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My 09 male syspila has started a weird biting behavior. When I get him out of his tub he crawls through my hands contentedly for a few minutes and then starts slowly and methodically biting everything he can get a hold of, even himself. He is not aggressive, does not posture or strike, or even twitch. He simply bites everything. This has been happening off and on for a couple months. He will bite himself and quickly draw back, like he's shocked at what just happened, then do it again, same response. Then he'll move on to my wrist, fingers, or whatever he can reach. He is healthy, well fed, and does not show any strange behavior in his tub, only when I'm holding him. Has anyone else seen this? Is this just a curious or feeding type behavior? It certainly isn't aggressive behavior. I've had other snakes bite me and wrap my hand in a feeding response but this is different. What do you all think?

Well Joshua, I have a few milks that have become accustomed to being fed when I pop the lid of the cage and will absolutely grab my hand.
Most likely, the snake has become conditioned and is an eager feeder so "explores" the possibilities. Stimulus and response.
We do a similar version of that behavior in front of the grapes at the grocery store.
Let's assume your hands don't have mouse scent but the snake is simply excited.
-Jeff
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Let there be triangulum and lo, the milkhead was born.

Thanks for the input Jeff.
I understand the feeding response, I've got a prairie king that comes flying out of his tub at feeding time. I'm sure you're right about this being a feeding action. The strange part though is the fact that he even bites himself. I wonder if that response would be a factor if I try put him with a female at some point. Could he possibly be more likely to try and eat a mate since he will readily bite himself?

I'd guess the self-biting is also tied to the "try to eat it"
response you're seeing but I wouldn't test the idea that the snake would not eat a cage mate right now.
As for eating a potential mate during the breeding season, the reverse is far more likely; females are in a manic feed mode and that male is a meal you just dropped into the cage. (it's quite true-be sure the female is very well fed)
Remember males are typically off feed during the annual breeding frenzy so pose little risk to females.
-Jeff
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Let there be triangulum and lo, the milkhead was born.

I don't have any breeding plans soon, just curious. As expected, he did stop eating this past season for a few weeks in late April early May which is consistent with what you said. The first few times he bit himself I was really concerned that there was a health problem or parasites. I've been keeping a close watch though and all seems well. I guess it's just a quirky thing he's gonna do.

Yes, quirky or wonky behavior pretty much nails it. Hmmm, that pale looks familiar.....
-Jeff
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Let there be triangulum and lo, the milkhead was born.