Don't Bite The Hand That Feeds You?

**stano40** · #1 05-07-2008, 10:33 AM

My wife Michelle has been feeding the snakes the other night and got the shock of her life. She knows that there is always the risk of getting bit by a snake during feeding, so she uses a very long pair of tongs. The snake's hungry and wants their food, so it will strike at the best warm image it sees.

But this time it came from a ball python (female) that is one of the mildest snakes out.

She just opened the cage and before she could put the f/t rat (on tongs) near the ball python it literally struck out from the cage opening. Michelle got hit about 3 to 4 times in rapid succession with one of the bites having the ball python hanging onto her hand and chewing on her.

We're not sure but she may be gravid and that would be a reason for her being grumpy.

The photos are of Michelle's hand the day after it happened. It looked worse when it happened.

(Click On The Photos To Enlarge)

I wanted to take pictures right after it happened with the blood dripping down and the hand really swollen. But with the looks I was getting I thought it was safer to wait until the next day. Some people just don't have a sense of humor, I guess.

**venus** · #2 05-07-2008, 10:41 AM

Thats awful, hope shes alright and is feeling better.

Do ya'll always feed in the cage? That might be one reason it reacted the way it did if so.

**MRHickey** · #3 05-07-2008, 10:54 AM

Ouch... welcome to reptile keeping, if they never try to bite you, you should probably be more concerned.

That does look painful though. I just got bit by our corn about a week ago, she is getting ready to shed and has been in a horrible mood.

**Merlin** · #4 05-07-2008, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stano40

I wanted to take pictures right after it happened with the blood dripping down and the hand really swollen. But with the looks I was getting I thought it was safer to wait until the next day. Some people just don't have a sense of humor, I guess.

Gee no sense of humor at all!
But it just goes to show that even an experienced keeper can get nailed!

**nicole** · #5 05-07-2008, 11:13 AM

That looks like there might be an infection in there. I would probably see a doctor with that one. I have been bitten so many times I have lost count by my Wing and they have never swelled like that. Are there any teeth left in there possibly?

That looks like my hand when I got bit by a feral cat, when I was trapping them to have them spayed and neutered. It earned me a nice shot in the rump, and a succession of three different antibiotics for a month. If it starts getting oozy and has puss in it I would be concerned.

**Lucysfriend** · #6 05-07-2008, 12:51 PM

Thats a terrible thing to happen but it happens...it does look infected like Nicole said I would get that checked out. Maybe try feeding outside the enclosure? A nice feeding box would probably help.

**Ipanda** · #7 05-07-2008, 12:52 PM

Ouch.... In my year of herp keeping I have never been bit (knock on wood). Nicole is right. It looks like it could be infected or at the least have some teeth stuck in it. Id have her soak her hand in a bowl of betadine....

**schlegelbagel** · #8 05-07-2008, 03:45 PM

I agree. I would suggest training your snake to eat in a box!

**stano40** · #9 05-07-2008, 05:57 PM

Gypsy (Ball Python) has never been aggressive ever. She was paired up with another male recently and is believed to be gravid now. The snakes are usually placed in a feeding container, but that night there were none left to use and Gypsy never had a problem of feeding anywhere.

It's hard to have 60 some odd separate feeding containers on feeding day.

She feeds over 60 snakes.

This is Gypsy:

Ball Python, Adult Female, approximately 4' long

**stano40** · #10 05-08-2008, 12:27 PM

Still some significant swelling but much better than it was the other day. Michelle checked out the wound and felt no teeth.

She knows the feel of teeth in the skin since she was once bitten by a burm that did leave about three teeth in her.

Well, here's another fine mess you've gotten me into

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