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7384 Posts |
 Posted - 04/07/2011 : 23:52:11
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Well, I got interested in this topic a couple of days ago, after receiving Ziska's Numpty of the Year Award.
My 'prize'? Need you ask??
Feeding day. I HAD ensured that my hands were totally smell free. That's about the only correct thing I did. Opened the viv; no sign of Ziska though she'd been lurking earlier on. A big piece of driftwood tends to obscure the very small entrance to one of her cool hides, and it's right at the front; I don't need to reach in. I picked it up - and something whipped out of nowhere like a black mamba - and tagged me!
I confess I jumped a mile. She's been so good and gentle lately. But it WAS feeding day. And she CAN bite - I knew that before purchase. Don't bother to give me your verdict on my daft behaviour - I've been calling myself all the names under the sun ever since!
Her previous bites have been mere 'tickles' but this one slit a finger in a couple of places, and, to my horror, I found two or three tiny sharp things like ground glass ...teeth! Dripping gore and apologising frantically to Ziska for my stupidity and the delay in lunch, I mopped up and assembled rat and tongs as a small head appeared at the mouth of the hide.
'About time, Lil, and don't do it again!' Her appetite, I was glad to see, was NOT impaired. The rat went down in record time and her face appeared again. 'Could eat another of those, Lil!' And in truth I think she could do with upping her prey size. She seems to be a very hungry girl! The tooth loss had clearly not upset her - but I was appalled and furious with myself.
I did know that when a snake bites, it will sometimes leave teeth in the wound - but for Ziska to lose teeth in such a way ...I really felt as if I'd neglected her.
Still worrying, I did a bit of research, and found ...
That, generally, constricting snakes have two different types of teeth:-
Acrodont (attached to the bone) and
Polyphdont (which are designed to be lost, and subsequently regrown.)
A snake may actually renew its teeth many times during its life.
Furthermore, in the paper 'Snakes swallowing their own teeth' - (it's on google, sorry I still can't post links) it's reported that after examining faeces of captive snakes in Australia, a large number of teeth were found in the faeces of pythons, and, it can be assumed, other constrictors, who probably lose teeth regularly while gripping the prey and taking it down. Venomous snakes had far less tooth loss.
So, although I still bear the scars, it's good to know that Ziska probably never even noticed losing those teeth.
And every time we feed our pythons, probably a few royal gnashers proceed down into the snake with the rat, in the natural course of events, and, should they ever be noticed in the great royal dungheap, they're perfectly normal, by gum!
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Edited by - n/a on 05/07/2011 00:12:24 |
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Lotabob
Royal Python Moderator
United Kingdom
5008 Posts |
Posted - 05/07/2011 : 00:11:11
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| Its just one of those things, if its just a few I wouldn't worry just keep an eye out for any swelling in the mouth, though I'll put money on there been no ill effect. On the important side, make sure you have them all out and wash the wound out thoroughly and slap some TCP or savlon on, don't want you getting an infection. A feeding bite will always be stronger and gather more purchase than a defensive bite and tooth loss is always a risk, just chalk it up to experience and I'm glad Ziska lives with you and not me lol. |
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7384 Posts |
Posted - 05/07/2011 : 00:16:23
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LOl - I bet you are!
Yeah, I have some Hibiscrub and I sloshed a load of that on.
I've never had any trouble with changing her water and such, though one day she'd dumped in it (as usual) and was guarding it but it was just the usual, ha, ha, gonna get ya! Now she has ... |
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Lotabob
Royal Python Moderator
United Kingdom
5008 Posts |
Posted - 05/07/2011 : 00:21:42
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| That's as bad as it gets though, so you've had the full gopher experience. |
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7384 Posts |
Posted - 05/07/2011 : 00:27:59
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LOL - I hope!
I do love her - bless her! Just shan't handle her till after next feeding day when she's got her laughing tackle round a small weaner and slept that off ... |
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Lotabob
Royal Python Moderator
United Kingdom
5008 Posts |
Posted - 05/07/2011 : 00:45:54
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| Lol you'll be fine, your good with the troublesome ones. When Trix bites me if I survive (only kidding) she will be getting posted to you. |
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markmifsud
Sub Adult
United Kingdom
534 Posts |
Posted - 05/07/2011 : 11:33:18
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I had a feeding response tag a while back from my big girl, and yes BATS, it does hurt lol.
I had her coiled around my arm as she tried to munch on my thumb. The blood looked a lot worse than it was once it was cleaned up. |
1.1.0 Pastal Ball
1.0.0 Normal Ball aged 7(ish)
0.1.0 Normal Ball aged 7(ish)
Bromley. SE London |
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7384 Posts |
Posted - 05/07/2011 : 14:23:45
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LOL - Thanks,Bob on both counts, but you know you'd never part with her, bless her!
Hi, Mark, it wasn't so much the pain as the surprise. The pain was about like a nettle sting; it wouldn't even have been that, only she struck as I was lifting the driftwood and fastened for a moment; normally she strikes, tastes and drops my my hand as it is either still or moving slowly - I was well trained in this by an ex-feral cat, a massive beast with a head like a python who took over the household and terrorised us. He needed no provocation and would attack me like a dog - and he didn't inhibit his bites. As with a feeding response snake bite, I just had to keep still and persuade him to let go, or he too would have coiled - with claws out lol.
That must have been quite a bite from your big lass, especially if she hung on, now that WOULD have hurt! Yeah, I was surprised at so much blood for two little scratches - I suppose their teeth are so razor sharp that they slice through the capillaries.
Woke this morning to see her coiling round and round in her water bowl, head underwater. I left her to soak and then returned to change her water. I was graciously granted admission and this time she didn't gopher me ... |
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Tawfik47
Fully Grown Royal
Czech Republic
1584 Posts |
Posted - 05/07/2011 : 14:43:52
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| LOL, u will may be surprised, but i really prefer aggressive snakes than calm ones |
1.0.0 Common Boa - Revo CB13
I had a royal python (Blitz) for two years for those who are wondering what I'm doing here with my boa :D |
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markmifsud
Sub Adult
United Kingdom
534 Posts |
Posted - 05/07/2011 : 16:02:08
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| No way, I prefer mine sedate :) As long as I keep feeding them out of the viv I should be ok, but the big girl is still very ferocious in her strikes, I would hate to see what she would do with a live rat. I would say it took me a good 5 mins to get her off my thumb. After the initial shock of "oh F***" that hurts. I went into the kitchen, put her head under running water, then uncoiled her. It was only once I had her off my arm that she decided she wasnt getting fed lol. |
1.1.0 Pastal Ball
1.0.0 Normal Ball aged 7(ish)
0.1.0 Normal Ball aged 7(ish)
Bromley. SE London |
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7384 Posts |
Posted - 05/07/2011 : 17:04:25
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Yeah, Tawfik, I too like the feisty ones - within reason. I bought Missy, the snow stripe corn, because she had what her seller called 'an attitude problem' and because I worried that nobody else would want her, but she's much calmer these days. I fell in love with gopher snakes and when they warned me about Ziska's 'attitude' it intrigued me. This bite was entirely my own fault though - she will carry on at me but then let me pick her up and handle her. The other week she went to sleep in the neck of my sweater for an hour. In the wild gophers mimic rattlesnakes; the feistiness is in their nature; they calm as soon as they're picked up - but not on feeding day lol.
Mind you, I like royals too, Mark, they're so laid back - except on feeding day sometimes! Occurs to me that your girl THOUGHT she'd fed - probably thought she'd taken your thumb down. With a lot of nice tasty ketchup? I'd watch that one in future. |
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Edited by - n/a on 05/07/2011 17:06:33 |
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Kelfezond
The bearded one
United Kingdom
4803 Posts |
Posted - 05/07/2011 : 17:19:03
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I find if I have an aggressive royal in my hands they're likely to bite whats infront of them than me, valhalla was the exception she'd bite me and then give me attitude for dropping her, as if it was my fault.
I gotta agree with mark though I prefer my snakes calmm, nothing better than pandora cuddles :D |
\v/ Click me for Kelfezond Reptiles Facebook Page! \v/
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Lotabob
Royal Python Moderator
United Kingdom
5008 Posts |
Posted - 05/07/2011 : 17:39:46
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quote:
Originally posted by markmifsud
"oh F***" that hurts
Thats weird, the swearing cops have ruled flip a swearword these days, what ever next ***** or *****, dam they have those too.
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7384 Posts |
Posted - 05/07/2011 : 19:43:15
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quote:
Originally posted by Lotabob
quote:
Originally posted by markmifsud
"oh F***" that hurts
Thats weird, the swearing cops have ruled flip a swearword these days, what ever next ***** or *****, dam they have those too.
LOL - and don't even think about mentioning sipping a c0cktail with your pu$$ycat and your sh1h-tzu by your side ...
LOL Kelf ...Pandora Cuddles ...You mean she gives you a hug and a squeeze and then ties you to the chair ... boa-ndaage!! |
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7384 Posts |
Posted - 06/07/2011 : 16:03:52
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Well, as a postscript ...
When I got up today her waterbowl was full of snake mess, and she was right at the front of the viv, stretched full length, guarding it. Prudently, I went in at the hind end, as the tail vibrated warningly, removed the bowl and, returning with it clean, found her in full rattlesnake mode in the middle of the viv. 'Dare ya!'
I put the bowl down, opened the viv ... and picked her up. This is how she is. A great 'ooossshhh!' of indignation, but no aggression. Mind you, her belly's full at the moment! She climbed my hands, every so often huffing at me, so that I was able to get a good view of her mouth, and she looked fine.
So, I've learned a bit more about Ziska, and a bit more about snake anatomy. And next feeding time, I'll let ratty, on tongs, precede my fingers into the viv ... |
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Lotabob
Royal Python Moderator
United Kingdom
5008 Posts |
Posted - 06/07/2011 : 16:07:59
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Lol, Ziska is a right one, I'd love to see how she is been handled, your descriptions are brilliant.
How is your wound, Have you been able to take the bandage off, or will you have to wait for the 100 stitches to be taken out? |
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7384 Posts |
Posted - 06/07/2011 : 16:25:58
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quote:
Originally posted by Lotabob
Lol, Ziska is a right one, I'd love to see how she is been handled, your descriptions are brilliant.
How is your wound, Have you been able to take the bandage off, or will you have to wait for the 100 stitches to be taken out?
LOL - thanks Bob - imagine a 2' plus colubrid meekly being picked up but making noises like a grizzly bear, that's Ziska.
The finger is definitely convalescent lol. Interesting design though. I'm reminded of the time I was raising my first litter of Siamese kittens. They were a trifle boisterous (beware of low-flying Siamese!) and one day one of them hurled himself at my shoulder, lost his balance, hooked a claw in my ear to steady himself, and took off again, leaving me with what looked like an arrowhead shape carved in my earlobe.
As I wore a punk haircut at the time - purple spikes on top and little hair elsewhere, plus the traditional quaint punk clothing, I got some very funny looks in the bus-queue ... |
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Lotabob
Royal Python Moderator
United Kingdom
5008 Posts |
Posted - 06/07/2011 : 16:57:06
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Siamese earrings, you could be onto something. I've had flying cat injuries too, my sisters cat climbed my leg and sunk its teeth into the top of my thigh. Needless to say that cat got put out for the night.
I do hope for a neat looking bite maybe even a bit of a scar, it adds character to a hand and I can add it to the story board of scars already on my hands, including the shot by a dart gun, hacksaw blade through the thumb, screwdriver through the hand, finger chopped off in a door so bitten by a snake is a good one to add. |
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7384 Posts |
Posted - 06/07/2011 : 18:31:47
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Ouch!!!
You sound as bad as me - I was once sawing a length of wood and the saw threw a hissy fit and struck and coiled round my other hand ...BIG waste of time at the hospital - I HATE hospitals!
And when I was about three, there were few safety restrictions at zoos and I remember being held up to give a giraffe a titbit. It wasn't quite sure where the sweetie ended and my hand began, but sadly that left no scar - I mean, how many people can say they've been slurped by a giraffe eh? |
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Snake tooth loss
