I guess I am a wimp b/c I was more upset by the small, yet surprising, hiss during a shed assist than the little nip he gave me last time. What a weird experience! And I imagine BP's are are like dogs or bees and smell a peculiar shift in your chemistry, indicating fear. OK, here's the story. It might be meaningless and silly for you long termers, but it feels like a big deal to this newbie.

I was trying to help Mr. Snake get the last 4 - 5 inches of his shed off his head and neck with a wet wash cloth after a soak. As I got closer to his head, I thought I heard some teeny, tiny noises - a bit of air, a short and quiet squeak. I didn't know if the squeak meant it hurt or if it was the precursor to the hiss. Then it came. And you all are right, it sounds EXACTLY like letting air out of a tire. And having a snake in my hands, our beloved PET nonethelss, hiss at me while his head is free and about does not in any way parallel seeing it on YouTube! Even after seeing the Gaboon viper in her LONG, hissy fit, I wasn't prepared.

I slowed down and told him to calm down, it's OK, etc. I tried to be gentle, but I could see his lingual fossa getting slightly larger on ocassion. Um... close your mouth, Mr. Snake.

I went back to the sink and put some more warm water over the back of his head and neck to help loosen the skin more. While I was doing that (and I had done that before, so it wasn't new), I said, "I'm gonna get that skin off your head one way or another, whether you like it or not." I swear, the snake understood me! He started to open his mouth!!!

I kept coaching him that it was OK, etc. Yeah right, NOT! I kept seeing his lips crack open, so back to the bedroom he went. I set him down on the bed so I could open his tank. When I turned to pick him up, he was starting to open his mouth again.

I'm a sucker. He has me trained to give up! He knows he can scare me. But, also, I was pissed and put him back in saying, "Good luck, buddy."

I'll ask my husband to try again tomorrow. We'll see if he's as wimpy as me. Or maybe he has "the touch."

You live, you learn!