Snake Bite

2Gs · 06-08-15, 05:19 PM

Hello All

We have our first snake (BRB) that is 14 months old & about 2 ft long. This is the 3rd time she has bitten my son since we have her. We always use a hook to take her out but now while my son was holding her, she was wrapped around his wrist as she normally does & all of a sudden she bit him in the forearm.

Is this normal behavior? I know that BRB grow to 5-7ft but what if this continues, What can be done to stop this?

Thank you for your help

Praireboyfarmer · 06-08-15, 06:46 PM

It could be a feeding response and yes, this is fairly typical for some snakes. Make sure you wash your hands well after handling anything the snake might find attractive for meal (Rodents, chicken, etc pretty much any meats) and feed him in a separate enclosure.

If he's snapping at you and then taking off then it's an aggressive bite in which case it is stressed out and wants to be left alone. Best bet is to put him up for a few days and try again. Don't handle him before a shed and don't handle him up to 48 hours after feeding. If you just aquired this snake it's best to leave him alone for about a week and handle him for short periods about every other day until he mellows out a bit. Young snakes tend to be snappy.

Wingbeats · 06-09-15, 12:50 PM

I've read that in general, Rainbow boas can be bitey when they are babies. Chaska's struck at me twice - both times, she was very stressed out and I reached for her too quickly. Once I learned how to identify her behavior when she's stressed, I haven't had an issue since. I gently handle her once a day, outside of shed times and digestion times. When I go to pick her up, I gently tap next to her first to let her know I'm there, then slowly slide my fingers under her. She seems quite calm when handled now!

Albert Clark · 06-09-15, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2Gs

Hello All

We have our first snake (BRB) that is 14 months old & about 2 ft long. This is the 3rd time she has bitten my son since we have her. We always use a hook to take her out but now while my son was holding her, she was wrapped around his wrist as she normally does & all of a sudden she bit him in the forearm.

Is this normal behavior? I know that BRB grow to 5-7ft but what if this continues, What can be done to stop this?

Thank you for your help

No one likes getting bitten! It does make you second guess the snake. Your concerns are normal. However, there is a reason why the snake bit your son and it probably got spooked by a quick movement or a feeling of unsteadiness by the way he was being held. And he has been bitten 3 times you said? Is anyone else holding the snake? Has anyone else got bitten? I would start out limiting the time he is held and while holding him always point his head away from you. Limit and avoid sudden movements and don't handle him before or during a shed. Try holding him after you know he has been well fed but only 36 hours after a meal. Start with these things and see if they start to help. It is a process and as he gets older the biting should cease. Hope this helped.

SnoopySnake · 06-09-15, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Praireboyfarmer

and feed him in a separate enclosure.

There is NO need to feed in a separate enclosure. How long have you had the snake?

Albert Clark · 06-09-15, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SnoopySnake

There is NO need to feed in a separate enclosure. How long have you had the snake?

Good point!

2Gs · 06-09-15, 06:33 PM

Thank you all for the response. Now we know why he was bitten. No one else in the house has been bit by her but him & here's why. He told us today that he tried to move her from his left to his right wrist & he gently tried to unwrap her from his wrist & she resisted & then bit him.
So as Albert above says the sudden movement may had caused her to strike. I had her outside in the sun today for a while & she was fine even when my daughter took her from me.

We learned a lot from this wonderful forum a year 14 months ago when we got her & 2 things we never do is handle her during a shed & leave her alone for a few days after feeding.

Thank you

Albert Clark · 06-10-15, 08:41 AM

Perfect! Take it slow with her and you should see progress. I would still point her head away from me to limit her ability to reach out with a bite. Eventually she will become more comfortable being held.

2Gs · 06-10-15, 08:49 AM

Thanks Albert, Will do!

Praireboyfarmer · 06-21-15, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SnoopySnake

There is NO need to feed in a separate enclosure. How long have you had the snake?

Well you know, every website and book written tells you to do this. So I just relayed the info as a tip.

Jrich · 06-21-15, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Praireboyfarmer

Well you know, every website and book written tells you to do this. So I just relayed the info as a tip.

It's ok. I use to feed all of my snakes in separate enclosures but after learning from many experienced snake keepers that it was not necessary, I stopped. I have noticed absolutely no difference in the snake's behavior since I did stop. I really do think it's more stressful for the snake to move him into another enclosure to feed and then mess with him to get him back in his original enclosure on a full belly. Some snakes would strike at anything that moved since they were in "feed mode". I bet some sources do insist to feed in a separate enclosure but there really isn't any need.

2Gs · 06-21-15, 08:20 PM

I agree, We feed her in her enclosure & leave her alone for a few days & always use a hook to take her out.
She goes in her hide or under the cypress mulch right after she eats & we don't see her for a few days.

Albert Clark · 06-22-15, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2Gs

Thanks Albert, Will do!

Also, try and refrain from picking the snake up by the tail! The tail is a highly sensitive area for all snakes and can put them into a defensive mode. They use their tails for just about everything from balance to reproduction. The thing to do is to allow the snake to crawl off the arm onto another structure then pick them up at mid body pointing the head away from you as much as possible. Be gentle but firm.

Mikoh4792 · 06-22-15, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Praireboyfarmer

Well you know, every website and book written tells you to do this. So I just relayed the info as a tip.

This is an outdated husbandry practice, so most guides that recommend separate feeding enclosures are either old, mistaken or refer to very specific situations(housing more than one animal in the same enclosure,..etc). There's no real reason outside of these scenarios to feed outside of the enclosure.

**Aaron_S** · 06-22-15, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Praireboyfarmer

Well you know, every website and book written tells you to do this. So I just relayed the info as a tip.

How old are the books and websites you're reading?

It sounds sad but when we find information we have to research the source it comes from to find out where,who and how dated it may be.