Sorry I don't have a pic, but it was a surprise to me when it happened. I was holding my baby Black Rat, about to put her in the feeding tub, when I decided to "tease" her with the pinkie to get her reved up about eating. Well, to my surprise she chomped it!

So, there I was - trying to be as still as a statue while she ate; sitting on my left wrist/forearm while I was supporting the pinkie with my right hand. It was my first "hand feeding" experience, and it was sooo cool.

She may not be as pretty as my corns, but she sure is a great little snake.

As cute a story as that is, it's also indicative of SFE's with bigger snakes that give herping a bad rep. I'm certainly glad that your baby is so strong and sturdy like that though! Black rats have their own beauty that, IMHO, only compares with black racers and indigos...

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~Red~

I agree. it's no big deal now but you don't want the snake associating your hand with food. Makes for some very unpleasant handling situations.

And for those that don't know,...
SFE=Stupid feeding errors.
The chief cause of keepers being bitten!

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

Thanks for the concern. With all the younger, uneducated kids getting into herps these days, responses like yours are well founded. This was an isolated incident - not a practice of mine. I feed in seperate tubs.

As always, you guys are out for the best interest of the animals - which I appreciate. Believe me, the last thing I want is a 6 and a half foot Black Rat Snake chomping down on my hand.

Still, it was a very unique experience...

I bet! I got a chance to handle a usually rowdy yellow rat snake at the Aquarium Sunday, but with out incident. Part of me wants to have something happen just to know what it's like and what my reaction would be... but I certainly won't provoke it! I'm sure it'll happen on its own eventually!

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~Red~

I was bitten by my 2 1/2 foot King, and it was no big deal. Like little needles - more of a burning sensation than sharp pain. However, the larger the snake, the larger the teeth, right?

Now, a python with 4 rows of teeth... That is scary!

I do appreciate your reply and was not offended in the least bit. Thanks again for the concern. I had never heard of the phrase "SFE". Funny and sad at the same time.

I'd never heard the term SFE before either. Learn something new every day.
I'm not sure that the teeth size is as much of a factor in larger snakes, but the force behind the bite that really makes it painful. (Although I wouldn't want to be bit by any sized Emerald Tree Boa! They've got fangs!!)
My 6.8ft rainbow boa really leaves a nasty bruise with her bites. The actual bites bleed a lot but hurt less than paper cuts, IMO. Fortunately, she doesn't bite as often as she did when I first got her.

I'm sure the hand-feeding experience was really cool. I personally try to keep my snakes as far away from the thawing food as I can until I get them into their feeding boxes... once they smell it, everything is a potential target.

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Andrea

SFE simply means.......Stupid Feeding Error.

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Fran
January 9, 1940 - June 1, 2006 (R.I.P)

Before it's all over, I am sure I will "order the t-shirt".

So, which is worse - a 7 foot boa or python bite, or a full grown Tegu?

That's a matter of self deduction. Some downplay each ofthem and some like to build it up a little. Will you let us know the truth when you make the discovery?

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Fran
January 9, 1940 - June 1, 2006 (R.I.P)