This was kind of freak situation to have happen but I thought it was so funny that I would share.
I got into a habit of cleaning and feeding hatchlings at the same time. The process was to have them stike at their food while holding it by the tail with hemostats, then as they wrap the prey up, lift snake and all into a holding area while they feed and then I can clean their container. Once done they are then transfered back to their primary container and then I move on to the next. Ok maybe not the best way to handle things but it worked.
Until......
I was in a hurry and was doing the same process by hand, holding the mouse by the tail (frozen thawed if you were wondering). Well this little guy decided to switch grip during mid carry and wrapped around my thumb, still holding his mouse meal. Now the cool thing, at least I thought it was, was that as he became a turniquette on my thumb I could feel my pulse in the area. And what was really neat is I could tell that he was reacting to my pulse while constricting, putting new light on the debate about whether prey is asphyxiated by tightening to prevent respiration or whether circulation is shut down.
Well since my pulse wasn't stopping it wasn't letting go to proceed with swallowing the prey in its mouth. So I took a quick picture and then transfered its attention back to it's meal.
Feel free to laugh at my stupidity.
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Kevin Earley
Gila Monsters - Beaded Lizards - Ball Pythons
