Stupidity got the better of me the other night as I was handling my female albino checkered..

I had been cleaning out my two european toads and had to handle one in order not to squash him with a rock I was moving. Anyways I was in my own little world, didn't wash my hands after and then proceeded to handle my garter snake...

a few seconds later and she caught the scent and must have though "lunch!!" she then bit the bottom of my little finger near the knuckle and had a good chomp for the next minute or two, I was so suprised I just froze and watched her and then once that had passed I gently pinched the side of her head and pushed her into the bite wound in order to disengage her fangs..

I didn't think anything of it, I just laughed at my foolishness and then gave her a de-shelled snail and put her back in.

Ten mins later I had the most annoying itching coming from the bite wound, my finger swelled up and it was driving me crazy! I put some antiseptic cream on and the itching stopped but two days after the wound was still mildly tender!

Has anyone else had these reactions? she isn't an aggresive snake what so ever it was purely my fault lol but I was not expecting that reaction hehe. I have researched their venom since and my sypmtoms match those of other victims (I feel lucky I am not a frog or fish!)