My normally calm baby just bit my boyfriend.

[heiligeglut]

Well, the title is fairly self-explanatory. I've had my ball python, Pablo, for about three years, and he's always been very sweet - never even threatened to bite or anything. However, today my boyfriend reached into his tank to get him out to put him in his feeding container, and Pablo bit him. It wasn't hard - just struck and released, only left a minor puncture and only a drop of blood, but it was completely out of character. When I got home from work, he was fine again. I brought him out of his tank (probably shouldn't've, but I was concerned about him), and he ate his mouse with no difficulties, like usual, and went calmly back into his tank, where he's happily digesting now.

I have no idea what caused it. I'm fairly confident my boyfriend didn't provoke him at all - they've never had a problem before, and the boyfriend swears he handled him just like I showed him and just like he's always done before. Pablo's in the same tank he's been in for the last six months (30 gallon), same heating, lighting, and humidity (all adequate and all what he's used to), being fed regularly and eating well. The only recent change was a move - I moved from Pennsylvania to Michigan about two months ago, and I haven't been able to take him out and handle him as much as I used to, due to a new job. But he's seemed fine since then, eating well every ten days, and his one shed since then went fine.

So, any ideas? He seems okay now, but that bite was totally out of character, and I'm kind of concerned. Was it just a fluke or do you think there might be some kind of medical issue or something else? Any help would really be appreciated. Thanks!

[reptilenut4sure]

My friends snake bit him before when he didn't wash out the feeding container from the last time he fed his snake. It also was a ball python. That could be why ?

[The Snake Guru]

the snake was probably ready to eat, saw the heat from your boyfriend's hand and instinctively struck.....not all that uncommon. Or he just startled it a llittle as long asthe snake is eating and everything you have nothing to worry about.....all part of the keeping game!

~B~

[gonesnakee]

I'm with Brad, due to the lack of interaction lately the BF was mistaken for prey. It was bound to happen eventually. I have been bit by many species of snakes before by mistake. Remember the snake could be sound asleep & the first thing he "saw" when he woke was warm flesh & instinct kicked in. It happens, part of keeping snakes, just like folks who keep cats get scratched once in a while. Mark

[heiligeglut]

Thank you for the reassurance! I'm not concerned about the bite - it's nothing. I was just worried something might be wrong with him. Glad to know it's not abnormal. Thank you!