It's funny to see all the responses.
As far as I know, zero research has been done on hand feeding, yet all I ever hear is "you better not do that".
Now, I DO understand. There IS a chance of getting tagged. I would never do this with a large Boa or Python. But colubrids are no big deal if I get bitten.
Funny thing... After 30 years of keeping snakes, the only bites I have every had were defensive, or Kingsnakes biting me for no apparent reason at all and chewing on me. I have had more bites from Black Racers than all other snakes combined and that had nothing to do with food.
In fact, Snakebytes did a test. Chewy dipped his hand in a bucket of wet mice, then went to handle some snakes. Some bit, others didn't.
Risk? Sure. But we take a risk every time we handle our snakes.
Relax, people...I know a guy who routinely hand feeds 5 foot Eastern and Florida Kings. With no problems at all.
Then again, I just remembered this is a Ball Python forum, and a bite from a full grown Ball is definitely a bit worse than a full grown King.
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