Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello, everyone.

This is a bizarre issue! I have an adult male bullsnake that possibly sees me as a female bullsnake. Please let me explain:

My pet's name is Draco and I purchased him from a bullsnake breeder years ago. He is my only pet snake. Anyway, Draco often does those jerky movements (aka: "caudocephalic waves" with his head & body and then tries to bite me when I am holding him. This is the same courting/breeding behavior that most male colubrids exhibit toward females. Well, I was holding Draco last night while watching a movie. He started doing those jerky movements for a while and then he bit me! I was into a good movie and the next thing I knew I felt the pain of needle-like teeth sinking into my middle finger! WHAT THE HELL?!?!? It wasn't a defensive bite since I wasn't threatening him in any way and it wasn't done in hunger since he didn't hold on. He didn't even strike. He just bit me. I assume that he is exhibiting this behavior because he is horny/sexually frustrated and possibly sees me as a female bullsnake for some strange reason. I am puzzled to say the least (I know that I don't smell like a female bullsnake!). What do you people think? I would appreciate any insight into this so I will have a better understanding of this situation. Thanks!

I guess this was literally a love bite (since males often bite females to get a better grip during mating). LOL!!! It still drew blood and it still hurt though! I've learned my lesson. From now on, I will be more careful while holding Draco. I will put him back into his enclosure when he starts doing those jerky movements so he doesn't end up biting me again. Draco is such a funny snake!

Take care,
Terry

Was it as good for you as it was for him?

LOL!!! Not really. It hurt when Draco bit me. Do you or anyone else here have any insight into why he is exhibiting this behavior? I would love to gain a better understanding of this situation. I am very puzzled! This is why I've posted in this forum... to get answers. Does anyone want to chime in? Any help would be greatly appreciated by me.

Ever considered a safe word?
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I'm Dutch. Somebody shoot me.

Funny! I'm still waiting for some serious input from someone.

Your pet is a male,showing healthy courtship behavior,(well to him it seems healthy! ) get him a mate!...why does he make you the focus of his amorous instinct? who can really say for sure? We have no real idea how our serpentine companions really think,or see the world,but we know that their instinctive drives are controlled by cues,both environmental,and olfactory. It might be as overly simple as : you are his only stimulation! When not being held,he's cruising in,or sitting in a cage...the instinctive drive to reproduce is perhaps second only to the search for food,(and I'd bet during certain times of the year it takes precedence!),once his hunger can take a backseat.....guess what takes over?
Just a thought,but why not give it a try?

Thank you very much for your post! This is the first helpful answer that I've received in this thread so far.

Since I am not planning on breeding snakes, incubating eggs and raising hatchlings... wouldn't getting a female make it even worse for Draco? His sexual frustration level would be driven sky high if he smells the pheromones of a female in a different enclosure and not being able to breed!

I will eventually buy another bullsnake in the future, but I want it to be another male so I won't have to deal with eggs or even possible egg-binding problems. Plus, I think male bullsnakes grow larger than females if I am not mistaken.

Anyway, I will just put Draco back into his enclosure whenever he starts doing those jerky movements while holding him and let his horny mood pass until next time. I don't want to get bitten again because he is not exactly a small snake. Those love bites hurt!

I think it is hilarious that a snake is directing its amorous attention at me! LOL Has this ever happened to anyone here or am I alone in this matter???

Have been computer free for a few days... You might try a total change of substrate and cleaning of his cage in the event wayward pheromones are playing a part in this. Beyond that one might suggest that merely crawling about your arms, being somewhat sepentine in shape, and rythmic hand contact associated with handling, may be triggering his instinctual response.

I always take pity on my poor horny male but that then leads to baby bull snakes which although fun I don't really need!

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Bob
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire
Keeping cats allows man to cohabitate with tigers. Keeping reptiles allows man to cohabitate with dinosaurs.

WOW!!! Your bullsnakes are beautiful!

Thanks!

Rozy the 2011 hypo and her 2009 mother Zoey.
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Bob
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire
Keeping cats allows man to cohabitate with tigers. Keeping reptiles allows man to cohabitate with dinosaurs.

I didn't think about it that way regarding handling. You have some good insight. Though it is not only me triggering Draco's mating instinct since I've seen him do those jerking movements inside his enclosure too. I think he is just a horny snake who is in his prime! He is a typical male. We, as males, seem to have one thing in mind. LOL Funny! Thanks for your input.