Stupid Question alert LOL ( jerk response from strikes)

[ChristinaM]

Ok...hmmm, how do I put this.

When a snake attempts to bite you,
how do you stop the automatic response of jerking your arm away or whatever? Like as soon as they try to strike, I jerk really fast, mainly because the strike is so fast it startles me and it's an automatic response. I am trying to bypass that response.

Any suggestions?

[mark129er]

The first few times i fed mine she scared the he!! out of me. Are the strikes feed responses or defensive bites @ you? I just got used to it and you will too, it just takes time. Plus you pulling away could hurt the snake more than taking the bite will hurt you, unless of course its venemous but then you have a whole new set of problems.

[Oliverian]

Lol, i've never had that problem. I don't move at all when they bite me. I would guess that you'd just have to get used to it. Once you get bitten a few more times you should be alright.
-TammyR

[Simon]

Let them bite you a few times and you'll soon get over it...
that is how I got over it....lol...
plus those brbs bite don't hurt as much as you think they do~
trust me...lol....
don't worry you'll get over it soon~

[ChristinaM]

I'm not really afraid of the bites, but it's the quickness of the "strike" that makes me jump....just like if someone were to jump out of the dark at you LOL. It's pure reflex. Something suddenly jumps at you, you are bound to jump LOL.

Honestly, I'd like her to bite me and get it over with....so I know how it feels, then maybe the reflex would go away.,....but so far my reflex is quicker than her strike.

Thanks folks.

[UpscaleBoas]

birch...i'm with you here...doesn't seam to matter how many times i've been tag i still have that same problem...as time goes on and you learn to read the snake better you can avoid being biten quite often..the rest of the time your expecting it so i can at least overcome jerking a way.......but once in a while when they try out of the blue i have the same reaction i had that first time so many years ago...........ps its not a stupid question..its just that it not a cool question a round these parts

[reverendsterlin]

lol, I still jerk after 30+years.

[mk-ultra]

Upscale is right . Learn your snake you will get to know his behavior and you will be able to predict the strike . If its a brb you have ( i have experience with them ) they are pretty quick when they strike especially in the day and when they are in the shedding process but it will become more and more tame by the time you get use to the bites . Be patient :)

[ohh_kristina]

I've kept snakes for a few years now and I think I'll always jerk away. My little BRB will literally chase your hand, even if it's across the enclosure. She spits fire! I let her bite me the first few times and it doesn't really hurt..her teeth are like little razors, though.

[wyz]

I'm happy to see I'm not alone :)

I even try to get bites on purpose to condition myself.

I practiced alot with two babies IJCP I bought a couple of months ago, these guys were really nippy, but it's really hard not to take away our hands, even if we know it won't hurt.

WYZ

[ChristinaM]

Great :) i don't feel so wussy for asking LOL. Thanks guys.

[Simon Sansom]

Hi Christina,

Great topic - one which I've been too wussy to bring up myself, LOL!

I actually believe that the "flinch" reflex is deeply ingrained in our primitive psyche. You'll notice that often snakes will hiss sharply when they strike and this sound is also alarming to us, on a primitive, sub-conscious level.
I am sure that I have read or seen a discussion of this particluar phenomenon somewhere (there's an actual clinical term for it), but I cannot remember where. Drat this memory of mine lately.

And yes, I'll admit it - I still flinch after a life-time of snake-keeping. Anyone who says they don't flinch should have my big female Jamaican Boa take one of her lightning, untelegraphed warning strikes at them - guaranteed to get ya movin', lol.

Take care,

Simon

[Stockwell]

It's totally natural....As far as I know. I agree with Simon and the Rev. It doesn't go away at least not in a quarter century of daily snake handling.
The biggest problem that arrises is when you're a bit too slow and the snake has already made contact and ends up being launched, then Hammered into a wall, or closet door...

[stevesemerko]

You should get used to it in time. I have been bitten numerous times and at first I used to flinch/pull away all the time but now I don't do it as much. I also try my hardest to do whatever I can not to get bit although sometimes it is inevitable. Since we are on the subject of bites...has anyone ever been bitten in the buttocks by a boa! I got bit by a 6' BCI and let me tell you it hurt a lot more than any other bite I have ever had. I still have a bit of a scar, but I didn't pull away (not that I could if I wanted to)!:D

Steve