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Posted by Fred Albury on June 04, 2001 at 17:26:54:
In Reply to: And you said Cribos don't bite! posted by Heather on June 03, 2001 at 18:04:11:
: One of the recurring themes I keep seeing on the forums and hearing from other Drymarchon keepers is the rarity of their bites. A few months ago I purchased two wild caught Black tailed Cribos, my very first Drymarchon. Ive been delighted with them. Well, they seem to be getting more comfortable with me handleing them because one just suddenly decided to find out how I taste! He just very casually, and unexpectedly, opened his mouth and chomped down onto my wrist. OUCH! I've been bitten by pythons bigger than him and they didn't hurt so bad! Needless to say, I started hollering and my boyfriend came out and helped me. He was trying very hard to "kill" my arm by constricting my biscep. As soon as Eric got his body off my arm, the little guy released my wrist on which he'd been noshing. Anybody else out there been mistaken for dinner?
Heather,
Sounds like you have been through some drama with your cribos. I noted that you said that they were wild caught, wild caught cribos can be VERY nasty snakes in general. This is why I always DISCOURAGE folks from purchaseing wild caughts, in addition to the heavy parasite load they come in with. Eastern Indigos(Couperi) are very placid snakes that hardly ever try to bite in in an attempt to defend themselves. Most bites that occur with couperi, melanurus, or any of the indigo subspecies usually occur dureing, or directly before feeding. Indigos that are fed consistently but not handled often develop a "feeding response" and every time the cage is opened they hit anything that is moveing, even human fingers!!
I have been bit by Drymarchon, neven captive raised ones, but ALWAYS in the context of a feeding response. A lot of it is conditioned, and once again haveing wild caughts adds an element of difficulty to the picture.
Fred
