Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Yikes, my 4 foot boa constrictor just bit my hand just as i was about to feed him. I don't know if he thought i was a rat, I hadn't touched one, but anyway, he wouldn't let and he even started to rap around my hand. I tried for two minutes to wedge his mouth open and get his teeth out of my skin but to no avail.

THANKFULLY, i remembered a story over a year ago where a man was bitten in the face by a pretty large boa or python, i don't remember, but the only way they were able to get the snake off was with alcohol, so i woke my sister up and put some alcohol on a ear swab and put it in the snakes mouth. Finally with a little manuevering he were able to pull the last few teeth out of my skin. I'm so glad i remembered that article, otherwise, i don't know how i would have gottten the snake off!

Sorry, i'm still kind of frenetic in the aftermath...

...my 4.5' BCI has a *very* strong feeding response. I feed him in a separate container and when I went to put him back in his cage I grabbed him close to the tail. Usually this works, he realizes that it's me but this time he grabbed me hard and struck. He let go immediately and I put him back in his cage. He drew a little blood but it was no big deal. Getting bit on occasion is part of owning a snake, congrats on your initiation.
-----
JMHO, FWIW, YMMV.

was it jake?

i'm tellin ya, he's docile like no other snake, but when you put food in front of him... LOOK OUT! that's just like all my animals that are very tame, dinner time is DEFINITELY not play time.

T, in the future, i'd just feed him in his enclosure unless you've got him housed w/ the female. trust me, overall, less chance of being bitten.

later man, jb
-----
Jonathan Brady
My Kingsnake Photo Gallery

You are right, sweetest snake ever, until he smells a rat. Man, I can't feed him enough! I have switched him to a 14 day feeding schedule and he acts as if he hasn't eaten in months! Even when he was eating every week he was like that. I fed him 2 medium rats and he wanted more. He is my garbage disposal, if one of my other snakes doesn't eat I had *better* give it to Jake. He is still with the female, he is getting his own cage once the Boaphile cage gets here in a couple weeks. I have a good feeling about him breeding this year.

>>was it jake?
>>
>>i'm tellin ya, he's docile like no other snake, but when you put food in front of him... LOOK OUT! that's just like all my animals that are very tame, dinner time is DEFINITELY not play time.
>>
>>T, in the future, i'd just feed him in his enclosure unless you've got him housed w/ the female. trust me, overall, less chance of being bitten.
>>
>>later man, jb
>>-----
>>Jonathan Brady
>>My Kingsnake Photo Gallery
-----
JMHO, FWIW, YMMV.

The keepers at our local zoo recommend cold water for a case like that. It should shock them into a release without any problems.

I started using hard liquor (tequila's my favorite) quite a few years ago. A few drops in their mouth & they let go. They will usually feed immediately after (actually, I haven't had one not feed), so it obviously doesn't hurt them too badly.
I've thought about keeping it in a spray bottle, but haven't tried it yet.
Cheers (literally), Max

I would invest in a hook for removing your boas, I don't know how many times I've been bit, but It usualy happens when your reaching into an enclosure. Those 4 footers are in that feeling out there boundrys stage, I almost got hit in the face the other day...LOL.