Reptile & Amphibian Forums

1. Why do ball pythons yawn?

2. What can happen to a ball python if he has low humidity in his container? I know he will have a bad shed. Is there a risk of dehydration even if he always has a full waterbowl?

3. What to do if a ball attacks you and bites you? How do you get him off?
-----
"I only handle my balls when i'm cleaning them." - griffindor

I'll give this a shot:

I know that they yawn to realign their jaws (like after eating). I would guess that they could still be dehydrated - just because there is a water dish available doesn't mean they'll actually use it. Then again, they do get some water from their food.

I've seen them get wrinkles in their eyes from dry air even with drinking water. I'm not sure but extra dry air might stress them enough to make them more susceptible to sickness (respiratory infections etc.).

The few times I've been bitten by a ball python it has let go immediately. I think the balance of timidness and feeding response is such in most ball pythons that they would not constrict a hand like more aggressive snakes might. With other species I've tried submerging and cold and warm water but eventually just had to wait them out some times.

The man who bred my Daughters BP told us to get a Squirt bottle with a bit of jim Beam (or other drinking alcohol) in it
and spray them if they bit (a feeding reaction, not just a strike)
I have one downstairs (not with the snake) just in case
but I do not hink we will ever need it
I did get a feeding response bit from a Big old Rat snake once (got 2 of my fingers, and WOULD NOT let go)
even that did not hurt so much as felt wierd
-----
Elizabeth (ecb)

Make this world a better and more beautiful place that You have been in it
*Edward W Bok*

1.) They yawn to excercise jaw muscles... especially common right before and after a feeding and very normal

2.) Not sure... good question. I'd be interested in the answer myself.

3.) The snake will not hold on unless it's a feeding response - fear strikes are quick release. Here's a Louisiana method my gramps used at his snake farm for the stubborn ones... put a cloth over its eyes to calm it down, place your middle through pinky fingers behind the snakes head and wrap them completely around his neck (allows future control of snake head to prevent further bites)... hold firmly but don't constrict the snakes neck. Take your thumb and index fingers and place them on either side of the snakes jaw behind the eyes. Apply soft pressure... if there isn't a release then dip snake's head under warm water. (This method is not intended for venomous snakes)
-----
-Iman

1.1 Balls
0.1 Boa (BCI)
0.0 Experience
100.0 % LOVE

Hope it helps...

I know that they will let go if you stick them in warm/hot water (don't hurt the snake!) A trick that I use when a corn snake latches on is to take something long and small (such as the hemastats I use for feeding) and stick one prong all the way through one side of its mouth, the opening between my bitten finger and between the back corners of the jaws, and then out the other side. The idea is not to pry the jaws open, but that something going from one side of the snakes mouth to the other that is touching the back of its jaws is enough to bother it into releasing. The tricky part is when it is trying to let go, but the teeth are still attached!