What do you do when you get bit by a red tail?!

[llovelace]

About 3-4 times a week we take her out to watch tv with us on the bed, she doesn't wander much, she usually just cruises the bed then lays up on a pillow.

[MasonC2K]

I really want a RTB but the only thing holding me back is one thought. What happens when you have a 6 ft + red tail boa, and it bites you? Then what? Do you just treat it like a bite from a bp, or panic and try to pry its jaws open?

I know all the talk of it not happening and how to prevent it is nice but to address the question of what if:

If it bites and holds on, poor alcohol, any kind, in its mouth. 99.9% of the time they'll let go. While any alcohol will do, mouthwash seems to be the most used medium. BHB certainly swears by it.

[Anatopism]

Pressing an icecube just to the very tip of the nose seemed to work great on a snake the other day.

I've also used lukewarm water poured onto the face/mouth.

Haven't ever had to try alcohol/mouthwash.

[Miss Tuniwha]

ok, not sure if anyone mentioned this yet.. MOUTHWASH!

I had a 6 footer bite and wrap my arm.. all I had to do is splash a little bit of mouth wash onto my arm where he had hold..

The alcohol in it makes them spit you out..

keep in mind, that part hurts more then GETTING bit.. but it works and is quick !!

I always have one of those travel sized bottles in my reptile room..

It worked when I got wrapped by the boa, as well as a couple times with a bp.. as well as a young savannah monitor that liked the taste of my finger

[DemmBalls]

I have also heard that mouthwash works great! It will also clean the wound at the same time!

[reaper99]

Just like everyone here said don't let fear overcome you and if you still fear a bite I would recommend keeping some rubbing alcohol or some hard liquor handy they seem let go when they feel the burn

[Crazy4Herps]

If you happen to find yourself in the jaws of a big boa, don't panic, try to push your hand towards the back of the throat and then slide your hand out (they have barbed teeth; if you try to pull your hand directly out of the snake's mouth, you will end up shredding your arm). I've heard all about how cold water, straight alcohol, and mouthwash will make the snake let go, honestly I don't know how well any of these would work, but it's worth a try for sure. If nothing else just wait. The snake will let go eventually. Then continue to clean the wound as best you can. If you've lost much blood a visit to urgent care might be a good idea. Otherwise, just keep an eye on the wound, keep in clean, and go to a doctor if there is any sign of infection.


Precautions are key. Big boas should NOT be underestimated, but the truth is that if you respect their potential and take measures to keep yourself safe, nothing will happen. Just basic things like never handling a big boa alone, always having someone present in the room during feedings, always lock the cage, don't put a big boa around your neck, never handle a boa while intoxicated, always keep your face and neck at a distance whenever opening the cage, etc. If you are mindful of what could happen, you are safe.

[Vypyrz]

I really want a RTB but the only thing holding me back is one thought. What happens when you have a 6 ft + red tail boa, and it bites you? Then what? Do you just treat it like a bite from a bp, or panic and try to pry its jaws open?

1) Use one of the above mentioned methods to get the snake to release.
2) Return snake to enclosure.
3) Take photos of bite.
4) Clean and treat bite with anti-bacterial hand soap and Neosporin.
5) Post photos on BP.net.

[Kara]

Keep a large, wide, thin rubber spatula in your snake room. These work great for gently encouraging a biting snake to let go, and you don't have to worry about the snake aspirating any liquid like you would with mouthwash, alcohol, water, etc.

It really helps if you have someone there to help firmly but gently press the spatula between the snake's upper teeth and whatever body part it's currently latched onto...the very few times I've had to use this trick it has worked pretty darn quickly.

Make sure that the rubber/silicone spatula end is firm enough not to flex too much, but not hard plastic that could damage the snake's mouth/teeth.

Afterwards you clean it up, take some pics, then laugh & joke how glad you were that it wasn't a retic bite.

[wolfy-hound]

I didn't see anyone mention the alcohol in a spritz bottle technique?