My ball python is male, approximately 3.5 years old and I have had him for 2 years (his first year and a half was with a family with small children and was used to daily handling without issue), he has NEVER bit me or ANYONE until tonight. I got him for my daughter who was always asking to have a snake and after doing some research and talking to a few pet stores it was recommended I get a ball python. My daughter handles him all the time, she's 8 years old and loves this snake, now I can't sleep because I have visions of her reaching in and getting bit. This will break her heart and destroy her confidence with the animal.

My snake only eats live, and yes I have tried many times to feed him dead and he won't take it, he was raised on live and although people say "you can change that" .. with this guy its not possible, he likes the kill and he's good at it. He won't eat anything larger than a juvenile rat (half size) and because the only store I can buy food rarely gets that size, I end up feeding him mice, three at a time every couple of weeks. I tried doing this every week but he doesnt go for it and I end up having live mice running around for a week (in their own container), sometimes two. Anyway, I fed him two mice yesterday as that is all the live feeders they had and of course he was waiting for another but i didn't have it. I left the room and he went back into his hide to rest. Today in the late afternoon he was out, just lying there and normally I wait two days to handle him but he looked so cute I thought I could just pet him, I opened the door and as my hand started going towards him he struck and literally grabbed my thumb and locked on, I had to pretty much take him off while screaming as this was totally unexpected. I have read that it doesn't hurt, bullocks, it hurt all right and it was bleeding like crazy. After I tended my wounds I went back and the snake was in hunt mode… head up off the ground twitching, tongue going… so I guess he was ready to eat more and mistook my finger for food. It wasnt a warning bite, it was a feeder bite, he locked onto my thumb as though he was taking on a rodent.

He isn't a large ball, he's normal, a snake guy said he's perfect, not fat, not thin … was it too soon to stick my hands in there since he ate only yesterday? He wasnt in feed mode when I reached in he was just lying there calm by his water dish, which is why I was so surprised when he launched and grabbed my thumb! I am freaked because I don't want my kid to get bit because that will not be good if she becomes scared of him. This snake has went for months without eating and been handled and never been a problem (refused food, wasnt because i didn't feed him). She handles him at least once every other day, sometimes every day, depends on what she has going on. He seems to know her and like her better than me as he settles on her quicker. I haven't been able to sleep, about an hour ago I went to his enclosure and took him out (to conquer my fear) and he was docile at first but then wanted to get away but no sign of aggression, he's never been aggressive and tried to bite ever.

And yes I feed him in his enclosure, I have read the literature about that and regardless of where you feed them you risk getting bit, if you transfer in another container to feed you run the risk of getting bit when you go to take him back to his home enclosure, the suggestions are either or and he has been eating in his enclosure since I got him without issue. As I said I feed him and leave him two days and its always worked. I am hoping this could have happened for two reasons, A. he is still hungry and I startled him or B. its too soon to touch him after feeding … or C both A and B and if I feed him more today and do the two day rule everything will be back to normal?

Also, he is close to shedding and a tiny hint of pink is on his belly but his eyes are not cloudy. His crib is large, 60 gal double front doors, shredded coconut bedding, perfect temp, hide with heat, tree trunks to climb on, fresh spring water all the time, quiet room with the sound of a fish tank fountain, trust me this snake has it made here, he is not suffering or lacking in any way.


This is my or our first snake, I knew nothing about snakes when I got him and the last two years have been a learning curve but it had been going so well and now this

Any input is appreciated.

Thanks!