I was first bitten around 6 months ago, I have kept a variety of creatures during my time in the hobby from harmless corn snakes, to a false water cobra (rear-fange and venomous from south america, for those who don't know). But for me, my first bite was from a Jungle Carpet Python (Morelia spilota cheynei). She was around 5'6" and was about to feed. Heres a picture:
For any one reading this who may be affraid of snakes, please do read on because I think I may be able to help you. Many people I know, like my mum, who are affraid of snakes seem to generalise them as ruthless baby killers. But why wouldn't you? They aren't exactly painted in good light after all.
Snakes bite for two reasons, a) they are hungry and b) they are scared/defending themselves. The former bite will be the one that will hurt the most, because the snake may hold on to you for some length of time. But, unless the snake in question is pushing 15-18ft then it is unlikely to be trying to eat you, but is trying to eat the finger you were wiggling at it. Snakes can eat large prey items, but not something as big as a person (unless of course we are talking about the giants). My point is, that your average household snake is not going to try and eat you; they know how small they are and they know that they can't fit you in. I was bitten because my hand smelled of rat, and I foolishly dipped it into the vivarium to retrieve a rat that I had dropped- heat + smell + motion = food.
The second kind of bite; the one when an animal is scared will rarely occur, and when it does you will have plenty of warning (usually). This bite will be a snap and release and the animal won't hold on, but it will hurt nonetheless. A snake essentially is a long tube of muscle, and its only defensive maneuver is it's bite. A snake cannot 'fight' per-se, and is pretty helpless in the wild against animals like honey badgers (with teeth and claws). If a snake bites you, it will be it's last line of defence and usually it will avoid this as it doesn't want to invest in the fight (which it will almost definately lose). So, before a snake bites you out of fear it will usually try to intimidate you first.
If you remember my story about Puglsy, you will know that I had to pin him down to remove layers of old skin. He wasn't happy about this, and he hissed continuously (and loudly) for around 15 minutes. All the while I was picking at his head. Eventually he'd had enough and tried to bite me but of course, I knew it was coming and avoided getting bitten.
The story that fear mongers most amongst non-keepers of snakes, is that ridiculous conundrum of misinterpreted information that thought up the 'my friends mate had a snake that measured him up in his sleep' story. Total nonsense. Here's why...
1. Snakes don't 'measure up' next to their prey- can you imagine a deer or a rat sitting still while a snake stretched out next to them for the best part of a night, umming and ahing? NO! Snakes are ambush predators, they will wait in a patch of dry leaves, and then strike. There is no time for measuring.
2. Snakes are ridiculously stupid. The only cognitive capability they have is remembering where the water is, their favourite hide, or their poop corner. Yes they can learn from their mistakes, but they aren't capable of 'measuring'. By what measure would a snake go on I might ask? ?Centimetres, metres? They have nothing to go on other than the length of their body (which is by no means the same size as their stomach). In this case a snake was have to stretch out fully (and a snake big enough to eat a human would be three times longer than the average bed, atleast), and then look over it's shoulder to see how big it was...
"hmm, little bit more..."
"I dunno, can't tell under this douvet, maybe if i go..." NO!
3. A snake that would be 'eyeing up' a human sized prey item would be pretty hungry. A 170lb meal would last the average giant burmese python around 1 year. While they are opportunistic feeders to one degree, you'd literally have to starve a snake for half a year or more before it would consider that.
Snake bites really aren't that bad. They don't strangle humans while they sleep, the don't actively want to kill you. This is why I don't understand irrational fear of snakes, it's all based on lack of knowledge or information. I'm terrified of spiders, so I did my research and now I own a 5" chilean rose tarantula which I'm perfectly comfortable around; because I understand it!
I hope if youve got a fear of snakes that you'll consider what I've said! Snakes are wonderful creatures to keep and to work with and can teach you a lot! Please contact me if you have any questions about snakes.
Until next time
Sam
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