Did my boa just bite my eye lid?

[Adem2660]

My little BCI (65 cm) just bit my eye lid. She was gently crawling all over my face as usual (while I supported her whole body) and then she rested on my nose for a while.

She then went up to my eye (as always) and just stood there ... but suddenly I felt a slight pain on my left eye lid and as I tried pulling her away, I noticed that SHE was the one who actually bit me. I gently grabed her hed and moved her away (her teeth was still stuck on my eye lid).

She didn't strike or anything. It was like she just opened up her mouth and "took a bite" of my eye lid.

She was extremly calm! So did she really just bite me on purpose or did she maybe just adjust her mouth and her teeth got stuck on my eye lid?

[TRD]

And this is why you don't put snakes in your face. Don't underestimate them, they could really hurt you if they wish. Now a 65cm BCI isn't that strong, but once bigger, can do some serious damage to your face.

[Scubadiver59]

No comment...just keep it away from your face!

[BillyCostume]

Lucky it was a small boa. A larger snake could do some serious damage especially to your eye. It's always good practice to keep them away from your face

[sattva]

Not to mention the salmanilla thing... I don't like my snakes near my face, if for no other reason is their not sanitary! They have drawn blood on my hands, why would I want that in my eye? A snake can blind you... Or poop in your eye... :no:

[dannybgoode]

Not to mention the salmanilla thing... I don't like my snakes near my face, if for no other reason is their not sanitary! They have drawn blood on my hands, why would I want that in my eye? A snake can blind you... Or poop in your eye... :no:

Salmonella from snakes is exceptionally rare and is more myth than fact toted by reptile hating lobbyists.

It does occasionally happen but is not something I'd put high on the list of reasons not to put a snake near your face or high on the list of any risks associated with snake keeping.

The important reasons not to do it have already been covered.

[Adem2660]

I''ve now learned not to let a snake near my face - but I really just thought it showed trust. I know they have reptile brains but I thought she had some kind of (limited) trust in me knowing that I am not a threat to her.


I just don't understand what triggered this behaviour? I hadn't touched a rat for days nor was I moving around. She was safe and calm - and she didn't even strike (I didn't feel anything). It was like from one second to another, her teeth was in my eye lid.

I'm just confused. What could have triggered this action?

[Scubadiver59]

It's not a dog, cat, etc. there is no "trust", just instinct and perhaps a smidgen of learned behavior...but who knows how long that a snake remembers that behavior.

I''ve now learned not to let a snake near my face - but I really just thought it showed trust. I know they have reptile brains but I thought she had some kind of (limited) trust in me knowing that I am not a threat to her.


I just don't understand what triggered this behaviour? I hadn't touched a rat for days nor was I moving around. She was safe and calm - and she didn't even strike (I didn't feel anything). It was like from one second to another, her teeth was in my eye lid.

I'm just confused. What could have triggered this action?

[sattva]

Salmonella from snakes is exceptionally rare and is more myth than fact toted by reptile hating lobbyists.

It does occasionally happen but is not something I'd put high on the list of reasons not to put a snake near your face or high on the list of any risks associated with snake keeping.

The important reasons not to do it have already been covered.
That just goes to show you, you can't believe everything you read/hear... Actually I am glad to hear it; they'll crawl all over me and I don't go take a shower afterwards? But my George will pee himself in his hide and just lay in it... He's such a pig... :sorry:

[sattva]

I''ve now learned not to let a snake near my face - but I really just thought it showed trust. I know they have reptile brains but I thought she had some kind of (limited) trust in me knowing that I am not a threat to her.


I just don't understand what triggered this behaviour? I hadn't touched a rat for days nor was I moving around. She was safe and calm - and she didn't even strike (I didn't feel anything). It was like from one second to another, her teeth was in my eye lid.

I'm just confused. What could have triggered this action?
It's possible you blinked and that movement triggered the feeding response... I know my Fred is more responsive to movement than my other snakes... At least that's what I have read...

Sounds Like you're taking it personal! Don't!... The snake is going off pure instinct...

[Scubadiver59]

Don’t kiss or snuggle with reptiles and amphibians. (https://www.cdc.gov/features/salmonellafrogturtle/)

The CDC: Reptiles and Amphibians (https://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/pets/reptiles.html)

Note: Salmonella bacteria can also survive for short periods of around 1-4 hours on hard surfaces or fabrics. So don't wipe your nose on your sleeve! :eek:


That just goes to show you, you can't believe everything you read/hear... Actually I am glad to hear it; they'll crawl all over me and I don't go take a shower afterwards? But my George will pee himself in his hide and just lay in it... He's such a pig... :sorry:

[sattva]

Don’t kiss or snuggle with reptiles and amphibians. (https://www.cdc.gov/features/salmonellafrogturtle/)

The CDC: Reptiles and Amphibians (https://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/pets/reptiles.html)

Note: Salmonella bacteria can also survive for short periods of around 1-4 hours on hard surfaces or fabrics. So don't wipe your nose on your sleeve! :eek:
Glad I don't own turtles... :wacky:

[TRD]

It's not a dog, cat, etc. there is no "trust", just instinct and perhaps a smidgen of learned behavior...but who knows how long that a snake remembers that behavior.

Actually there's new research into reptile intelligence, and they are far more intelligent than you may think. Especially the larger lizards.

The old theory that they are purely instinctive, without thought, was based on tests that were designed to measure mammal intelligence. The reptiles exposed to such tests were just setup to fail.

[dannybgoode]

Actually there's new research into reptile intelligence, and they are far more intelligent than you may think. Especially the larger lizards.

The old theory that they are purely instinctive, without thought, was based on tests that were designed to measure mammal intelligence. The reptiles exposed to such tests were just setup to fail.

Yes there's some very interesting research being done in this area at the moment and is one of reasons I think a properly enriched environment is vital to the well being of a reptile.

Its similar to birds. Corvids for example in particular are now shown to be highly intelligent and with a very efficient neural make up that allows for very sophisticated 'reasoning' in a very small package.

For example some corvids steal from others and follow others and learn where their rivals cache items. Only those that steal also go on dummy flights to put off other birds that might try and steal from them realising that if they do it then others may do it to them.

Their ability to recognise individual specific humans is astonishing too.

And yes as TRD states the larger monitors in particular are proving to be far more sophistication than we ever imagined. Snakes are harder to research and prove theories because of their more limited ability to manipulate their surrounds due to lack of limbs however I am sure the retic owners in here for example will testify to their intelligence.

[Scubadiver59]

No offense to our reptilian brethren, but there's a reason they're where they are in the food chain--there's only so many fauna I'm gonna let near my face, or other parts, and snakes aren't one of them...unless they're on the other side of some glass or plastic.

My hands and arms are fair game, as my supposedly docile juvenile Corn proved last night when she bit me like four times, after I dug her up to feed her. She ate like she was starved, and calmed down after a few taps from the 10" tweezers, enough for me to put her back, but man was she was in a bad mood. It's like she forgot to come up topside for air and blamed me for saving her.

I just can't wait for her to grow up! :rolleyes:

Actually there's new research into reptile intelligence, and they are far more intelligent than you may think. Especially the larger lizards.

The old theory that they are purely instinctive, without thought, was based on tests that were designed to measure mammal intelligence. The reptiles exposed to such tests were just setup to fail.

[regi375]

Their ability to recognise individual specific humans is astonishing too.

Case in point, my GF's frilled dragon. He absolutely hates me, but has no problem at all with her. On the other hand, however, my GF's bearded dragon hates everyone but me. So it's even at this point. :)