My python's tooth ripped out

[absinthe_616]

Hey guys. Im pretty sure she's going to be okay, but today when I went to feed my snake she bit my hand and when she pulled back, one of her teeth ripped out in my skin. I know this is common when snakes feed but I feel bad, it only happened about 15 minutes ago and she's very still and upset. How long will it take for her tooth to grow back? and will she be able to eat in the time its missing? she hasn't eaten the rat in her tank.

i dont think its necessary i feed her with tongs or anything, i dont have a problem with or am bothered by bites. also i read that its a good idea to feed your snake in a separate box rather than her home due to the association they make that your hand coming in means feeding time and is more likely to snap at you. what are your opinions?

 

[pythons73]

Some people feed in seperate cages etc,but i dont,its a personal thing.One of mine bite me a few years back and broke 3-4 teeth which were stuck in my hand,didnt think too much about it,til 3days later my hand swelled,a couple days later they operated on my hand to remove the teeth.The snake to this day hasnt had any dramas at all with feeding,im sure they grow back fairly quickly.Depending on the size you should always feed with tongs,i usually dont with some of the smaller ones thou,but the bigger ones i do...

 

[absinthe_616]

thanks pythons73, my girls only about 2years, nine months (110cms). i dont even own tongs to feed her with, lol. i got the tooth, it didnt break off under the skin, it was just wedged in slightly.

 

[redbellybite]

have you seen how many teeth your python has got ..she wont be bothered about losing one ....she will be OK ...

 

[absinthe_616]

have you seen how many teeth your python has got ..she wont be bothered about losing one ....she will be OK ...

youre right... i just feel mean... lol... shes sulking so i feel bad

 

[mysnakesau]

.....i dont think its necessary i feed her with tongs or anything, i dont have a problem with or am bothered by bites. ......

Look at your snake's reaction. That should be enough to tell you that it IS necessary to feed with tongs. It isn't about what you can handle. Its about making feed time as stressless as possible for your snake. 15 minutes later and your snake is still upset. You don't have to prove you're brave by feeding with your hands. Look after your snake's best interest FIRST. I too have used my hands to feed, and copped a good bite which caused 2 teeth from my snake to break. Then he wouldn't eat. I don't want my snake not eating, so..tongs it is.

Whether you feed in her enclosure or in a separate box is a catch 22 and completely your choice. If you move to different box, your snake might learn to associate you entering his enclosure as a feed coming up and might spring into feed mode prematurely with your hands.

 

[serpenttongue]

i dont think its necessary i feed her with tongs or anything, i dont have a problem with or am bothered by bites.

It's irresponsible to not use tongs. If you dont want to use them, then throw the dead rat into the enclosure while the snakes in it's hide, and let it come out and find it.

If you hand-feed it a rodent, you will end up getting bitten and constricted, which is not goog for you or the snake.

 

[redbellybite]

Whats with all this hand feeding anyway ?...Tongs are a good way to feed your snake ,and I personally dont think you need to worry about getting it out to feed ..if done with tongs your hands are safe ..and no harm in using a snake hook to get the python out of the enclosure if needed ...YOUR NOT A WEAKLING if you use instruments to feed or handle ...your doing what is best either for you or your snake and thats what is important over all isnt it >?

 

[webcol]

I used to feed seperate from the enclosures but i find it makes things more complicated and stressful, as the snake is getting moved around and handled. One of my spotteds wouldn't eat unless it was in its enclosure because it would have felt more secure in there

 

[JasonL]

...YOUR NOT A WEAKLING if you use instruments to feed or handle .

Real men hold the rats tail between their teeth to feed.

 

[ShaneBlack]

Real men hold the rats tail between their teeth to feed.

Thats right........Thats the only way my snakes will accept food.

 

[azn4114]

Real men hold the rats tail between their teeth to feed.

i thought i was the only one...sweet guys

 

[redbellybite]

Real men hold the rats tail between their teeth to feed.

WOW Jason can I be in your fan club please :lol::lol::lol::lol:

 

[JasonL]

WOW Jason can I be in your fan club please :lol::lol::lol::lol:

Please... I'm too manly for such a thing...

 

[Sock Puppet]

Real men hold the rats tail between their teeth to feed.

Only in your teeth? Wuss.
I prefer to dangle them from my posing pouch. I'm not considered a ratbag for nothing......

 

[absinthe_616]

serpenttongue; and mysnakesau;

i wasnt trying to prove anything when i mentioned i dont use tongs, i was just simply noting that ive never needed to. ive had 3 snakes and all of them have fed perfectly fine without tongs. and leaving the rats in the cage the snakes havent been interested in them. she didnt bite me because i was holding the rat, she bit me because the rat was on her floor cage and i went to remove it because she hadnt touched it. this wasnt a question of my responsibility of my feeding of snakes, ive just never had one rip its tooth out before.