Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Welcome to kingsnake.com's message board system. Here you may share and discuss information with others about your favorite reptile and amphibian related topics such as care and feeding, caging requirements, permits and licenses, and more. Launched in 1997, the kingsnake.com message board system is one of the oldest and largest systems on the internet.

Click for ZooMed

First time bit by a Bullsnake...

mousekiller Oct 08, 2004 12:14 PM

Yikes!

Well, at least I know how strong these guys jaws are now!

I had just got through holding my 1.0 Crumbly line red phased bullsnake and had placed him back into his enclosure... I then proceeded to put his water dish back into the enclosure when WHAM!!! He launched into the top and bottom of my hand right where the big muscle of your thumb is. Holy pituophus Batman! That SOB has some serious jaw pressure! He is about 5 1/2 to 6 ft now and he dang sure didnt want to let go... I just sat there and took it for about 5 very long minutes... Thankfully he balled up on my forearm super tight and gave me a tourniquet so I didnt bleed too much.. (I dont think he did that for my benefit though)

He finally let go... he is none worse for it... I didnt flinch away and jerk any of his teeth out... But I know have a nice little dental record in my hand (the holes) should he ever have to get braces or anything....I sure am glad it wasn't my Cribo though.

Just thought I'd share...

Scott

P.S> My wife had just come home for lunch... She is still freaked out...

Replies (6)

PreacherPat Oct 08, 2004 01:45 PM

Hey,
Welcome to the club!!! No big deal afterall, right!?!? If you want to put it in perspective get tagged by a 15' Retic or a 6' Tree Boa! Makes a big Bull seem like a Mosquito!! Ah, the fun of keeping Pits! Gotta love 'em!!!

Pat Glazener-Cooney

P.S.--You're right--better to be bit by the Bull than the Cribo!

Lafayette Oct 08, 2004 02:51 PM

I don't blame the snake, sir, because he distinctly ordered a martini.

I'm sorry your wife had to witness it. Fun, isn't it, trying to explain that the animal biting and coiled around your arm is tame, that the bite is entirely my fault, etc.

The first love nip I took from a large pit was from a 5 ft sonoran gopher. I caught her moments earlier and was remarking how tame she seemed when she clamped onto my forearm.

I haven't experienced the pit-tourniquet yet, so yours must really like you.

Passport Oct 08, 2004 05:39 PM

They are just babies now. And Stillwater's at that. So maybe I'll never have to know what it's like to have one of them chomp down on me. Anyone ever get bit by the calm Hypo Stillwater's? I sure hope no answers yes.

oldherper Oct 08, 2004 07:03 PM

Yeah, I have bunch of Indigos and Cribos as well as Pits. I can tell you now, I'd rather be bitten by the Pits if I have to be bitten. I have a 9' Yellowtail Cribo that tries to bleed me out at every opportunity.. she can lay you wide open.
-----
We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children. Ralph Waldo Emerson

mousekiller Oct 08, 2004 10:16 PM

You got that right Oldherper!!!

I have a Unicolor Cribo... (hopefully pictured here) that is now about 6ft. And she just does not like me at all, if I can manage to pick her up from behind she is ok. But if she sees me coming... all hell breaks loose. Been lucky with her so far, but I suppose my day is coming. That head is so wide I actually think I would end up needing to go get some stitches if she got me. With the bull once I got free all I needed was a little soap and water. (though the jaw pressure has left me with a nasty bruise too)

The male bull that got me today is normally kinda pissy but has always been more show than go... (closed mouth strikes) This was just another one of those cases where if I were to have been a little more patient and waited for him to move out of the way before I reached in and bumped him with the water bowl I would have been fine...

See y'all!

Scott

chaoscat Oct 09, 2004 11:23 AM

>>Yikes!
>>
>>Well, at least I know how strong these guys jaws are now!
>>
>>I had just got through holding my 1.0 Crumbly line red phased bullsnake and had placed him back into his enclosure... I then proceeded to put his water dish back into the enclosure when WHAM!!! He launched into the top and bottom of my hand right where the big muscle of your thumb is. Holy pituophus Batman! That SOB has some serious jaw pressure! He is about 5 1/2 to 6 ft now and he dang sure didnt want to let go... I just sat there and took it for about 5 very long minutes... Thankfully he balled up on my forearm super tight and gave me a tourniquet so I didnt bleed too much.. (I dont think he did that for my benefit though)
>>
>>He finally let go... he is none worse for it... I didnt flinch away and jerk any of his teeth out... But I know have a nice little dental record in my hand (the holes) should he ever have to get braces or anything....I sure am glad it wasn't my Cribo though.
>>
>>Just thought I'd share...
>>
>>Scott
>>
>>P.S> My wife had just come home for lunch... She is still freaked out...

Youch! My reds are hissy, and do strike when I put them back. My ghosts on the other hand, they are _always_ hissy, from the time I walk in the room to the time I walk out. I'm not looking forward to a pair of 6' bulls that jump off the floor of their cage to strike!

I'm glad my 4' whitesided is calm.. wouldn't want to take a bite from that.
-----
My collection and herp photography

www.lowergroundreptiles.net

Site Tools