struck from my hand!!!

[Anonymous]

Well today I was feeding lusy for the second time and I had the mouse in a large box(was going to try outside tank feeding since last time she would only eat in the tank) well I started to put her down in the box. She decided she didn't want to wait and struck and grabbed the mouse while still in my hand. she had her back half rapped around my hand so I was stuck to her while she finished the job. Kind of funny but really scared me when she struck before I even got her into the box.
I know the snake should be in before the mouse but I bring the over in a large petco box and I just throw them out when done so the mouse is already in and I just let the snake in also.

thanks
JR

[Smulkin]

Yeah be careful with that - not quite as bad as having one strike at you or your hand or the mouse in your hand but they strike quite fast and it can easily alarm you. Sounds like you kept your cool and everything turned out all right. Sometimes you have to be a stickler for procedure for your own good - developing a safe routine is key from a lot of aspects (from bites, salmonella, SFEs, potential escapes). SOunds like you got a hungry little spitfire on your hands.

[Smynx]

My brown water python did that once, JR. At first I was stunned, but it was the absolute coolest thing! Zephyr is just baby, and I feed him in a shoebox sized sterlite. The thawed pinkie was in there waiting for him, and he just went for it. He gradually disentangled himself from my hand, then he finished the job.

[invadertoast]

That happened to me too when Eleanor was a baby. I found some old pics the other day, and this incident is included, lol. I tried to upload them but it keeps telling me no image was uploaded.... ah well, I'll try again tonight!

[gozetec02]

Becareful with that I put the snake in the box then introduce the food item. If the rodent is in the box then you put the snake in the box the snake will smell the rodent right off the back and go into feed mode while you still have them in your hand. Snakes have a very strong food response and will tag anything warm with in its reach.

[JLC]

Everyone has already said "be careful" so I won't repeat their lectures... LOL But, WOW, what a cool experience! :shock: I woulda jumped up to the ceiling! :lol: Glad nothing serious came of it!

[elevatethis]

Amber turns into a beast whenever she goes into her feeding box. After a few weeks of use, the box reeks of mouse- she knows its time to eat the moment she hits the floor. I'm getting used to it, as I back away after placing her in the box, she strikes right in my direction. Granted, I'm usually 3 or 4 feet away when this happens, but she must be picking up my body heat, and smelling mouse all around her. She does it at least once or twice every time. I usually just curse back at her, hehe.

[Anonymous]

I was watching for the feeding response but wow. it was instantly active.

This won't be routine but one thing I am glad for is that she is the most docile snake I have ever seen or held. She never coils back when I pick her up and I have yet seen her display any sign of aggresion even when she was shedding. Hoping it stays this since I have many people that love to handle her(tough telling them no right now since she just ate the other day).

Also I will have pics of the incident up today for all to see. none of the strike but a lot of the feeding.

thanks
JR

[iceman25]

I've been struck several hundred times :wink: Well more like ten times by lots of BP's who took my hand for food.