Since I was the one who came up with the idea for this section and since noone has posted in it yet I figure I will go ahead and start it out.

After reading Aosoth's post on his burm who had bitten him I had a question. I know when you get bit by a snake you are not supposed to yank away because it can cause the teeth to be pulled out. Well our natural reaction is to pull back so in case of that happen what would you do after they lose the teeth? i would think eventually more would grow back but im not sure of this. And what about the eating? if its prekilled I wouldnt see it as much of a hassle as the food wont be fighting to get away but the pulling the food in might be a bit more difficult still but feeding live would big a bigger problem... either way if someone could just fill me in a bit.

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Randy

I plan to live forever... And so far its working

0.2.0 Ball Python (Jaxxie and Kyree)
1.0.0 Savanah Monitor (Sullivan)

Well, surprisingly, even though our initial reaction would be to pull back, that is not always the case. I have never been bitten by a snake in a way that would make me react like this (I have only been bitten a couple of times by smaller snakes, and they were carefully planned bites, where I was holding them and they slowly opened their mouths around my hand! ) so I can only speak from seeing Joe being bitten.. he has been bitten a couple of times by the larger snakes, from feeding strikes, and he did not pull away instantly as would be expected. He waited for them to release his hand.

In fact I think it would be quite hard to yank the teeth out, but if this did happen then there is really nothing you can do. I don't believe that teeth can grow back.. however with over a hundred teeth it probably wouldn't cause too many problems.

I have only once seen a tooth be pulled out - one of our royal pythons had a piece of substrate stuck in his mouth and we had to carefully pull this out with tweezers. Unfortunately it was stuck on a tooth, and the tooth came out with the substrate. On very close inspection you could see the tooth, although it was so small you would have easily missed it. It has caused him no problems, and I think the fact that the substrate was finally unstuck was much more of a relief to him.

If you are bitten it is best to try and fight the urge to pull back, because as you noted, a snakes teeth are angled backwards so as to prevent prey from escaping from its grip. The snake will let go, and no harm will be done (at least not to the snake ).

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"If you know everything you may as well blow your brains out because the reason for existence is to learn more everyday." - Mark O'Shea, 2004

I would have never thought to ask such a question but I'm glad you did. If my snake ever bit me and I caused it to lose teeth, I think I'd be more upset about the injury to my snake then to myself, of course I'm speaking from the point of view of someone who has never been bitten, except by a little corn snake that I caught in a tree. He tried and tried to hurt me, it was adorable. The snake was too small to break the skin but his strong will made me decide to let him free.

I believe it depends on the type of snake, and type of tooth. I know that fangs used for envenomation grow back. Since without them the snake would be incapable of getting prey items. I'm not sure about constrictors though, sounds like some research is in order.

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When I was bitten I didnt pull back and I automaticly put my free hand up to grab him before he had a chance to wrap around and constrict. The only time I have ever pulled back was when my boa has struck at me, and that was just to avoid being bitten. She did get me once though and I didnt move fast enough, and I think I still have a tooth in me from it. Loosing a few teeth wont hurt them, it would happen a lot in the wild. Off the topic, the last time I checked I was female.

LOL, these men, they're always mistaking us girls for guys!

I presume though, Jay, that venomoids fangs do not grow back, because of the venom sac being removed?

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"If you know everything you may as well blow your brains out because the reason for existence is to learn more everyday." - Mark O'Shea, 2004

No, the fangs still grow back. I saw a study on rattlesnakes and they always have a new tooth growing in to replace the old one. It helps keep them nice and sharp.

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Answers are great. But I prefer questions!

Visit me at www.jaysreptiles.com

Same with me. When I was bitten I didn't pull back. I flung my hand up behind her neck to keep her from falling as she was hanging from my wrist. For some reason she didn't try to constrict. She didn't even try to move.

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1.0 Elaphe bairdi - Enka
0.1 Elaphe taeniura vaillanti - Sora

3/30/54-9/29/04
I love you, Mom.

I have seen a programe too where it said the fangs grow back, cant remember which programe tho I have watched that many

The fangs will grow back regardless of venom sac removal. The actuyally have multiple fangs folded somewhat like a pocket knife's blades ready to drop down when needed. I beleive that the smaller teeth will grow back and the only real worry you have is infection setting in from the injury to the mouth.

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!