First Bite

[Bfrank]

I got bit for the first time last night and it really surprised me. It was an adult female that I have had for over a year now. She has always been good before this and I even let my children handle her with me on a regular basis. But last night I slid her tub out to check on her and she struck as soon as the tub was out a couple inches and bit me right on the hand that was opening the tub. So I waited till she calmed down and slid it back closed.

it didn’t hurt all that bad, but it did bleed for a little while. I am mostly concerned about why it would happen, because I would hate for someone in my family to get bitten.

[RickyNY]

Warm hand and she was hungry.

[Valyndris]

She may have gotten startled or maybe she is hungry and you got the feed response. Luckily ball python bites don't really hurt that much.

[Moose84]

I got bit for the first time last night and it really surprised me. It was an adult female that I have had for over a year now. She has always been good before this and I even let my children handle her with me on a regular basis. But last night I slid her tub out to check on her and she struck as soon as the tub was out a couple inches and bit me right on the hand that was opening the tub. So I waited till she calmed down and slid it back closed.

it didn’t hurt all that bad, but it did bleed for a little while. I am mostly concerned about why it would happen, because I would hate for someone in my family to get bitten.

Did you slide other tubs out prior? Any chance you were feeding other animals in the rack? I will tell you this.. One of my calmest snakes outside of enclosure has a pretty wicked food response for a BP. As soon as the lid slides he will come out thinking he's going to eat. A little touch on the head with a pen or tongs snaps him right out and he's fine.

In your case I would be willing to bet that snake thought she was going to eat and as soon as your hand was available you got nailed..

I will also say this.. That snake must have been on the cool side of that tub in the rack or it's a really small tub. Outside of night time mine spend the majority of the time in the middle or over the heat.. Not too hot is it?

[Craiga 01453]

Welcome to the club!
It's almost like a right of passage, hahahahha.

[JRLongton]

Two things happen to every snake keeper. We all get bit and we all get pooped on. Happens eventually.

[Bogertophis]

I got bit for the first time last night and it really surprised me. It was an adult female that I have had for over a year now. She has always been good before this and I even let my children handle her with me on a regular basis. But last night I slid her tub out to check on her and she struck as soon as the tub was out a couple inches and bit me right on the hand that was opening the tub. So I waited till she calmed down and slid it back closed.

it didn’t hurt all that bad, but it did bleed for a little while. I am mostly concerned about why it would happen, because I would hate for someone in my family to get bitten.

Good chance for YOU to learn...this had nothing to do with her "calming down"- she's a snake, & snakes do not identify us visually as you apparently expected her to.
She was aware of "warm & wiggling" heading her way (or being within reach) so she assumed "dinner" until proven otherwise by the disappointing taste of human, bleah!

Most bites are avoidable...but you & your family need to remember to communicate by scent &/or touch so that your snake is not confused. They don't want to mistake
us for food, it happens when WE forget how they perceive us, & we force them to remind us. This is why many "hook train" their snakes, using touch to let them
know it's not lunch time. Some snakes respond easily to scent (especially those that aren't using heat-sensing pits), but either way, it's your job to "show your I.D."

[Reinz]

Good chance for YOU to learn...this had nothing to do with her "calming down"- she's a snake, & snakes do not identify us visually as you apparently expected her to.
She was aware of "warm & wiggling" heading her way (or being within reach) so she assumed "dinner" until proven otherwise by the disappointing taste of human, bleah!

Most bites are avoidable...but you & your family need to remember to communicate by scent &/or touch so that your snake is not confused. They don't want to mistake
us for food, it happens when WE forget how they perceive us, & we force them to remind us. This is why many "hook train" their snakes, using touch to let them
know it's not lunch time. Some snakes respond easily to scent (especially those that aren't using heat-sensing pits), but either way, it's your job to "show your I.D."

Great explanation!

[Bfrank]

Good chance for YOU to learn...this had nothing to do with her "calming down"- she's a snake, & snakes do not identify us visually as you apparently expected her to.
She was aware of "warm & wiggling" heading her way (or being within reach) so she assumed "dinner" until proven otherwise by the disappointing taste of human, bleah!

Most bites are avoidable...but you & your family need to remember to communicate by scent &/or touch so that your snake is not confused. They don't want to mistake
us for food, it happens when WE forget how they perceive us, & we force them to remind us. This is why many "hook train" their snakes, using touch to let them
know it's not lunch time. Some snakes respond easily to scent (especially those that aren't using heat-sensing pits), but either way, it's your job to "show your I.D."

I appreciate the feedback, and I don’t want to come across as argumentative but I don’t understand what I could have done differently to identify my self. She struck as soon as there was enough room for her to come out of the tub and my hand was still 2 inches above and 1 inch over from the opening. Even if she was hook trained, I couldn’t have used it to tap her before she bit me, and I don’t know how I could have gotten her to smell me first, maybe by putting my hand up to a vent hole first?

i had already opened the tub above her to check my male, so I thought that would be enough noise and movement that she shouldn’t have been “surprised” when hers opened. I fed all the snakes on Monday night, so I don’t think she would be exceptionally hungry, but it was around the same time of night I usually feed her, so maybe that’s what it was.

I am am not overly worried about it, but I want to make sure I am doing everything I can to take care of my snakes correctly and not cause them any stress.

thank you to everyone who has replied.