Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My snake has never bitten me but has struck out at me once; my mistake. Last night my younger son who is just fabulous with animals was holding my snake. This snake has never been anything but calm for him up until last night. He was holding the snake while I cleaned out the cage. The snake came out and was nice for a few minutes but then it decided it wanted to get on the floor. My son raised up his other hand to try to devert the snaked and it bit him and coiled around his wrist. For 45 minutes after that the snake remained coiled around his wrist and would bit his other hand everytime he rose it up to the snake. The snake finally uncoiled from his wrist when I had him hold his arm over the branch in the newly cleaned cage. I have to say my son did great as he was bitten 7 times and never flinched after the first time. Why would my snake do this? Perhaps it has had too much attention too soon? I fed it last Sunday a mouse that is a step above a pinkie but not a small mouse. I wasn't going to feed it until Sunday again. What would have been the better way to handle this? We are all brand new to snakes.

Had he washed his hands well before handling the snake? He may have smelled like food. However, this just strengthens my idea that its an intergrade with a yellow rat snake. (yellows have more of a tempter). I do highly commend your son for being able to have a snake wrapped around his arm and biting him for 45 minutes. However, in the future if you can't get the snake to move off himself, you may want to try running the snake under slightly cool water. This will usually make him release.
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-Chris

The reason mainstream thought is thought of as a stream is because it's so shallow. -George Carlin

A fool doesn't learn. A smart man learns from his mistakes. A wise man learns from the mistakes of others. Which one are you?

My Website
N. American Rat/Corn snake care sheet I wrote
Information on substrates

Current snakes:
0.1 Licorice Stick Black Rat (Lola)
1.0 Black Rat (Frankie)
0.1 Texas Bairdi (Rosa)
0.1 Blue Beauty (Brunhilde)
1.0 Green Tree Python (Monty)

Yes I was quite surprised at him. I know I couldn't have done it. It really didn't bother him other than he was sad the snake was acting the way it was. He was fine with the snake being wrapped around him just was concerned when the snake wanted to go roaming on the floor. My son has lizards and gets bit quite often and he said it was nothing like being bitten by them. He did wash his hands as that is the animal rule in the house for before and after handling. I think the snake was just being a big old grouch. It has spent most of today hiding as usual.

We jokingly call my son the Beast Master because he just has no fear of animals and they usually love him right back. I wish I was more like that.

Being still a fairly youngin, this snake will be hiding a LOT. Especially since it is in a new place he's not comftorable with yet. How long have you had him home? As a general rule when I bring a new snake home I let him learn his new surroundings for a full week before I mess with him.. only changing water. After 7 days I feed, then 2-3 days later i'll start handling it. If you just got it home, you're probably stressing the heck out of it... which could be a reason it did what it did today.

However, from time to time they'll just be pissed off like that, and you honestly cant say the same hasnt happened to you where you just wanted to attack whoevers bugging you at the moment, lol. If they get like that it's best to just put them right back in the enclosure and leave 'em alone. One thing i've discovered is that you'll never learn everything about a snake.. its always something new and interesting
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-Chris

The reason mainstream thought is thought of as a stream is because it's so shallow. -George Carlin

A fool doesn't learn. A smart man learns from his mistakes. A wise man learns from the mistakes of others. Which one are you?

My Website
N. American Rat/Corn snake care sheet I wrote
Information on substrates

Current snakes:
0.1 Licorice Stick Black Rat (Lola)
1.0 Black Rat (Frankie)
0.1 Texas Bairdi (Rosa)
0.1 Blue Beauty (Brunhilde)
1.0 Green Tree Python (Monty)

We have had him a little over two weeks I think. I agree, I think we have over stressed him out of ignorance. I think we'll give him a week's vacation from us and start all over as you had said. Thanks for all your help! People are pretty nice here.

Shipping shock and new enviroment shock last about a week.They will either be nice and tame and suddenly go crazy or vice versa.My cali king pair were dogtame when I picked them up from a show.In less than a week they wanted and still want my blood.There just little worms and Im hoping they come out of it.
As for your snake I bet it's a great feeder.
Look for signs that your snake doesnt want to be held,tail rattling,squirming,musking,or the classic (Your gonna get drilled if you touch me pose).I hate being bit by anything but I hate even more letting them think they can get away with it.Some snakes get better with time and handling,most are at least semi predictable.I have a couple female hypo corns that wont behave after three years of handling.There getting to be about the right size for a homemade hatband if they dont breed for me this year...Paul....I ramble alot when I drink so feel free to rearange the content in the best way it makes sense.