Redtail Boa bite!

Marcy Bravo · 02-03-11, 10:34 AM

Ok, my redtail boa decided to treat me as food and bit my wrist. That has been about 2weeks ago and it is iching and is looking worse than a couple of days ago! My boy is over 6 1/2 ft. So he took a pretty good bite! anyone have any advice on how to care for the wound?

Thanks

belovedboas · 02-03-11, 10:49 AM

care for it as you would any other wound imo...sterilize quickly and keep it clean.....i been bit alot...you'll know it when it's a feeding response bite lol.....check out the thread tagged hard, feeding response bite from 4 ft rtb.it took me almost 20 mins to get him off lol

Marcy Bravo · 02-03-11, 12:17 PM

Wow, 20 mins! Holy cow! I will check out the tread! Thanks for your response. And yeah, my boy was hungry!

Marcy Bravo · 02-03-11, 12:40 PM

I don't blame my Cuddles for the bite. I was certainly my fault! I ignored the red flags and paid for it. I have to say that I was real proud of how I handled the whole event. And believe it or not, my first thought was "I knew it", then "Don't do anything to hurt him!". I called for help and as soon as my boyfriend lifted Cuddles lower body, he let go! I did grab his head so he would not bite me again! Ha ha! I have fed him since and need to get the nerve to take him out. I have had him for almost 7 years and this is my first bite ever! I would say that is pretty good! Maybe this weekend we will be BFF again!

Thanks for letting me share!

Lankyrob · 02-03-11, 01:25 PM

One thing if it is still itching, have a good poke around the eound and check that you have no teeth left in there, it could be why it is itchy. Apart from tha tkeep it clean and open to the air is how i treat mine.

Marcy Bravo · 02-03-11, 01:39 PM

Thanks again for your wisdom.
Heres to no more bites for either of us!

Lankyrob · 02-03-11, 01:46 PM

No chance of that!!!

belovedboas · 02-03-11, 02:19 PM

Ohh you will kno a feeding reponse bite when you get one lol.....they tend to bite, coil and not let go....not in all cases but most lol

Marcy Bravo · 02-03-11, 02:43 PM

Thanks guys! You are great help!

marvelfreak · 02-03-11, 02:56 PM

Welcome to the club. That's a nice one. I use Triple Antibiotic on all of my bites and they heal right up.

Marcy Bravo · 02-03-11, 03:13 PM

Triple antibiotic! Got it! Thanks for the welcome to the club. Why didn't anyone tell me that the secret handshake was a bitch! LOL

Will0W783 · 02-03-11, 03:23 PM

Marcy, I would say the itching is most likely the wound healing. Any wound healing is going to be a bit itchy. Is it inflamed, red, and hot feeling to the touch? Those signs would indicate infection, in which case, since the wound is all sealed up you probably need to see a doctor and get systemic antibiotics. It doesn't look infected in the pics though...I don't see any surrounding redness spreading away from the bite marks, so I think you're just going through a healing process. Snake bites can be buggers to heal, but in the 6 years I've been keeping (all non-venomous) snakes, I've been bitten probably 20+ times and never had an infection. I do have a small scar on my cheek from a 7-foot red tail boa and a scar on my forearm from a 9-foot SD retic.

Will0W783 · 02-03-11, 03:23 PM

BTW, welcome to the "Bite Club." First rule of Bite Club, is that we DO talk about Bite Club, and we love pictures. lmao!

Marcy Bravo · 02-03-11, 03:42 PM

Bite club! I love it! I will keep a eye on it. It is alittle inflamed, but I think it is from my scatching it! I should stop that! LOL
Thanks for the info and the laugh, Kimberly!

Will0W783 · 02-04-11, 09:05 AM

Yeah, scratching is the worst...try putting some anti-itch spray or aloe on it. Neosporin with the numbing agents also works (one of my faves).