Some dumb jerk got tagged doing sometihng dumb

PDXErik · 11-03-07, 12:05 AM

So, I was moving my 6' female RTB back into her enclosure after she fed in the feed box.

She was looking like she was still in the ambush predator mode. I saw that, recognized it, thought to myself, "I should leave her alone for another hour or so and let her calm down"

Well, patience be damned, I reached in behind her, took her upper middle section and was going for the rest when she grabbed my index finger.

Real good, too. Well, not so good as she had to twist and adjust her grip. And then proceeded to wrap herself around my wrist.

In the middle of unwrapping her off of me, she realized that, indeed, I was not a rat and let go.

That was exciting. That's the second time dumbass got bit doing something dumbass knew he shouldn't.

Well, four hours later, my finger still hurts, but will recover. Let my experience teach all you noobs. However, I guess I didn't learn from other's experience, so, if you must get bit, get bit, just remember, when you do, don't jerk away and wrench at it, go slow and don't panic.

Edit: BTW, for experience's sake, the inside of a snake's mouth feels real weird. And pointy.

**Boots** · 11-03-07, 12:37 AM

All I can say is ouch. Never had a snake take hold, and it does not sound like something I want to find out anytime soon.

Jason

PDXErik · 11-03-07, 01:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boots

All I can say is ouch. Never had a snake take hold, and it does not sound like something I want to find out anytime soon.

Jason

Me either, it's always been pretty quick. And always during feeding time. Grab, realize I'm not a rat, let go. Pretty much that quick, or quicker. This was at least a good 10 or 15 seconds, seemed like much more.

Funny thing is, this is the one that regurged on me and then had nasty poop and then refused food for a couple weeks.

Hey, look who's feeling better!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Artemis

Hugs babe! I know an S pose when I see one, and thats hemostats only time. Hope you finger feels better, and your snake gets full!

S pose? What's that? Maybe I'll just figure it out on my own...........

Thanks. Finger is somewhat numb. NOOBS!! Listen! I am moderately experienced with these guys. I wasn't listening to the back of my head when I should have been. Listen!! And always remember, the dang snake bites you, it is NEVER their fault, ALWAYS yours. No matter what.

Artemis · 11-03-07, 12:45 AM

Hugs babe! I know an S pose when I see one, and thats hemostats only time. Hope you finger feels better, and your snake gets full!

gonesnakee · 11-03-07, 12:31 PM

Invest in a hook right away would be a good plan. Much better than reaching in there with your bare hands. I didn't use my hook the other day & took a good tag form my adult female Diamond. She let go right away as I am not a rodent, but I bleed for a while & still have the teeth marks & some bruising here today going on a week later. With larger Boid removing them from the cage & then back for feeding has its risks. I feed all mine in their cages, which poses other risks. They can associate you with food as a result, thus why I got tagged. well that & the fact I didn't give her a tap on the nose with the hook first. If I would have used the hook for a quick second or 2 I wouldn't have got tagged

Mark

TailsW/Scales · 11-03-07, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gonesnakee

Invest in a hook right away would be a good plan. Much better than reaching in there with your bare hands. I didn't use my hook the other day & took a good tag form my adult female Diamond. She let go right away as I am not a rodent, but I bleed for a while & still have the teeth marks & some bruising here today going on a week later. With larger Boid removing them from the cage & then back for feeding has its risks. I feed all mine in their cages, which poses other risks. They can associate you with food as a result, thus why I got tagged. well that & the fact I didn't give her a tap on the nose with the hook first. If I would have used the hook for a quick second or 2 I wouldn't have got tagged

Mark

+ 1

As Mark says get a hook and fast. Be thankful it wasn't a 14' Retic that got you! You may have needed stitches in your finger.

redtails · 11-03-07, 04:34 PM

It sure sucks when they hold on, I've had a retic on my eyebrow for 5 minutes and a rock python swallowing my finger(holding the rat for him to eat was stupid)...both about 5' though so not quite as big as yours.

BTW, this is an "s pose":

ffollett · 11-03-07, 06:48 PM

Reason number 121 I do not feed outside of an enclosure.

PDXErik · 11-03-07, 07:46 PM

Well, she was feeding in an enclosure, oh, I think I get it. I have a particular tank (just one, mind you, thinking of changing that) just for feeding.

My little guys, the 3' rtb and the 3' ball feed in their cage, the big guys feed in the box.

ffollett · 11-03-07, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PDXErik

Well, she was feeding in an enclosure, oh, I think I get it. I have a particular tank (just one, mind you, thinking of changing that) just for feeding.

Thats what I was talking about. All of ours eat inside of their permanent enclosures. We hook train them from day one to know when it is meal time and when it isn't. Especially with boas because they seem to want to regurg more then any other species we deal with and can go into a nasty feed mode.

When we got into this we use to feed outside of their enclosure in a feed box like what you are talking about. Because that was what we were told was best. After doing this for a little while we learned that it is better to hook train and just feed inside of their enclosure. I couldn't imagine trying to feed in a separate enclosure with around 50 snakes like we have now. Can you imagine the insanity if one of the larger breeders tried to take every snake out and feed it in a separate box?

TailsW/Scales · 11-03-07, 08:53 PM

Hah!
Not just imagine taking out 50 plus snakes and putting them into individual contairers but can you imagine removing a large python .................. who's hungry ................... or putting it back in the cage while in food mode.

Come to think of it ......................... there is not such thing as a "feeding cage" big enough to handle a 14 foot plus snake.

Side note: Also some snakes are VERY picky when it comes to feeding. If you move them from their cage they will not eat.

ffollett · 11-03-07, 09:07 PM

Quote:

you imagine removing a large python .................. who's hungry ................... or putting it back in the cage while in food mode

Yeah right. I won't go near my female burm for a couple days after she eats.

Quote:

Side note: Also some snakes are VERY picky when it comes to feeding. If you move them from their cage they will not eat

Hell I have snakes that won't eat if I am in the same room with them. They have to be fed last and then we have to leave the room before they will eat.

Boots Hawks · 11-03-07, 11:32 PM

2nd the hook, after the meal it kind of lets one know that its me. Its the reach when they get you, and although you see them set, you reach over and grab them anyway. Those boas are quick, like blink quick. So after they eat if I am going to pick them up, I let them know its me. I feed outside the box. My biggest is only 6', and I only have 5, I take that back, I bought another Hypo Red today from EBV at the San Jose Reptile show, So now I have 6. I named my newest family member Curly. I have fed in the cage, and it has worried me everytime I did. I use cypress mulch on the flooring and I am always worried they will swallow some. I know the chances are not that great, but the chance is there and it worries me.

PDXErik · 11-04-07, 12:28 AM

I'm 3rd ing the hook idea. I tend to try to treat my animals as pets, and I have to rethink that idea.

I have always considered my legless friends as my friends. If I treat them as if I fear them (I always respect them (a little more now)) as something that I am afraid of, I fear that I will lose that.

I handle my snakes by hand. It may mean being bitten again, but it will also mean my personal connection to them.

My snakes are cool, calm and collected, except when they think they're eating. That was my mistake.

My boas have been family. I'd feel bad treating them as enemy. Know what I mean?

It was my mistake. I did someting stupid. I knew I shouldn't have. If I had thought about it, it never would have happened.

ALWAYS stress about ingesting substrate.

TailsW/Scales · 11-04-07, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PDXErik

ALWAYS stress about ingesting substrate.

Time to hijack the thread a tiny bit so I apologize straight off for that.

You shouldn't be stressing over your snake injesting any substrate. More often then not a substrate like cypress mulch is not needed unless the snake requires a high humidy then it'll take more then subrate to make that happen and for it too hold. Substrate is only a small part on holding proper humidity for species that need it. On large snakes (in my opinion) subsrates like that are WAY more hassle then they're worth. Not to mention it's expensive and requires almost a weekly change when feeding large snakes. It also makes it more difficult to get rid of parasites if you're afflicted by them.