Interesting retic bite.

CrotalusR#1 · 02-26-15, 07:54 PM

So I wanna know what you guys think, especially fellow retic keepers.

So let me start off by saying the point of his is not to talk about being bitten or why it happened. A bite is really no big deal to me I know where I messed up but agin not a big deal to me. Agin this is not to talk about the bite it's self and for that reason I won't post any pictures, but please read on and let me know what you think.

So long story short my reticulated python who is 14ft missed the chicken and grabbed my wrist. So he was in front of me and my forearm was in the position as if I was checking my watch to see what time it was. I looked down and he was looking at my writs while biting. The strange part was while he was holding on to me I watched his eyes slowly look up at me and he slowly let go and backed away, it was a strange moment but a moment it was. Iv worked with many snakes and I have always felt like retics Are much more inquisitive and observant than others. It really did feel like he looked up and realized he made a mistake, more than just missing the chicken.

All that being said I don't think snakes like being held, I think they tolerate it, I don't believe they enjoy sitting on the couch watching tv, maybe it stimulates there senses being held and what not and that's "fun" but I don't really know, but I'm not one to say snakes love there owners ect blah blah blah.

So just a coincidence or more? I'd love to hear from you guys.

IW17 · 02-26-15, 08:25 PM

I think snakes in general have a better understanding of things than we give them credit for. I've had similar experiences in the past where I made a mistake and got bit(feeding response) and after a brief moment the snake let go. Not sure if it was a conscious decision or if my body part just didn't feel like it's normal meal. Hopefully someone else has more to add.

CrotalusR#1 · 02-26-15, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IW17

I think snakes in general have a better understanding of things than we give them credit for. I've had similar experiences in the past where I made a mistake and got bit(feeding response) and after a brief moment the snake let go. Not sure if it was a conscious decision or if my body part just didn't feel like it's normal meal. Hopefully someone else has more to add.

Thank you for your feed back.

**Minkness** · 02-26-15, 09:08 PM

Nah...you just tasted that bad! XD

Wish I cpuld have a better opinion but I'm not experienced enough to even have a guess. Cool story though!

CrotalusR#1 · 02-26-15, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minkness

Nah...you just tasted that bad! XD

Wish I cpuld have a better opinion but I'm not experienced enough to even have a guess. Cool story though!

Umm ok, thanks?

**Minkness** · 02-26-15, 09:42 PM

It was a joke >_>

dave himself · 02-27-15, 03:09 AM

The same thing happened to me with Wilson our albino burm male, it was a full on feeding response bite with coils being thrown up my arm. Now like you said I come from the school of my snakes do not love me or want to to be my best buddies, but he did just stop slowly relax. I can't explain why he did this. The only thing was did grab him gentle behind the head to stop him from pulling back and making the wound worse.

D Grade · 02-27-15, 03:47 AM

I saw pics, wasn't pretty thats for sure.

I agree with IW17, I think snakes are a lot more inquisitive and realize more than we know. Of course they need time to settle into new surroundings, get adjusted to food, and of course they make mistakes, etc... But in reality, isn't that a lot like humans?

fainche · 02-27-15, 04:28 AM

I always believe that snakes are the most clever animals that was created. The easily recognise things.

SSSSnakes · 02-27-15, 07:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fainche

I always believe that snakes are the most clever animals that was created. The easily recognise things.

Agreed 100%. Wise as a serpent.

Sylphie · 02-27-15, 08:33 AM

Uh I'm sorry but I can't answer original question, just too small experience. But it's really interesting!

fainche, SSSSnakes, you are joking, or really thinking that? I was always told that reptiles are rather "stupid" and they just act mostly on instinct...

SSSSnakes · 02-27-15, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sylphie

Uh I'm sorry but I can't answer original question, just too small experience. But it's really interesting!

fainche, SSSSnakes, you are joking, or really thinking that? I was always told that reptiles are rather "stupid" and they just act mostly on instinct...

PM me if you want my answer. Answering your question on this thread would violate forum rules.

moshirimon · 02-27-15, 10:53 AM

He realized you weren't his typical prey item and he took a couple looks at you and realized he probably couldn't get you down. Because as inquisitive as they are, if that retic was big enough to see you as an small/good sized meal, and he was in feeding mode, I doubt he would let go like that. Just my opinion.

CrotalusR#1 · 02-27-15, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moshirimon

He realized you weren't his typical prey item and he took a couple looks at you and realized he probably couldn't get you down. Because as inquisitive as they are, if that retic was big enough to see you as an small/good sized meal, and he was in feeding mode, I doubt he would let go like that. Just my opinion.

I feel that's problably the most lagical answer, thanks.

FWK · 02-27-15, 11:59 AM

I have a young Bull Snake with a fearsome feeding response. A few months ago I reached into his enclosure to grab his water bowl when he shot out of a hide like he was spring loaded and latched onto my hand. I didn't move as he started to throw the first coil over my hand when he suddenly disengaged and vanished back into his hide. I didn't think for a second that he let go because he knew it was me or that he didn't want to hurt me, he let go because he realized he bit something much bigger than he could handle and if he didn't get out of there he was going to get hurt. Prey fight back.

I don't think there is much real debate as to the level of intelligence in snakes. Spend a bit of time studying the nervous system of a snake at it will quickly become pretty clear to you that they do not have the capacity for intelligence warm blooded animals do. But within the hobbyist community there is some debate as individuals are often blind to reason when it comes to their pets because they become overly attached to the animal(s) in question and typically assign human qualities to their beloved pets (the technical term is anthropomorphism but I like to call it crazy cat lady syndrome).

Snakes do seem to have some ability to learn, for example my snakes seem to know that if there is movement outside their enclosures (as in, I'm walking around in the snake room) there is a good chance food is on the way. And over time they learn that I am not a threat and picking them up will no longer trigger a fight or flight response. But is this truly knowledge they can actively employ or simply a conditioned response? Personally I think it is a little bit of both (leaning more towards a conditioned response overall) but there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of legitimate research on the subject, at least not that I can find. I am very much open to new ideas if you know of any research/articles on the subject.

There are a number of cases of snakes swallowing a persons arm and refusing to let go until forcibly removed. I don't think the snake wouldn't let go because it didn't have a strong enough bond with the individual, the snake wouldn't let go because it didn't "realize" it had made a mistake (there wasn't enough stimuli to override the feeding response).