What a bite!

[Eclectix]

I got a really good bite from a BP today, not sure I really deserved it but it's an occupational hazard I guess. It was the worst one I've had yet, which is why I felt it worthy of writing about it. If there is a section for these stories, I couldn't find it- sorry- and if so, could it be moved?

Our family went to our favorite reptile shop today to pick up a mouse to feed to our little ball python. While we were there I asked if I could hold one of their large gravid female ball pythons. Just as I was gently handling the snake and explaining to my youngest daughter that even full-grown ball pythons are generally considered to be among the most peaceful of snakes, it suddenly decided to bite me- good and hard- right on the hand with no provocation or warning at all. This snake has not, to my knowledge, ever bitten anyone, and I'm not sure why she chose this moment to break that record, but perhaps it is simply because she was feeling extra defensive being gravid with young.

At any rate, she bit and twisted just like they usually do when they are biting onto a prey item. I tried to calm her down and get her to relax and let go, but every time someone came up to see if they could try to pry her mouth off my hand she would bite and twist harder. I think the store staff was more embarrassed/concerned than I was hurt. I asked if I could just sit down and try to calm her down without all the fuss to see if she would relax and let go. She coiled on tighter and started twisting trying to get her teeth out of my hand, but they had punctured clean through and were kind of stuck in place at that point, so the twisting only made it worse and I don't think she could easily let go. After about 20 minutes of this, one of the store personnel suggested that I just dunk my hand, snake and all, into a pond. The thought of salmonella entered my mind, but I figured it was worth a shot. After holding her underwater for a couple of minutes she began twisting vigorously and finally got her top jaw to let go. At that point I was able to pull her bottom teeth loose. After checking to make sure she was not hurt, I went to the sink and scrubbed the bite area with disinfectant soap and rubbed in plenty of hand sanitizer.

This is not the first time I've been bitten by a snake and I'm sure it won't be the last, but it's the first time I've had one that locked on like that. Usually it's over before you know it started. My hand has a few swollen spots and tiny puncture marks, and I think it will be a bit bruised but otherwise no big deal.

All in all it turned out to be an interesting trip to the pet store.