Reptile & Amphibian Forums

np

Hello,

IMHO when you get bit by a large constrictor it is your fault. When the snakes bites out of fear, its because thats the only thing they know to do to get away from danger. When you get bit while feeding, also your fault, the snake is in feeding response, and most will hit anything warm after they get their feeding response triggered. When you get bit while just simply holding the snake, its most likely because the snake didn't feel secure, or you may have hurt it somehow, like accidently pulling their scales back.

My posts and replies are my personal experiences and opinions ONLY

I agree that you get bitten because of your actions, but it's afterwards that you realize what it was. A mistake or an accident
isn't something that happens intentionally!
Attached is a photo of a bite I got from a yearling retic, around 8 or 9 feet in length. I was misting its cage with only the spray nozzle in the cage, my had was completely outside the cage. Since they often have a defensive reaction when you spray I only opened the cage door about 4". The snake struck out of its hide box, across several feet of cage, over the hose and through the door. It slapped my wrist with a defensive bite and then withdrew back into the cage. All this happened before I could react, and I was watching out for it to leave the hidebox! I certainly didn't think it would be able to come out the door like that, I was worried about it striking the glass.
Did I get bitten because of my actions? Yes, I certainly did. I was aware it might bite me and thought I was being careful enough for it not to get me. Did I change how I misted after that? Not that much, you've got to open the door to spray the cage, and they do need humidity. Did I get bitten in the same way again? No, I'd sprayed like that hundreds of times before, and have hundreds of times since, but that's the only time a snake has come through the door and gotten me.
If you come out of your room with blood pumping out of a bite, will your parents still be supportive of your snake keeping? If your mom is taken care of your snake and gets bitten while you're out of town for a weekend, will the snake still be there when you get home? If so, in how many pieces?
Remember, you're getting these responses from people who like retics and support the privelege of owning one. (Or two, or four, or....) So you should listen when they say a retic isn't a first snake. It's in your own best interest, and the best interests of the snake, for you to understand this.
Andy