Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've got a ball python and he's really agressive. He tries to bite me whenver i get near him. I'm new to this whole herpetology stuff and i've never been bitten, and I'm a bit freaked out. I know he's only small, but he's so fast and it looks painful. Do you guys know any handling techinques to stop him biting? And what does a bite feel like? Does it hurt, or don't you really even notice? Thancks in advance

When it happens (notice I didn't write "if" you will be more shocked than hurt. Try not to drop him when it happens. If all he does is tag you (bite and let go) it may happen so fast that you don't even feel it or know that you were even bitten until you start to bleed.

Don't let the "start to bleed" remark put you off. The wounds produced from a tag generally are nothing more than an oval shaped series of pinpricks.

As far as actually having them bite and hang on I've never had that happen. Someone else with experience in that department would be able to help you more than me.

Generally once you actually pick up the snake it will calm down considerably. You can try covering it's head with a towel or a rag before reaching for it.
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It's actually not that I love or even like snakes. I just hate rodents.

Just pick it up and don't worry what happens happens! This is apart of the hobby. Don't be affraid because he is just as scared as you!

Paul

PS good luck!

thanks, i think i'm gunna take him out right now, while it's cold

This is the hardest part for me. I've been bitten and didn't see it happen, I was looking away. I didn't even notice until I started to bleed. Shockingly not painful, of course, he let go right away.

the recoil will make it more painful for your both plus it is just that much more scary for the snake.

How to overcome millenia of evolution that tells us "when something attacks, get your arse out of the way" is another question!
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1.1 BPs (Syd and Nancy)
1.1 Het. Albinos (Bill and Beatrix)
0.2 French Lops (Lapine and Jacquotte)
0.0.2 Firebellied Toads (Stanley and Stuart)

I'm pretty new to this myself, but with my 3 year old female I can usually tell when she's in the mood to strike. She moves differently. When she is in her "hunt mode" she moves very quick and jerky. Thats how I tell if I need to use a towel or if I can just go in. If anyone else with more experience can validate that kind of movement before a strike please do.

And don't worry about how it feels. The first time I got tagged I quickly pulled my hand away and hit the side of her cage. Smacking the side of the cage actually hurt me alot more than her bite.

I was initiated into the "club" last month. Princess B (400grams) did not want to be put back into her tub. She latched onto the back of my wrist and coiled up my arm. It did NOT hurt. I was more amazed at watching her try and chew. I was near a sink put the water on warm and she dropped within 3 seconds. I was expecting major injury. Something worth showing the 3rd grade class at school. I had a small area that had very little pinholes and some blood. Not worth sharing.
It got me over the fear of handling the big girls that are close to 2000grams. I am a small woman (5'2" and 110 lb.)
It will happen sooner or later, just try not to fret over it and enjoy the snakes now.

I had a big(5 1/2 foot) female that was a slithering garbage disposal with an attitude to match(only while in her cage). By her reaction whenever I opened her cage I guessed she had always been fed while in there...I like to put them in a seperate container.

Anyhoo..I opened up her cage one morning to change waters and made the mistake of looking away. I got it on the hand and also pulled away..that WILL make things worse! I had a few deep scratches..didnt feel it til I ran water over it. Like everyone else has said..it's more the shock of "Oh no I was just bitten!!" than pain.

You learn from mistakes like that..I don't think anyone WANTS to get bitten,but it WILL happen. If it doesn't you're doing something wrong..hehe!

While I didn't raise her..I learned that this is what could happen if you feed snakes in their cages. Not all snakes turn out like her but the majority will!

"While I didn't raise her.I learned that this is what could happen if you feed snakes in their cages."

This is a debate that gets brought up several times a year.

I have a modest collection of a few dozen snakes from corns to boas(15 of which are balls), and I feed all of them in their cages.

None are like that.
A few hiss, but none bite unless provoked by stupid handler tricks.
(going in after handling rodents, messing with them during shed, stuff like that)

"Not all snakes turn out like her but the majority will!"

Simply not true, just an old wives tale.

TomChambers

This is true, I didn't mean to give the impression that ALL snakes will turn out like her...and when re-reading my post it did sound like that. I had a particularly nasty ball python and my reason for being bitten was the fact that I was being stupid(ie; I knew she had a temper and I turned my back on her with my hand in the cage).

I've seen(and owned) quite a few snakes that were eager feeders(yeah I know a lot of snakes are..I'm a ball python person! It's rare!) and by them being fed in their cage it meant you couldn't reach in and touch them without them thinking it was dinner time. Your typical first time snake owner usually doesn't get much info from the pet store other than "yeah throw a mouse in every now and then" Then they go to rearrange something and get tagged.

I'm not in any way trying to bash your feeding methods..we all have ways that work for us.

Yep,thats when i got tagged my first time.SFE
I was mucking around after only had one mouse that day (usually two),and whamo.She had snuck around the backside of a log on me.

I feed in the enclosures myself.
However if i am feeding,then the cage(or tub)is only open for a second.
If i am taking the snake out,then i leave it open for a few moments first.This is usually while i fumble around looking for a short hook.If it is in feed mode,then i just hook it.Once out,they forget about food.

Even though i have some Very good feeders,this has worked out quite well so far.
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3.12 Ball Pythons
0.1 Mutant Thayeri

One other suggestion is that if she is going to bite whatever goes into the cage, then don't make it your hand, try a snake stick. Once she is out, no worries, just cup her body from underneath and she'll be calm and less prone to strike. Hope it helps!
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1 Normal Ball
2 Red-ear Slider Turtles
2 Betta fish
1 Childlike Significant Other

I didnt read enough before posting.
Snake stick...hook...same difference.
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3.12 Ball Pythons
0.1 Mutant Thayeri