snake bite...new found fear - Page 2

exwizard · 02-11-12, 05:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaleely

As long as the animal's husbandry isn't suffering, and you are able to feed them properly, etc., you don't *have* to hold them. You can just get a snake hook and put them in another container when cleaning or feeding. No biggie, plenty of people have display only reptiles. Just make sure their care is not suffering.

I like this idea and completely agree with it. I have been tagged by several different pet snakes of mine, the most recent of which when Ramón tagged me three times followed by a hiss but none of it bothers me anymore. I do like to handle all my snakes so I will do what I can do be able to continue handling them but that is just me. I wont keep a snake I cant handle as a pet. That being said, there are options you can take in order to continue with this snake or any other and Jaleely has it right with the hooking suggestion.

KORBIN5895 · 02-11-12, 07:28 AM

If you weren't even holding him when you got bit why worry when you hold him. How old us this snake and how long have you owned him? What animals do you own?

This whole scenario seems odd to me. With seven years of experience you are afraid to hold your snake now? I feel like there is more to the story or maybe I am just missing something.

As for advice I would recommend taking your snake out and sitting on the couch or chair so you get used to them again. Hopefully it smooths out for you.

DragonsEye · 02-11-12, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miya

.....and yes im generally good at reading my snakes but he was under his hide when he struck out i didnt see him

I can relate to that -- I got tagged by Osiris (5+ ft rat snake) just last night. I was redistributing the substrate in a corner of his enclosure when he struck from the cover of his hide so I didn't see it coming. Then the dumbell started trying to pull back into his hide. (Maybe he thought he had bagged the king of all rodents.

) So had to grab him and pull him forward a bit to get him to release. Definitely surprised me. Went and rinsed the blood off, cleaned the area with soap then rubbing alcohol. After I was sure the bleeding was done and the area dried off, went back and picked him up for a bit.

If you do enjoy handling your snakes, I suspect the only way you'll get over your anxiety is to make yourself handle them again. I like the ideas mentioned about using gloves as you get back into handling or the hook if you don't.

kernel · 02-11-12, 10:03 AM

I can't tell you how many times I have been bit, but most of those were feeding responses and were all my fault. I do however have juvenile Texas rat snake and a juvenile corn snake that bite me constantly, but I just keep holding them and they stop, until NEXT time I get them out. The only one of my snakes that I'm nervous about getting bit by is my 3-4 foot carpet python, she constantly tries to bite me, but I'm real good at reading her behavior, so I have managed to avoid getting bit SO FAR. The best mind set to have is "you don't scare me you silly snake". Just don't let them get the best of you. That's the best advice I can give you.

shaunyboy · 02-11-12, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kernel

I can't tell you how many times I have been bit, but most of those were feeding responses and were all my fault. I do however have juvenile Texas rat snake and a juvenile corn snake that bite me constantly, but I just keep holding them and they stop, until NEXT time I get them out. The only one of my snakes that I'm nervous about getting bit by is my 3-4 foot carpet python, she constantly tries to bite me, but I'm real good at reading her behavior, so I have managed to avoid getting bit SO FAR. The best mind set to have is "you don't scare me you silly snake". Just don't let them get the best of you. That's the best advice I can give you.

it looks worse than it feels,heres a feeding responce from a 4ft carpet pal

cheers shaun

Snakefood · 02-11-12, 10:59 AM

I have 2 that keep striking at me and one has hit me twice. I am going to go get a snake hook, because mine (don't know about yours) only strike out when I'm getting them out. Then they are nice. So I'll hook them out and then I can handle them just fine

theapexgerman · 02-11-12, 12:57 PM

I use a hook with my bull snake lol once he out of the cage hell still will bite but not often

DragonsEye · 02-11-12, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shaunyboy

it looks worse than it feels,heres a feeding responce from a 4ft carpet pal

cheers shaun

Kind of disgusted with myself. I did take a picture of the bite I received AFTER I cleaned it up.

It registered right after I rinsed it off that I should have done a before and after cleaning shot. People not in the hobby so often think that the bite damage would be like that of a dog. With tis in mind, I took the pic so that I can show folks how minor it is. Since hands tend to bleed a lot, nonvenomous bites can look far worse than they are. Showing a photo a before (bloody) and after (cleaned up) would have been a far better illustration, I believe.

kernel · 02-12-12, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shaunyboy

it looks worse than it feels,heres a feeding responce from a 4ft carpet pal

cheers shaun

I'm sure it does, but I don't think I will ever get over being nervous until I get bit and see for my self.

kernel · 02-12-12, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snakefood

I have 2 that keep striking at me and one has hit me twice. I am going to go get a snake hook, because mine (don't know about yours) only strike out when I'm getting them out. Then they are nice. So I'll hook them out and then I can handle them just fine

That's how my carpet is. She's a little devil snake in her cage, but once out she's fine.

exwizard · 02-12-12, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kernel

I'm sure it does, but I don't think I will ever get over being nervous until I get bit and see for my self.

I had that same thought as well until one of the baby Macks tagged me shortly after I got them. I was like, "is that it??" Since then I have no fear of getting tagged and I have been tagged several times since then by others. I do respect them but I dont fear them.

jdavy · 02-12-12, 11:56 AM

I had a good long run in snake keeping where I had almost never been bit. Then I bred macklots pythons. Those babies will bite you about 10 times in one quick cage cleaning - lol! Honestly though, that was a great thing for me. I learned that most snake bites (especially the bites from little snakes) won't hurt at all and that there is no reason to jump. I got so used to being bit that I came to a place where I wouldn't jump or react at all.

Perhaps something similar would help you out. Know anyone with nippy babies???

kernel · 02-12-12, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdavy

I had a good long run in snake keeping where I had almost never been bit. Then I bred macklots pythons. Those babies will bite you about 10 times in one quick cage cleaning - lol! Honestly though, that was a great thing for me. I learned that most snake bites (especially the bites from little snakes) won't hurt at all and that there is no reason to jump. I got so used to being bit that I came to a place where I wouldn't jump or react at all.

Perhaps something similar would help you out. Know anyone with nippy babies???

Not sure who your talking to, lol. If your talking to me, I'm not really afraid to get bit or I wouldn't handle her, I'm just a little nervous is all cause I haven't been bit by anything larger than a yearling corn. If your not, then Wayne feel free to delete my post if you see fit.

shaunyboy · 02-12-12, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DragonsEye

Kind of disgusted with myself. I did take a picture of the bite I received AFTER I cleaned it up.

It registered right after I rinsed it off that I should have done a before and after cleaning shot. People not in the hobby so often think that the bite damage would be like that of a dog. With tis in mind, I took the pic so that I can show folks how minor it is. Since hands tend to bleed a lot, nonvenomous bites can look far worse than they are. Showing a photo a before (bloody) and after (cleaned up) would have been a far better illustration, I believe.

imo your correct,i should have took an after picture,showing how little damage there was

i don't get bit very often,but will take before and after pictures next time

cheers shaun

kernel · 02-12-12, 04:29 PM

Just go get one to bite you :P It for educational purposes :P