Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So, I'm cleaning out everyone cages, scrubbing down water bowls, and such, and I get finished with everyone except for Johnny (the 4.5' male that I got from Ed).

I poke him a few times to make sure he's awake, like I always do so I don't startle them when I put them up. I need to move him caus he's pressed between his water bowl and the side of his home, and I need to clean his bowl.

I pick him up all nice and start moving him to the other side, when

WHAM! I felt something hit my face, and I look at him, all open-mouthed and pissy-looking. At this point I realize I'm bleeding profously, so I hurry to the bathroom. Blood EVERYWHERE. He nailed my upper lip (inside and out, since my mouth was open), so that explains all the blood.

To anyone who hasn't been bitten, it's really more shocking than anything. I mean, this happened, like, ten minutes ago, and my lip's still swollen, but the bleeding's stopped, and now it just kinda aches. And this coming from a Bog Boy AND getting nailed on a sensitive part of the body.

The worst part of it, for me, is that Jonnhy's such a SWEETHEART of a snake. If I had gotten bitten by either of my 2 shy snakes, I wouldn't have been so stunned.

Cody said that we're now gonna get a snake hook for me as soon as possible, lol.

Can I pretty much assume that this strike was cause by me waking him up and moving him from where he was comfy? I'm not well-aquainted with bite reasons. I just know I didn't rub any rats on my face, lol.

I can't wait to go to work tonight and explain the horseshoe shaped puncture marks on my face, lol.
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-Irish
Email: animistdragon@sbcglobal.net
AIM: VoodooDragon137
YIM: [same as Email addy]
3.3.1 Ball Pythons

Oh, my gosh! That's terrible. Since I am also, see post below, a new member of this honorary Bleeder's Club, I can identify with your shock and dismay. The physical part is easier than the psychological part. I'm eyeing my little girl a lot differently now and never will again call her "a little darling" and so forth. She has commanded my respect and I will give it to her. I plan to keep my face far from her strike range. Welcome to the club......just don't visit too often.

Here's a reply I got on another forum I go to.

"Well.. it sounds like he thought you were gonna eat him.

I've seen dogs and cats both, prod or poke dead animals first before eating them, so it seems like he thought you were testing him, then snatching him for dinner and gave a defensive strike."

Which makes sense, becaue I usually just pull him out when he's already out and roaming around. He wasn't this time, so I figured I'd do the same thing I did with everyone else - pet them with my finger for a minute so he knows I'm there, then pick him up.

I'm just chalking it up to experience, and plan on leaving him alone unless he's already moseying around, hehe.
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-Irish
Email: animistdragon@sbcglobal.net
AIM: VoodooDragon137
YIM: [same as Email addy]
3.3.1 Ball Pythons

that you can't 100% trust snakes. about how you got bit. From my understanding of reading your post, it sounds like your snake just slowly opened it's mout and started to try to swallow you, correct? I've heard of rainbow boa's doing the same thing>>like if you're not paying attention, sometimes they'll just slowly start to engulf your thumb.
Every experience is a learning experience.
Travis.

Um, to whom are you referring? My BP didn't try to swallow my lip. Er?
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-Irish
Email: animistdragon@sbcglobal.net
AIM: VoodooDragon137
YIM: [same as Email addy]
3.3.1 Ball Pythons

Welcome to the Club. That must have been quite a scare, getting struck on the face. I had an insident with our large ball python a few months ago, but it was all my fault. This is the sweetest snake, he's calm and when my neice wanted to learn how to handle a snake, he was the one that came out for a demonstration. But, he was having some trouble with his eyes at this time, they were pretty dry and cracking a bit, from lack of enough humidity (which has been fixed now) and I think his vision wasn't as clear as it usually had been. It was feeding time, the smell of warm mouse was in the air and he knew he was next. The cover was off his tank and I made the mistake of moving my hand over it, not thinking. He thought I had a mouse and struck my hand. It scared the hell out of me just to see that wide open mouth come flying at me, faster than I could move my hand to get it out of the way. I pulled back, like an idiot and ended up with a little ball python tooth stuck inside my finger. When you have snakes though, it's to be expected. This was a mistake made due to my personal inexperience and I have learned from it. Just as someone else said about their ball, he demanded my respect and I now have no choice, but to give him that. But, I don't love him any less

I resently had my first hit from one of my 100% het for albino babies... Shes been pissy since we got her, but she calms down once she's out and moving around for some reason she decided my thumb looked tasty and decided to have a go at it.. I was watching her the whole time and was just shaking my head her, her poor little mouth didnt even fit around my thumb so she just hissed and me and then wondered around to see who else she could beat up... such personality for a little thing...Not as cool as the face hit but it was still my first hit...

Rose

i will remember to keep the snake away from my face at all times ... lol

this is a bp bite , right ?

>>i will remember to keep the snake away from my face at all times ... lol
>>
>>this is a bp bite , right ?

Yeah, BP.

It's already healed up quite a bit. What's impressive is that my lip and one little part of the bite are both actually BRUISED. That's how hard he hit me, and it didn't hurt too bad. I'm quite amused by my bruised lip, tho. LOL.

Just remember, this was a bite from a 4.5 footer. BIG. Your little baby wouldn't hurt.
-----


-Irish
Email: animistdragon@sbcglobal.net
AIM: VoodooDragon137
YIM: [same as Email addy]
3.3.1 Ball Pythons