Nippy Snakes

[Mandi0284]

Zeus was really really nippy today. I was checking on the snakes after getting dinner. Jesse was sweet as always, flicking her tongue at my fingers. I went to pet Zeus and he whipped around, nipping at me. I figured he was just really hungry, but is this common behavior for garters? He is just usually not that jumpy and nippy when I touch him.

He is really aggresive when taking food too....he feels the need to lunge full-force at anything in my fingers. Jesse takes food really gently. The smaller the piece offered, the better she is at not biting.

He did accidentaly nip his friend on the nose when they both were smelling the same fish lol. Jesse almost seemed upset about it. This is the first time that this has happened. They are both really good during dinner time.

[guidofatherof5]

Feeding responses can be intense for some snakes and these responses can last longer then there is food to be eaten.
Then there are others that seem to be having a bad day. I have a few snakes that go through this type of behavior.
Easy going for one feed and crazy for another.

[chris-uk]

My radix girl will whip around to check anything that touches her body when she's in feeding mode. She did it a few days ago when I was feeding and wanted to move her further away from Lacci (I don't offer food if they have their heads close together) and I got a strike at my hand although she didn't bite down. I read in one book or another that this is a natural feeding instinct, something brushing against their skin may be a meal.

[Light of Dae]

When I feed my flames that I got from Charles I pick them up an place them in the food, the smaller girl if she's already tasted the food will sometimes chase my hand around lol I just lead her till she literally falls into her food.

It makes sense that they would nip at something brushing along side them... if its not food or something they wanna eat they can let go.

[Mandi0284]

that makes sense. He does seem very sensitive.

Zeus chased my fingers after I changed their bedding the other day. He got all sorts of excited....I think he thought it was a mouse.

I am not to worried about being bit, since I know what it feels like. He is just really fast.

[EasternGirl]

Like Chris said...my radix female, Sadie...whips around when I touch her...pretty much all the time, but especially during feeding time. She gets very worked up whenever she smells food...and will bite me several times if I attempt to remove her from the tank. She and Cee Cee, my eastern female, are both very aggressive eaters. Try washing your hands after handling food and before feeding. If the snake smells food on your hands, it can make it worse. I would also suggest feeding separately if she is nipping at other snakes.

[Invisible Snake]

How does being bit by a baby vs. an adult garter feel?

[guidofatherof5]

Babies might and I say might be able to snag a tooth on your skin but never get deep enough to feel it or draw blood.

[chris-uk]

How does being bit by a baby vs. an adult garter feel?

A baby bites you and you worry more that it may have damaged a tooth. An adult bites and you aren't overly concerned about bleeding to death, but you know you have had a bite and probably need a tissue to mop up a few pin pricks of blood. I've only had a nip from an adult which was like 3 pin pricks, I'm sure Steve or someone has some photos of a wound after being chewed.