Why did my ball python bite me?

[Kair0tic]

So something strange just happened. I have a wonderful baby normal ball python that I love dearly. She was my first ball python, and I take her out a lot. She's the sweetest thing ever, and has never bitten me or struck at anyone. I've never even seen her get agitated or stressed, and she doesn't even hide. She's just happy and active and not shy at all.

I was playing video games and had her around my neck like I do sometimes. And she was curled up and exploring my shoulders and back like always. Then she moved up and curled around my ear and licked my face a little, all perfectly normal. Like she always does.

And then, she very slowly, while her face was against mine, opened her mouth and sank her teeth into my cheek. It wasn't a strike, and she didn't seem the slightest bit freaked out or defensive. It was completely casual. She didn't clamp down, she just kind of got her little teeth stuck in my cheek. I reached up and gently removed her, and she seemed fine. Like I said, she didn't strike at me or seem stressed out. It was more like she was trying to eat my face.

Any ideas why she would do this? It didn't hurt, but when she's older, I certainly wouldn't like to be randomly bitten in the face by a 5 foot snake.

[Royalherper]

It wasn't a strike? Was it a yawn gone bad? I've never witnessed any of mine do anything other than strike or yawn. Thats really weird. Maybe thats how BPs kiss.

[mlededee]

do you think maybe she was just yawning and when closing her mouth your check was in the way?

[Kobi Baby]

probably a yawn gone bad. Kobi likes to get directly in front of my face and yawn, so that's what I would think.

[Kobi Baby]

Maybe thats how BPs kiss.

LOL

[frankykeno]

Doesn't sound like she was acting defensively, just likely as some have said...your skin got in the way of her jaws. Probably best when she's a big female to not have her around your neck anyways or moving around if you're not in control of her. I've had to haul a big snake out of the bowels of my couch and it's not much fun LOL.

[Kair0tic]

I had considered that. You guys are probably right.

Yeah, it definitely wasn't a strike, but it did look a bit more premeditated than a yawn. It reminded me of how, when she has already killed a mouse, she would open her mouth around its head to eat it.

But I guess it -was- probably just an unfortunate yawn. I just wanted to make sure that I hadn't done anything to cause it. I'm still somewhat new to snake owning.

Thanks everyone! By the way, these forums are the greatest resource ever. Though I just started posting, I have been reading since I got her and I've been immeasurably helped.

[fishmommy]

hee hee hee....that is such a precious image!


I think your snake was just confirming that it was indeed your head. LOL!
Just like feeding time, a couple of slow chomps on the head to make sure they have the right end LOL!