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how bad can a fully grown adult bp hurt you with a bite ? i mean can it rip your skin off ??? if they draw blood, wont that cuase them to bite more often ??? Can a bp know that that's the owner grabbing her/him, and not bite ???

i mean i know they can't be tamed like dogs or cats, but how much can your bp be trusted ???

thanks

how bad can a fully grown adult bp hurt you with a bite ?i mean can it rip your skin off ???

It won't hurt that much and they definitely can't rip your skin, at the worst they will cause small puncture wounds. I think it would sort of itch more than hurt.

if they draw blood, wont that cuase them to bite more often ???

No. Snakes are only interested in the blood of their prey. If you get bitten it is out of fear or a feeding accident, they will not bite you because they want to eat you, but if you smell like a mouse/rat due to touching a mouse or rat without washing your hands it is possible.

Can a bp know that that's the owner grabbing her/him, and not bite ???

Sort of. It will get used to your scent and distinguish you as neither a predator or a prey item. Snakes, as I said, will only bite out of fear or if you smell like food. My ball python is a little bit nervous before I run my finger down my back because he is used to me doing that and a lot of other owners do something similar because it helps the snake recognize it is you.

i mean i know they can't be tamed like dogs or cats, but how much can your bp be trusted ???

You can't put trust in anything with a mouth really, if it has a mouth it can and will bite if it has to. I think Ball pythons can be trusted even more than dogs and cats because they bite only out of fear and if you smell like food, whereas dogs and cats will bite out of fear, anger and if you smell like food.

From your post I can tell that you know very little about snakes and you have taken a step in the right direction by finding out more. Read all that you can about the specie you want to keep and you'll probably be very happy and sucessful. I love ball pythons and I think that, as long as they are captive bred, they make a great first snake!

thanks for the help !

If trust is an issue with you and a snake, the only advice i can give is to trust it until you have a reason not to. It's only a matter of time before you are bitten, but as mentioned earlier, it is more or less your own fault. The main thing is your reaction to it. If you are bitten, dont freak out and try to pull your arm or hand away or even worse drop your snake. This can only cause more damage than needed by injuring its teeth or ribs or spine. Just dont panic and you will realize it is nothing like you have it envisioned. I have been bitten a couple times by some newly aquired snakes (fear and new surroundings to blame) and i can tell you that the only way i even knew i was bitten was by the blood on my hand. I felt no pain, only the impact from the strike. It does scare you at first, but just remember not to give up on your snake. Three major things to remember: Always wash your hands before handling them... Always let them know you are not a predator by moving your hand closed and cautiously but without fear and rub the middle of their back to let them know your intentions... and never think about being bitten. As long as you handle your snake normally, there should be no problems. Good luck with everything.

I think it depends a whole lot on the individual personality of the BP, as well as a little on how well you socialize them. I have had Monty for several years now, got him as a baby, and he has never bitten me or anyone else. I am a therapist working with children with autism, and Monty lives in my office. He has numerous children holding him on a daily basis, petting him and carrying around, and occasionally even stretching him out to measure him. He seems to see us all as large heat sources for his enjoyment, and comes over eagerly to be picked up by whoever reaches into his cage to bring him out. He is pretty active with all the attention he gets, and eats a minimum of 2 large rat pups a week, but shows no interest whatsoever in sinking his teeth into anything else. After several years of consistent behavior, Monty has earned my complete trust, not only with myself, but with all the children who love him.

Wendy