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the bastard bit me... All this time I've been somewhat afraid of him, thinking it would really hurt if he bit me, but he came out of nowhere and I barely felt it.
I've been setting up a new tank for him over the last couple of days. I finally decided what to do with that flat back hex tank that I broke the bottom of. I laid it on it's back, put in a new bottom (now the back) made of 1/4" or so MDF, added this great piece of wood I found for a hide (I cut it into two pieces), added his faux plants and substrate, and voila! Instant overnight snake tank.
I didn't have a door ready for it yet, but I thought I would put him in and let him explore a bit while I watched him, and he really seemed to like it. It's big enough that he can stretch out and actually move around the tank, instead of just side to side in the tank. I remembered that the screen lid for my 20G tall tank fit the flat hex (except the corners that are cut away, of course) so I grabbed it and tried that out. I decided to leave him in for the night, even though I don't have his heat pad on the tank yet (he's been staying in his cool hide anyway), so I filled that water dish and when i was putting it back in and fixing the substrate, he struck out of nowhere. I don't think I even cried out. He did bite me hard enough to draw blood, but I just can't believe that that didn't hurt. I know they say that once you are bitten it's not that big a deal, but jeez, I can't believe I've been afraid of that for so long. I think he'll soon be enjoying more out of cage time.
I did take pics AND video of the new setup. I'm not going to upload them right now, hopefully I'll remember to upload and post them tomorrow.
it's funny isn't it... no pain, yet blood runs pretty good. last time pj got me (it was my fault) ripping him off sounded like removing velcro his mouth was so open. it still didn't hurt but it didn't stop bleeding forever. it happened before noon and i woke up the next day with blood on my pillow.
the scary part after your first bite is you realize you'll never see it coming when it does happen. as they get bigger you can find yourself wondering if it's any worse or more painful... it really isn't... but it is surprising every time... and you bleed longer.
Yea been bit a few times. People have in mind this mouth like a sharks, well in all reality it's jsut alot of fine teeth (yes very sharp) and with the pythons the back set are pointed backwards. Most of the time it happens so quick you never see it comming and it's over before you know what happened. But the teeth marks and the blood are the sure tale signs of it.
Most strikes are warnings and damn right I was warned to pay a little more attention. And it's not their fault we're the ones invading their areas. You might have gotten bit due to the snake thinking it was a new hunting ground, or that you surprised it as much as it did you.
But yea like they say "You've either been bit or it just hasn't happened YET!"
The WTF effect (reaction) never go's away though. LOL
Of the snake or the tiny little red bumps left by his teeth? I'll be posting a mini build log in a little bit. It'll be in Terra-Construction.
Mikey, yeah, you're right. It was totally my fault (and I knew it as soon as I felt him bump my hand), I was messing with the substrate and all and he wasn't settled yet. I'm sure I scared him. I handle most of my herps often enough that I can do just about anything with them, but he's a little different. I don't take him out as much because the hubby is afraid of snakes. He's still a really gently guy, but he's struck at me a few times because we're not as familiar. I'll jsut have to work with him more now that he's in a better home.
lol thats funny a friend of mine reckons it really hurts heaps when he gets bitten, I will have to tease him for being a sook now that you have said that it doesnt hurt at all
Yea Frogg thats about all you can do, is keep handling him untill he gets use to it. I will let ya know that just like people there are some snakes that will no matter what they don't want to be handeled. Either species baised or just being a lil differn't it's self some snakes say "Hey leave me the H-ll alone!" Spending alot of time with your pet will build the bond, but remember you have to keep it up with snakes, I know a person who hand raised a boa from birth. Great snake, but he went to collage and the snake was left alone for a while only to revert back to one that didn't want to be handled and would sooner bite the hell out of you then be picked up.
My baby king snake is a snappy lil one right now, to get him to eat I have to put him in a feeding tub, put a pinkiee (FT) and put cover on and put a towel over the tub. If I don't he's already in defensive state and will sit there and strike at the tub trying to get to me. If I put my hand in there he will strike, and strike it thinknig he's Mr Big Snake. Hell I let him strike and bit me a good 20-30 times one day just to show him that no matter what he's going to have to get use to me handing him and also no matter what I'm not giving up.
Kinda hope he grows out of it, if he dosn't he'll be just one that isn't a handled snake.
it's funny isn't it... no pain, yet blood runs pretty good. last time pj got me (it was my fault) ripping him off sounded like removing velcro his mouth was so open. it still didn't hurt but it didn't stop bleeding forever. it happened before noon and i woke up the next day with blood on my pillow.
It amazing how much those little bites can bleed isn't it? I've always wondered if there's some sort of anticoagulant in their saliva or something. Even the tiny rosy boa that got me once bled like crazy!
silly snake...
I even spelled it right.
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