Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've had my male Dumerils over a month now and he has been a wonderful pet.....until two days ago. I've been handling him every day or every couple of days and he has been calm and gentle. Then, two days ago, for no apparent reason, when I reached in his cage to pick him up he struck at me and clamped his jaws around my finger. I was shocked to say the least as no snake has ever bitten me before. I gently pried his jaws off my finger and put him back in his cage. The bite didn't hurt much but certainly produced a lot of blood. I didn't disturb him again until this evening when I again took him out of his cage and put him around my neck and sat down to read a book. After about 20 minutes I decided to put him away and when I lifted him from around my neck he bit my thumb really hard. I didn't want to injure him and carefully and gently pried his jaws open. He immediately struck at my other hand and bit my finger while at the same time constricting really firmly around my wrist and hand. I put him, still wrapped around my hand, in his cage thinking he would release. He didn't. It took me several minutes to get him off my hand during which time he bit me repeatedly on both hands. I have six different bite marks now and blood literally dripping off both my hands. Nothing has changed as far as husbandry is concerned. He eats great. Does anyone have any ideas? I cannot keep him if this behavior is going to continue. I've gone from loving him to being afraid of him and I certainly cannot allow anyone else in my family to handle him now.

in my experience snakes bite from being too hot (makes them grumpy), being hungry, or being scared. so make sure his temps are great, make sure he's eating appropriate meals, make sure he has a hide, and try only holding him in your hands very gently for about 10 min once a week.

that should do it, but sometimes a particular snake will be nippy and there isn't much you can do about it.

If the bites scare you, just wear gloves for a few months until you determine if this behavior can be worked out of him.

If after 3-4 months things don't get better, start looking for another snake owner that doesnt mind a nippy snake.
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1.1 Argentine Boas
1.1 Dumerils Boas
1.1 Black Milk Snakes
2.3 California King Snakes
1.1 Nelsons Milk Snakes
2.2 Corn Snakes

Another point, just because a snake doesn't bite or defecate when handled doesn't mean it's not stressing big time inside...and long term stress is a killer. Not too sure keeping a snake around your neck for an extended period of time would add to it's sense of security. Reptiles need no interacton from us beyond basic needs.

Bill

Great advice to wear gloves. I've kept mostly Kings & Rats in the past, and I'm a confident handler. If I ever have problems, on go my workout gloves. I then stick my hand in front of the snake and ask it to bite me until it's done playing games. The aggressive behavior ends almost every time. (Only 1 exception in over 30 years.)

Reptiles need no interaction from us? Not entirely true. Reptiles are VERY misunderstood. For starters:

1. They are social creatures. They know their family and other creatures in their environment, sometimes individually. Horned Lizards have been found sleeping together under sand, with arms wrapped around each other. Rattlesnakes can have a complex social hierarchy at popular basking sites.

2. Reptiles are MUCH smarter than what most people *assume*. They don't use vocal sounds, nor structured language, but they do communicate, and they do remember & learn. Mine have shown mild interest in me, and even appreciation for handling or an extra nice naturalistic setup, on many occasions. Some will climb up my arm when I extend my hand to them!

One of these days, go to a zoo and look at the elephants. They are quiet, right? Not making any sounds? Actually, they may be talking about you! They speak using low-frequency sound waves not audible to you. They can communicate real-time, under ideal conditions, for up to 150 miles!

Arizona biologists have documented an Arizona Mountain Kingsnakes that deliberately lures adult birds out into the open, allows them to attack him for a moment, then he hides in the brush and watches to which trees they fly back. He then heads to those trees and robs their nests!

Many people have reptiles which respond to them favorably, or even enjoy interaction with them. This is just as possible as with a dog, cat or any other animal. In time, I'm confident that many commonly believed myths will be dispelled.