Does My Royal (Ball) Python Want To Eat Me?

Question

I Have my first snake a Royal python & am handling it a few times a day to get it tame, however sometimes it puts its mouth or nose against my skin & opens its mouth a bit, What the h**l is it doing? is it tryin to bite me or wot? Or is this normal snake behaviour, still like to know why it does it though

Answer 1

Most likely it itches and is scratching itself. Or, not sure if this is true, but it could be getting your scent. Most of the time snakes smell or taste the air by its tongue.

Answer 2

i think it might be getting your sent, i've never had a snake b4 but my friends have and hers all did the same the first few times i held them

Answer 3

he is just smelling you, snakes smell by using their tongue.

ball pythons are very docile and i dont know of anyone getting bit by one

so dont worry about it it is completely normal

:)

Answer 4

don't think he/she wants to eat you i imagine that its trying to get itself secure wrapping round your wrist etc especially if your hot and sticky with this weather that will make it harder for the snake to move around you so you mite be seeing  the bottom of its mouth looking like its opening with it finding it harder to move around ...... don't be worried in anyway it cant hurt you!!! the snake is new to you and you to the snake give it some time you will be fine !!!

if you were to tell me it was a 15ft+ burm or retic then id say you have a hungry beast there give it a rabbit lol

Answer 5

well seeing as it is right now right behind you and i dont have much time before you are eaten i will say this it is just smelling you

Answer 6

he is only checkin you out. i would not freak out when he does this. If he was going to bite you, it would not be something calm. he would be in a hurry. Have you seen him eat? If you have... if he was going to bite you it would be quick like how he bites the mouses or the meal you choose to feed him. he prolly is only scent marking you. Im not to sure if they have glands in the face, but i know they have heat sensors.

I dont think you would even notice it till it was too late. I would just make sure your hands are clean. Make sure you continue to dhold him. i would not avoid holding him. The behavior might change!

Good luck!

Answer 7

its ok, it is just tasting you, literally. it is getting to know what you smell and taste like so it doesnt get you mixed up with food. it is trying to categorize everything around it. you are the human, not food.

Answer 8

I think it is trying to sound you out and check out what is going on.  Snakes use their tongue to take in scent and to feel the surroundings.  They also get lots of information from heat and vibration - which is gained through their mouth and to a lesser extent from nerves on the underside of the body.

It is not sure what's going on and isn't used to the handling, but has no intention of biting or causing harm unless frightened.

You are doing the right thing in doing a little at a time, and your snake will eventually stop doing this to a large extent.  If faced with new surroundings in the future, it may start to do the same thing but means no harm.

Have fun with your snake, they are fascinating animals.

Answer 9

A snake will not put its mouth near your skin to bite you, it will retreat its head backwards so its body is an S shape and then strike, they will stay in this S shape until they are sure of hitting their target, but if affraid they can move like lightning, up into the S shape and wham.

Sounds like you need to read up on Royal Pythons.

This page will give you sites on care.

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=R...

This page will give you sites on handling.

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=R...

This one on feeding.

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=R...

Answer 10

no he is not trying to eat you. He is just smelling you, you know grtting your sent. the snakes smells with its tongue. so don't worry

Answer 11

i think its probably just getting your scent he will strike at you if he is going to bite you

Answer 12

This may be that the snake does not like you holding it the way you do or that you dont feed it enough or give it enough water.

feed it more and give it more water, and if this problem does not go away. then i suggest you get rid of the snake or hold it diffrently!!!!!!

Answer 13

they use their tongue to taste the air and their environment...so you are fine!...snakes will only attempt to swallow what they can eat...and a baby royal won't look at anything much bigger than a medium frozen mouse as a food item...that doenst mean he wont ever bite in defence, or a mistaken strike for food...but royals are much tamer than some pythons...to avoid bites...never handle food then try and handle the snake (you will smell of food and may induce a bite...and also its not good to hold them just after food, from a digestion point of view, imagine someone grabbing your tum when its was full of teeth and claws...oww!)...theres some random advice..hope it helps

Answer 14

Watch for tell tail signs in it's snake house (vivarium) napkin, knife, folk, salt and pepper that sort of thing...