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  1. #1
    BPnet Veteran Oxylepy's Avatar
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    Are females more prone to biting and males to licking?

    While males seem more likely to show affection by licking me, and then me returning it by petting them (this has happened with about 4 males so far), females seem to like to bite me. Not like I'm food, or clamping down, or defensively, they just seem interested then use their teeth, and will gradually try and nibble harder if i dont discourage them ("Ow, that's my finger" then I push them lightly back because of it (and when I say lightly I dont mean "whats light to you could be a shove to the rat" I mean lightly, like enough for them to move back on their own and me using less force than petting)). But it seems like the females never learn and never lick.

    I dont blame them for it since they arent trying to eat me, arent trying to hurt me, and from the way it feels arent trying to even be defensive, they just seem curious.
    Ball Pythons 1.1 Lesser, Pastel
    1.0 Lesser Pastel, 0.0.7 mixed babies

  2. #2
    BPnet Senior Member iCandiBallPythons's Avatar
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    Re: Are females more prone to biting and males to licking?

    Great title lol
    Malcolm S.
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  4. #3
    BPnet Lifer snakesRkewl's Avatar
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    Re: Are females more prone to biting and males to licking?

    My blue and Himilayan females will lick the skin off your fingers if you let them.

    They also love to chew on finger nails, especially acrylic nails.
    When I sell rats to customers, especially women with fake nails I always let them know to be careful about nail chewers.

    My males are more prone to climbing in my hands to MAKE me pick them up, they just love to be held and pet like a dog
    Jerry Robertson

  5. #4
    BPnet Veteran PyramidPythons's Avatar
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    Re: Are females more prone to biting and males to licking?

    With all of my rats (I have fifteen that I keep as pets), it is the same as you say. All of my males will lick my hand like a puppy whenever I stick it in their enclosure. Almost all of my females will "nibble" on my fingers when I stick my hand in their enclosure. None of my females lick. None of my males nibble. Dunno why they do this.

  6. #5
    BPnet Veteran Alexandra V's Avatar
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    Re: Are females more prone to biting and males to licking?

    I find that the females are more bold than the males, maybe because they're more high-strung to begin with and males are more laid back. I find that I get more exploratory bites from females as well, and the one male I ever met was obsessed with licking cuticles lol! It was like getting a manicure.

  7. #6
    Registered User SERPENT_MASTERS's Avatar
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    Re: Are females more prone to biting and males to licking?

    Quote Originally Posted by icandiballpythons View Post
    great title lol
    lmao!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hard day at work and just caught on....
    ALL I HAVE IN THIS WORLD IS MY BALLS AND MY WORD. I WONT BREAK EM FOR NOBODY.

  8. #7
    BPnet Veteran Michelle.C's Avatar
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    Re: Are females more prone to biting and males to licking?

    Raised as pets, I haven't noticed males being more affectionate than females (licking more), but I have found that females like to give manicures. They like to clean under your nails, loose pieces of skin, even trim nails. Males will do this too, but my females are obsessive about this.

    They can get a little rough and I just give them a high pitched noise and pull my hand back. They'll learn that they don't get to do what they want if they are rough about it. It works the same way as them cleaning their babies. First time moms will be rough about it, but the babies squeak to let them know that they are hurting them.


  9. #8
    BPnet Lifer snakesRkewl's Avatar
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    Re: Are females more prone to biting and males to licking?

    Quote Originally Posted by Michelle.C View Post
    They can get a little rough and I just give them a high pitched noise and pull my hand back. They'll learn that they don't get to do what they want if they are rough about it.
    When the babies get a bit too aggressive at nibbling then I roll them over and hold them on their backs for a moment, just to let them know who is boss,
    it works, they tend to be much more gentle the next time they nibble
    Jerry Robertson

  10. #9
    BPnet Veteran Michelle.C's Avatar
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    Re: Are females more prone to biting and males to licking?

    Quote Originally Posted by snakesRkewl View Post
    When the babies get a bit too aggressive at nibbling then I roll them over and hold them on their backs for a moment, just to let them know who is boss,
    it works, they tend to be much more gentle the next time they nibble
    I use the same method with babies. It does show them who's boss. By the time my crew are a few months old, I have zero issues with biting/nibbling too hard.


  11. #10
    BPnet Veteran bokuza's Avatar
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    Re: Are females more prone to biting and males to licking?

    It varies by the individual but I agree. My females are fastidious, clean, a little high strung but most of all enjoy mental stimulation. Most often I find my nails under an investigation after handling food or a nice smelling object, like freshly washed clothes. I can see how this behavior is a mix of their boldness, motherly instincts to maintain a clean nest, interest towards tastes and wanting to entertain themselves all in one. With older females it may be hard to break of them of their habits however it can be done. I don't suggest flipping them over if they are past a certain age as it may be taken as aggression. I simply wash my hands the best I can and nudge them away. Sometimes letting out a sharp squeak (IF the intentions of the females is really just curiosity) lets them know you aren't enjoying your manicure.

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