Reptile & Amphibian Forums

we have a baby ball python, purchased from a reptile store, said to be captive born, eating f/t. he has never shown any agression, no hissing, my kids hold him etc. he refused a meal 3 days ago. yesterday my husband was watching tv, with his arms crossed behind his head. the snake was crawling about on him, and suddenly (i did not see exactly what happened...) the snake bit my husband in his armpit hair. he left a number of very small puncture wounds which were bleeding. i immediately tried to feed him again, (he must be hungry now, i thought). i left him over night in his box with a mouse, and lo and behold, it was still there the next day. i have been cautiously handling him since, and he has not attempted to bite me at all...my husband insists he wasn't even moving, much less squeezing or threatening the snake. my husband is mad and wants to get rid of him. i need a reason this happened, since everything i've read states the opposite, ie balls are very docile. i don't have lots of hands on experience with snakes, but read a lot. i'm having a hard time finding a reason he bit, since he apparently was not hungry or threatened. thanks for any insight!

My guess would be that something startled him. Generally Balls are very docile but even the best snakes can strike sometimes. They are still wild animals. He should still make a great pet. Dont give up on him just yet.

EP
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Occupants not paying rent:
16 eggs incubating
7 balls
2.2 corns(candy cane, creamsicle, ghost, normal)
1 pueblan milk
1 everglades rat
1 cal. king
1 gray band king
1 w. hognose
1 bearded dragon
2 fish
1 rat
1 mouse
5 cats

I had a somewhat similar experience where I was bit on the underside of my arm by a large but VERY docile snake. My theory is that it is a misplaced feeding response triggered by the higher heat temps in our core areas (ie: armpits, underarms, and probably groin, gods forbid). Baby BPs are still figuring out this whole feeding thing and sometimes they make mistakes. Just like a human baby putting everything in it's mouth to see what tastes good, a snake will strike at something warm and hairy that smells good. Like your husbands armpit! LOL.....seriously, though, it was a baby mistake. When my BP bit me, he curled up in a defensive ball and was hesitant about striking at the mouse when feeding time came. I'm guessing he knew he bit the wrong thing and was making sure this time. I may be anthropomorphizing too much.
Tell your husband to forgive the poor baby for biting him, and make hubby stop using that mouse scented deodorant.
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1.1 Ball Python 1.1 corn snake 1.0 Bearded Dragon 2.0 Solomon Island Boas 0.0.2 fish 1.2 cats 3.1 kids 1.0 husband

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Deodorodent....hahahahahaha.....
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1.1 Ball Python 1.1 corn snake 1.0 Bearded Dragon 2.0 Solomon Island Boas 0.0.2 fish 1.2 cats 3.1 kids 1.0 husband

Ball Pythons are notorious for going off feed. Maybe this a blessing in disguise? Next time your ball python refuses food, just rub a rat in your husbands armpit, and see what happens! I am sure he will enjoy it! (Your python, not your husband or the rat)

Rodney

I can see this going commercial! Like this ad on TV....

....(fade in to announcer)......

Problems feeding your Balls?

Get HAIRY PIT! The sure fire scenting product with the (Oh so popular) Hairy Smell that your Balls can't resist!!

Just rub it on a rat and watch those hard to feed creatures go for it!

Call now and get our slicer and dicer that can make juliane french fries...........

Frank
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"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."