bleeder\'s club...

[alli_cat78]

I'm officially a member if the bite from a juvie Rosy counts.

But I have some questions. I am handling both of my snakes everyday now... minus the two days after they eat. they were fine until last week on feeding day.. delia bit me. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_eek.gif[/img] I figured i smelled like a mouse. so I started washing my hands before I held them even if I haven't touched any meat. ... and all was fine. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img] Until this week on feeding day... delia bit me [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_eek.gif[/img] so then I thought maybe she recognize it's feeding day or maybe she recognize their feeding containers? Possible? Oh by the way I transfered them before I got the mousicles out so I'm sure I did not smelll like a mouse. I left them for two days. (fri and sat) and when I went and got her on sunday... delia bit me [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_eek.gif[/img] and yeasterday.. you guessed it Delia bit me [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_eek.gif[/img]

She doesn't bite me right away she chills for a second, smells me, puts her face right on me.. then bam. Always on my poor finger. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_cry.gif[/img] so whadda think am I doing something wrong or is she just feeling a lil' witchy lately.

Not to drone on but also... what do you do after the bite? instinct tells me to put her up and wait awhile (read hour or so) before I try again... but then she wins. thgat might teach the wrong lesson right? So do I just wipe off the drop of blood and keep holding her? Also, how do you make her let go? that girl will hold on for dear life and because it's a finger she has a pretty good grip ( my finger is about meal sized [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img] )

Ok everyone questions, comments.. Let me know [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
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[Reticu-Lady]

I do believe you are right, do not put her back when she bites you, she may get worse if she thinks you will leave her alone for it. As long as she's little she may be biting in a defensive manner, but I wonder since you say she 'chills' for a moment first.
A little trick I have done with Murray (who gives huge painful bites). I rub a liitle lemon juice on my hands first. Not dripping wet, just a hint of icky smell. He hasn't bitten me since I started doing that.
Something else I have learned, some perfumes and colognes are made with animal musk and can cause a snake to bite in a prey driven manner. I have started wondering if some hand lotions are made the same way, as the only bite I ever recieved from my retic was shortly after applying hand lotion. She let go right away, but it still hurt (retics leave more of a slash wound than little punture wounds, at least she did). I guess that musk smell could also apply to some of the scented soaps available now, so just really pay attention to what you have put on your hands and/or body before handling the snakes.
Good luck, and Welcome to the Bleeder's Club! [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
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[telefrag]

Its almost a right of passage.

I would say pretend it didnt happen, if an animal defends itself and it then ultimately achives its goal (to be put down/let go) then it may eventually condition itself to bite whenever it feels its in danger.
If it bites and it doesnt do any good, then most snakes will eventually give up.

I just ignore it now when I get bit,

I have some snakes that still dont care, they still want to bite even if it doesnt work.

mmmm blood.
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[Reticu-Lady]

hmmmmmm, interesting thought - vampire snakes. Another great nightmare topic. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_eek.gif[/img] [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_lol.gif[/img]
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[RevMojo]

Welcome to the club! I agree with what everyone has said so far. If you put it away after being bit, you risk conditioning it to learn that biting works. Just stick with it. Mine is still a little snappy with me, but gets better everytime.


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[Constrictor_BO]

Hahaha... This must be a rosie boa thing cause mine does that too. It's not a mean lashing out kinda bite though. She just rubs her snout along my arm, opens her mouth and starts ganwing. I think it's kinda funny. The way I get her to stop is to watch her close and when you see her open her mouth, gently blow in her face. Dont have your face too close when blowing, dont want to give her another target LOL. Blowing on her makes her back off. When she looks like she is gonna do it again, blow. This has lowered the number of times she has tried to bite. She dont like it and figures it out eventually and will stop biting.
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