bites

tonyb · 02-10-05, 03:20 PM

hi folks
ive recently purchased a young royal python ( 04) and the time is approaching when i should start to handle her. ive watched her on numerous occasions strike her food and i can say she gets a real good grip on it. now my question is, if she bites me when i first start handling her, will it hurt? i know i sound like a wuss but im just worried i'll yank my hand away and hurt her

wizbit13 · 02-10-05, 03:39 PM

If it does bite you it wont hurt, but just may come as a bit of a shock. Try not to pull your hand away if you can help it. Only be like a little pin prick.

Adam

daiyoukai · 02-10-05, 11:18 PM

yeah, it doesnt hurt, it that shock that gets you. now a larger ball can draw some blood. there mouths are like razors.

Ray · 02-11-05, 06:19 AM

When you handle your p.b you should whas your hands first.
I also do that before i handle my b.p.mabey it helps.

cheers Ray

tonyb · 02-11-05, 06:38 AM

cheers folks. she was really hand tame when i first saw her, but someone told me not to handle her till she had fed a few times. only now everything that goes into her viv she associates with food and strikes.

Ray · 02-11-05, 08:08 AM

Than you must put your b.p in a litle cage everytime you feeding him.Mabey that helps.And after feeding you put him back in his cage again.I hope it helps.

Cheer Ray

wizbit13 · 02-11-05, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by tonyb
cheers folks. she was really hand tame when i first saw her, but someone told me not to handle her till she had fed a few times. only now everything that goes into her viv she associates with food and strikes.

I feed mine in their enclosures and have no problems. I dont believe in lifting a snake in and out to feed it, although a lot of people do. Just open up your snakes cage and slowly move your hand towards the snake. It will soon find out that you aint food!! Just move slow and i'm sure everything will be fine. Ball pythons very rarely bite.

Let us know how you get on

Adam

RepTylE · 02-11-05, 10:12 AM

The only time I am at risk of getting bitten by either of my BP's is at feeding time. Otherwise they are as placid as a snake can be. I have gotten the odd hit but other than bleeding a little it isn't what I would consider painful. you probably would be more damaged when you instictively jerk your hand back than from the bite it's self. I'm sure that someone will come up with an example of an exception to the rule, lol

rwg · 02-11-05, 10:37 AM

If she bites you defensively (somewhat rare), it wont hurt much or at all because she'll basically hit with her teeth (that are quite small) and pull back. If it's a feeding bite, she'll bite and constrict. The more you struggle, the tighter she'll hold. This still wont hurt much, but it's a bit worse than a defensive strike since she'll have her little needles clamped into your hand, and she might pull and twist a bit if you struggle.

tonyb · 02-11-05, 11:40 AM

its not pain im concerned about, its more if i yank my hand away whilst shes got her teeth in me, ill hurt her. (honest) anyway, thanks for the advice guys, ill let you know how we get on.

BoidKeeper · 02-11-05, 12:22 PM

This is the worse that can happen,

A large adult female did that. You're surprised when it happens but that's about it. It stings but the teeth are so small and the bit so fast that it's over before it starts. Except for the time my Sorong GTP bit my wife and wouldn't let go. She said that hurt.lol
Cheers,
Trevor

Bristen · 02-14-05, 08:00 AM

Hey Trevor, you had posted that picture before.. but I had not noticed the paperwork in the background.. may I ask what is that?? Just being nosy..

Later,
Bristen.

pablo111 · 02-14-05, 09:40 PM

Its important that you don't pull away as everyone is saying because you could hurt the animal.

Comparatively, even a six foot (rare) ball python couldn't bite you and hurt as much as say, a hamster could.

I find there is rarely blood with ball pythons if you stay still... I had one very lovable, but unusually stupid animal that attacked and tried to swallow my thumb. Getting him off without hurting him took about five minutes- but its really no big deal once you notice they can out put very very little jaw pressure- just enough to hang on, not really to dig in.

tonyb · 02-15-05, 07:04 AM

thats all i was worried about is hurting my python. its funny you should mention hamsters, because my girlfriend had an hamster which used to bite chunks out of me. that used to hurt.

pablo111 · 02-15-05, 02:25 PM

Too bad its not still around. You could p/k it and throw it in your Ball's enclosure... hehehe