Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi everyone,
Just a quick question. Do small snakes strike faster than large snakes? Thanks I have witnessed ball, blood, burmese, and African rock pythons strike plenty of times. To me it just seems that the smaller the snake is, the faster it strikes.
Does this seem right,
Rob

I would say you are correct. I have noticed the smaller the snake, the more apt they are at striking. By smaller I mean age wise. Usually, with enough care and handling they will loosen up to you and not strike nearly as much or at all in some cases. Most burms will relax after they reach about 7-8 feet I have noticed. Some sooner, some later, some not at all. My burm was an abandoned animal that I had to drive 14 hours to go pick up at an animal rescue shelter. When I got her home she was very hissy and would strike constantly. After much handling and getting her back to good health she has not struck at me once. These are just my observations with the snakes I own and have worked with. Perhaps someone else (Rob Carmichael?) could give you a better answer as he has worked with snakes for much longer than I have.

Circusfan

Thanks Circumstan
I do agree with you,
Rob

I think the big ones are just as fast. Mine has struck at me several times (usually after a feeding and walking by her cage) And its not slow.

Hi Jason. I have no doubts that large constrictors can be just as nippy and very fast when they want to be. My original post was just my observations on the snakes I own and have worked with. Like I said "Most burms will relax after they reach about 7-8 feet I have noticed. Some sooner, some later, some not at all." How big is your burm? How old? I always like to know more about other peoples snakes so I have comparison to mine and those I have worked with. Talk to you soon.

Circusfan

My snakes are 10 and 13ft. Both are perfectly fine most of the time..Feeding time changes things but thats expected.
I was under the impression we were discussing the speed of the strike on baby vs adult snakes...thats all i was talking about

I know that's what we are talking about... = ) I was just curious to know more about your snakes for comparison.

Circusfan

Ahh..ok..here's a couple pics of mine
male

I don't believe there has been any research on this subject. In my experience with 100's of burms, hatchlings have a much stronger "fight or flight" reflex which means that they are quicker to strike and do so with more gusto. Strikes from large adults are usually designed to scare off offenders and as such, are not always intended to hit their target which equates to a slower but more deliberate strike. BUT, when it comes to feeding time, a large burm can and will strike with as much speed as a hatchling.

Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center
Lake Forest, IL

>>My snakes are 10 and 13ft. Both are perfectly fine most of the time..Feeding time changes things but thats expected.
>>I was under the impression we were discussing the speed of the strike on baby vs adult snakes...thats all i was talking about
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Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, IL

Here is my theory and that is all it is. I believe that all snakes of a gvien species (burm, ball, tic...) strike the same speed relatively. There are going to be some specimens a little faster and some a little slower, just as some humans run faster than others. However, the key factor to focus on here is the size. Lets say you have a baby burm that is 18 inches long. When it strikes it covers an area of about 6 inches. Now compared to a huge 15 burm when she strikes she covers an area of about 5'. So even if they move at the same speed in appearances the baby will look to be striking much faster due to the lack of distance it must travel. Hope this makes some sense, Todd