Second boa bite

[Johnmb]

My now slightly over 5' hypo boa bit me for second time. I am typing this with my finger still bleeding lol. (http://ball-pythons.net/forums/member.php?29659-Johnmb) I just gave her water and she drank a ton and a half hour later I picked her up and she immediately bit me. Didn't hurt at all but bled pretty good. She then puked up a bunch of water for me to clean. How much fun is that lol. She has tamed down a little since I've had her and this is only the second time she's bitten me but she still acts aggressive at times and for couple days prior to feeding she will strike at any sudden movement. (usually hand motion.) Is this fairly normal? I'm still learning about boas as I mainly keep balls. Thanks for any input

[Flint]

Sweet! Last reptile I was bitten by was my Asian Water Monitor. I can't wait until my boas get big. (:

EDIT: Have you hook trained her?

[Johnmb]

Sweet! Last reptile I was bitten by was my Asian Water Monitor. I can't wait until my boas get big. (:

EDIT: Have you hook trained her?

No I haven't hook trained her at all. Only time I've ever used hooks was when I run into venomous snakes where I've lived. (only copperheads locally and very few of them.)

[Flint]

Look into it. It should eliminate that feed response you're having an issue with. You don't even have to use a hook, you can use a paper towel roll just as well.

[bcr229]

Agreed with the hook training! I have a female with a super strong food response as well. Eventually all you will need to do is touch your boa with it and she will know she's not getting fed.

That said, she's on a every 14 day feeding schedule, and I have other snakes on 5 and 7 day schedules so many times she can smell f/t rats thawing and will go into food mode even when she's not due to eat. I have learned (the hard way) to make sure that I clean the enclosures before I start thawing rats for whoever is eating that day.

[thinkbig317]

Sweet! Last reptile I was bitten by was my Asian Water Monitor. I can't wait until my boas get big. (:

EDIT: Have you hook trained her?

Asian Water Monitor bite...ouch!!!!! Would rather get bitten by a boa anyday!

[Flint]

She was still small at the time, around 5ft. It wasn't bad, I didn't pull away but I bled a lot. Wasn't even left with a scar. It was completely my fault, I had her outside on a harness and went to pick her up and she freaked out. Once she realized it was me she let go and I finished the last 15 minutes of our walk to the reptile shop for first aid.

[Powerline Reptiles]

My boa Spooky gets the same way around feeding day. I've been conditioning her though. Every time I go in to get her, or need to do something in her cage that doesn't involve feeding I tap her on the nose with the handling end of the feeding tongs. It has worked for her well so far. If only my carpet python responded to that....

[CloudtheBoa]

Oh wow you got a decent bite. Cloud used to strike at me often and got me a couple of times when I was gullible enough to believe the separate feeding enclosure spiel, but he only drew blood once. He was just a baby, though, not even 2ft. I bet he'd do some damage if he really wanted to now, at 6ft. I haven't been struck at or bitten in almost a year now; most of the ones before were during feeding time, either getting him out to the feeding tank or moving him back to his tub. He's very sweet, though, never hissed and doesn't get defensive even in shed. He's pretty half-hearted with his bites; the last bite I had from was right to face when he was about 4.5ft and all I got was a red pinprick where my skin got irritated. He pulled back before he even broke the skin. It was my fault, though, I wasn't gripping onto the tub lid hard enough when he swung his tail down (for some reason he likes to slap/swing his tail through the air when he lets go of whatever he's gripping onto with his tail) and I dropped it on his tail. It was light so it didn't damage anything, just scared him (and me because I was afraid he'd hurt his tail).

My ball python gave me a worse bite than Cloud ever did, some shallow cuts that bled a lot and nice bruise at the tip of my finger. This when I was trying the "rat dance" with him during my live to f/t switch.