Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've had my BP for 5 1/2 years now and something just happened that has never happened before. Yes, he bit me. But, he didn't just snap at me. He actually grabbed my finger, sunk his teeth into it and wrapped around my hand. As a quick reaction, I had to grab him and rip him off my hand and run to the bathroom to stop the bleeding. Anyway, I washed my hands thoroughly, like I always do, before reaching in slowly to pick him up like I always do. I've picked him up probably 1,000 times over the years doing the same thing everytime without incident. What could have possibly caused this reaction? Obviously, this was a feeding response since he grabbed my finger like he'd normally grab one of the rats I feed him. I feed him in a separate container so there's no way a rat scent could be in his tank. Do you guys have any ideas for me why he could have reacted this way? Like I said, I've had him for 5 1/2 years and this has never happened before. I didn't do anything differently than I normally do when going to pick him up. Any thoughts would be appreciated as I go back to tending to my swollen finger!! Thanks.

Like you said,it was obviously a feeding response.
Since it's coming into the breeding months he may be feeding as much as he can,before it's time go without(Years of built in instinct.)
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Charles Glaspie
http://www.myspace.com/coldthumb

Must be odd snake behavior week. My female I've had for 7 years hissed at me for the first time today. I'm glad I didn't get a feeding response like you did! I probably would have just freaked out and flailed around until she let go in fear of hurting her. What do people with big snakes do when that happens?
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Everyone has eaten and everyone has been eaten.

"What do people with big snakes do when that happens?"

If it is a bite to an arm or hand, we clamly wait for the snake to let go. Ripping any snake off will only do more harm then good. You will pull out teeth and other damages. The missing teeth may become infected, then you have to deal with mouth rot and other things.

It is always best to wait for them to let go. They will eventually. Unless of course it is a life or death situation. In that case I have heard alcohol(either rubbing or strong liquor) will get them to let go, though I have never had to try it.

Keep an eye on your guy for a while to mke sure no infection sets in.

I did rip him off my hand but I didn't throw him or anything like that fortunately. I did put him down as gently as I could before racing to the bathroom to stop the bleeding. I feel bad to even say this but I may have to sell him. I can't afford for something like this to happen again. I can't use my finger right now and I have to go back to work tomorrow where I have to do a lot of lifting and pulling of heavy objects. I need healthy hands and fingers to do my job. I may have some nerve damage in that finger now since parts of it are still numb. As much as I love my BP, I have a job to think about first to pay the bills. If there's still a classifieds on here I may just put him on there. He's a very healthy snake and I feel I've taken real good care of him over the years. I don't even like bringing this up because he's the best pet I've ever had. I know that what happened 2 days ago was just an instinct on his part so it's not like I suddenly think he's evil or anything! I've just had him for so long now that it really caught me off guard. Anyway, we'll see what happens.

Moral of the story, no matter how tame you think they are, they are still WILD animals.
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"What is man without the beasts?
If all the beasts were gone,
men would die from great loneliness of spirit.
For what happens to the beasts,
soon happens to men.
All things are connected."

-Chief Seattle (Duwamish Tribe)

Well, I already knew that. That's something I'd always preach to my wife when I'd have him out. "This isn't a domesticated dog, this is still a wild animal that can be unpredictable." After 5 1/2 years of the same routine with him, that was certainly quite unpredictable! Oh well, I just hope my finger recovers and he does too after that experience.

if feeding is always preceded by you reaching in to pull him out, it's probable that he just got a little impatient this time.
was it feeding time ?
was the smell of rats in the air ?
check your finger for teeth.
good luck, ck

No, it wasn't feeding time and I take him out a few times a week for a little bit so taking him out isn't always proceeded by feeding. I looked at my finger and it just has many small bite marks. No teeth in there that I can see. My finger is in a lot of pain though and I can't bend it all the way or straighten it out all the way either. It swelled up pretty bad when it happened and it's still pretty puffed out. I have aspen chips as his bedding so that's why I've always fed him in a separate container. For the 5 1/2 years I've had him it's never been an issue. I bought him from a breeder and that's how he fed him with freeze/thawed mice. So, he's never eaten live rodents. He does still go after it like it's alive though. Anyway, hopefully my finger recovers from this since I have a job where I do a lot of heavy lifting so I need two healthy hands and ten healthy fingers! I felt bad after about the way I reacted to it but it just caught me by surprise and I guess when something clamps down on your finger like that and wraps around your hand, and it's very painful, it's hard to just be calm at the time, especially it being a finger which can get damaged much easier than if it's your hand or your arm where there is more muscle to take something like that. Anyway, thanks for the advice.