I can only speak from my own experience. Earlier this year I was NIPPED on the knuckle of my thumb (quick defensive head swing... quick bite and let go). The nip was COMPLETELY my fault...I should have had on gloves or should have used tools to move the lizard (I had just picked them up from the airport and was looking them over prior to putting them in their caging).


I quickly ran to the sink and pushed as much blood as possible from the bite. It was burning immediatly. I called a close friend with alot of heloderm experience that calmed me down a bit. Pain was intense (worse than my kidney stones the year before...anyone who has had kidney stones understand)... peaked in about 2-3 hours and then began to slowly go away. I was feeling better by later on that evening. My had was SWOLLEN (ie couldn't see my knuckles) for 3-4 days at least... sore...


I've kept venomous for years and have had lots of heloderms... never expected it to hurt as bad as it did...and all I got was a QUICK nip from a hatchling.... I could only imagine an adult chewing on your arm/hand... ouch.

Maybe my body reacted different that yours... who knows... all I know is that it freakin hurt.

I now have a new found respect for these lizards... IF I have to touch them I wear heavy gloves...

Just my 2 cents...hope it helped.

[ Reply To This Message ] [ Subscribe to this Thread ] [ Hide Replies ]