How do you escape a wrap bite?

[CheshireCat]

I'm looking for opinions please on the best method of freeing a snake when it's confused you for a food item?
It happened to me once when I used to breed rats and I handled a small ball python while I was still smelly. It wrapped round my wrist and kept chewing until I sprinkled some vinegar into its mouth.
I also used this recently when a hognose confused its own tail with it's dinner and wouldnt let go.

Ive just been told off by someone over doing this because he said there's a chance of damaging snakes nasal membranes with vinegar.

It's very effective and we didnt have any problems with either snake afterwards, but Im now really worried. Please don't say put up with the bite because there may be another occasion where speed is important
Can someone help please.

[eddie]

Acetic acid ( vinegar, lemon, lime and other citrus juices) are the best I have heard of and tried.
Available everywhere cheap, easy to keep on hand and the lemon/limes even come with their own squirt bottles that you can have in your hand or in close proximity.
No permanent damage unless you drown the snake and causes a virtually instant release.

Hot water/cold water methods have drawbacks, such as waiting for the water to hat and quite possibly scalding both the human and the snake.
Cold water is quickly available, but many snakes aren't affected very quickly and can hold their breath for a long time.
Another drawback is if you are wrapped and entertwined with a rack, shelf, chair, another human etc.
Kinda hard to get to the sink or tub that way

Alcohol (drinking, not rubbing) can be used in a pinch but some people don't keep or want to keep it on hand as well as the likelihood of damage done to the jacobsons organ through the alcohols rapid dehydration properties or the chem burn itself.

[JuliusSqueezer]

I just wait them out. Eventually they realize they can't swallow me and let go. In the case of a huge python, I always keep a large knife handy to cut myself free if a life or death constriction situation comes up. I don't see how vinegar or what most people recomend, booze would be an effective option in a real life crisis with something big enough to kill me nor is it feasable to assume I would necessarily have access to where ever the snake's head might be. I love my snakes. I really do. But if it ever comes down to me or one of them...I don't wish to becomem a statistic. Now...with a small ball python latched on to your hand? bah...just unwrap starting with the tail and get him unwrapped first...then catch him between chewing...pin him like you would pin a rattlesnake...thumb on one side, middle finger on the other...forefinger on top, and gently wiggle his head side to side...He will let go. If he doesn't...you will have a definate conversation piece even better than a tattoo!

[CheshireCat]

Eddie, Im having a bit of a problem with this one. Would you do me a favour and go and have a look at the following thread please. It starts with Jaymcs response near the bottom of the page and goes forward to the end. I got fed up trying to argue the point. Am I wrong?
http://www.reptilecrazy.co.uk/forum/...006&PN=1&TPN=4

[eddie]

After some of what i read there.. I feel that there are a few there that shouldn't be entrusted to anything smarter than a pet rock..
Especially after THIS comment..

i wil never reommend handling a burm retic or the likes solely but if for some wierd reason you have to if the snake strikes PLAY DEAD....

Play dead???
Snakes stop constricting after they stop feeling the preys pulse which is something you cannot control, even while playing dead.

One mentioned medical alcohol... That would be rubbing alcohol which can cause damage, even if using only a drop or two. It is very dehydrating and is the main tearing agent in OC sprays as it dehydrates human eyes fast enough to cause massive tear flow.
Imagine what that does to an animal that cannot salivate.

Jay mc sounds like an idiot wrapped in a moron.

[CheshireCat]

Thanks Eddie, Im so stressed out with that forum. You are a breath of sanity and I might get to sleep tonight after all!

[LdyDrgn]

Sounds like a load of hogwash to me. :P More than one over there aren't playing with a full deck.

I usually recommend watering down lemon juice and placing in a squirt bottle near the enclosure. That way it is on hand when you need it should you get in the middle of an SFE. Watered down it isn't quite as strong.

There is also the tactic of bending the tail up slowly, not enough to break it, but just enough to get the snake to let go. This method is used by many of the large snake handlers at zoos.

[louise]

i wil never reommend handling a burm retic or the likes solely but if for some wierd reason you have to if the snake strikes PLAY DEAD....


lmao if you do that you may not have to PLAY DEAD to long. roflmao

[JuliusSqueezer]

Yah Michelle...that's all I do...just unwrap the tail and rest of the body and hold them out straight...when they don't feel they have a secure grip, they forget about feeding/biting and look to regain a comfortable safe perch. Snakes are funny about feeling a need to have control over their anchoring or whatever position they are laying...when this is out of their control, really nothing else matters to them.

[LdyDrgn]

lol, YUP!