pull out some shed i had missed a few days prior from threre i think you know

I'd leave that to another time that isn't feeding time. You'll be fine.

[DixieLonestar20x]

agreed with above poster^^^

Did you wash your hands after handling the mouse?? good chance she might have been still a little hungry and mistaked you for food because you probably still smelled like the mouse..

[NYHC4LIFE8899]

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i feed her frozen thaw with tongs but since i misplaced them today i did it by hand

When it struck at you,did that^^^ even cross your mind as to the whole aggression ( which actually wasn't aggression towards you at all) thing,one little bit? Please tell me it did???? cause u answered your own question above

I'm Scared for Americas future

[shadowsnakes]

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When it struck at you,did that^^^ even cross your mind as to the whole aggression ( which actually wasn't aggression towards you at all) thing,one little bit? Please tell me it did???? cause u answered your own question above

I'm Scared for Americas future

No need to be nasty. Better to ask and know than not ask and be ignorant.