is there any thing i can do to protect myself from getting bit by my python?

Depending on your cage setup (Hopefully you aren't using a glass tank with a screen lid and bricks on top) you should most likely have a wooden front opening cage that is durable and can hold such an animal properly.

Secondly, you should have yourself a snakehook handy when handling the animal. This will help let the snake know when it is about to be handled compared to being fed and will deter it from having a feeding response. Simply take the hook and place it under the snakes head and move it down to about a foot below the head. Then you can lift the animal safely and pull slowly. This will allow her to know that she is NOT being fed, but being handled or removed for cage maintenance.

Thirdly, you should NEVER remove the snake from it's enclosure before feeding. There is too much of a risk of something going wrong if you are smelling like the potential prey item. Also, you shouldn't handle the snake for at least 24-48 hours after it eats as you risk regurgitation (which isn't pretty) therefore placing the animal BACK into it's normal enclosure it a bit of a task if not done properly. Furthermore, most large constrictors (even hours after feeding) still are in a bit of a "Feeding mode" and can be a bit of a workout to properly and safely handle while placing it back into it's enclosure. It is rather simple to see that the people recommending the use of two cages haven't kept their animals past the 8-10 foot range when the animal becomes a handful to handle alone properly. If you want to get yourself killed....go ahead and follow their advice.

Simply open the cage door on the opposite side from where the snake is laying and throw the prey item in and shut the door immediately. If your animal is picky and needs movement to encourage it to strike, then a set of 40" snake tongs can help hold the prey animal (never feed live). Place the prey animal into the enclosure and allow the snake to notice it. Once she strikes it and coils, immediately release and close the door. Dont worry, she will be entirely too busy with the prey item to be concerned about you approaching to close the door.

Do NOT wear leather gloves when handling to deter a bite because you risk the possibility of yanking out the snakes teeth when they bite into it and then retract.

Hopefully you have a suiteable sized cage for this 10' animal of yours. If you do, then you shouldnt have much trouble in opening the cage and tossing the animal in. However, if you dont then I think it is time to start re-evaluating the animal's enclosure and consider building/buying a larger enclosure.

Personally, if the animal isn't packing venom, I wouldnt worry about the bites too much. If you get hit, try to avoid jerking back as this can cause further damage.

You MUST be very careful when dealing with Large constrictors of any kind. They are very powerful and do have the ability to take your life. However, Large constrictor ownership is like driving a car, It's only as safe as YOU make it. Every large constrictor keeper that I have known has been in a compromising situation at one point in time or another. Those who state otherwise, simply do not have the experience to make an educated statement. Be careful on what information you choose to listen to...it could cost you your life.

I have alot more to say and can help more if you wish.

You can check out my website: www.herpfanatic.com or you can contact me by direct email Chris_Law@herpfanatic.com

Take care,

Chris

One a 10 foot "baby girl" is not a pet, whoever you are, just so you know, you're heading toward disaster. First off, you're lucky (relatively speaking) that it's a python, otherwise the bite would be posionous. There is no way to prevent this kind of behavior, you are holding food, and the snake's instinct is to atempt to grab it. However, your description of it "striking" does not agree with the behavior of a python, which would actually simply wrap itself around the prey in order to crush/suffocate it. The best idea would be some sort of hook or claw to hold the food with, thereby preventing your hand from being bitten. Then again, trying to take care of a 10 foot long snake is a fool's errand, please, donate it to a zoo. But whatever you do, don't let it go into the woods, a snake that large would kill pets, and possibly small children, you woudn't want that now would you?

just make sure it stays fed. make sure you feed it on a routine basis, not just whenever you think it is hungry. a 10 ft python, burmese im assuming you have, is constantly growing and will require constant or more frequent nourishment than your typical snake. remember that a burm on average will get to be over 20 ft long. So the giant you have is only half way grown. your probably going to need to be feeding it rabbits at this point. taking it out a couple days after it has eaten will help you. this will let you and the snake become more used to each other and will help calm your fears of getting bit. NEVER take a snake that is over 8ft long out of its enclosure for any reason unless you you have someone there with you. this is to protect both you and the snake from possible accidents. however getting bit is gonna happen. usually with the giants it isnt getting bitten that worries people. its getting eaten. if youre that scared about it, put it up for sale on www.kingsnake.com or www. faunaclassifieds.com dont just let it go as all these other people are telling you. it is highly illegal and it also hurts the local ecosystem. a burmese will pretty much eat anything and to release it into the wild (even if you think its a creature of God that should be released and not held captive) will cause a catastrophe affecting all the local wildlife. this creature will not discriminate between wild animals and domesticated, common and endangered. So if you want to be an animal activist and release it like others are telling you then just think about all of the other animals it is going to kill. Simply put, even if you dont like the fact that it is in captivity, its a heck of a lot better than the alternative.

If you handle her on a regular basis, restating...on a regular basis, just remove her from the cage BEFORE you bring the prey item in the same room.

*remember, you always want to thaw or keep her prey item in a completely different room than where your snake is kept*

*I do not condone handling your snake by yourself...two or more people is always necessary for snakes over 6 to 7 feet.*

After removing her from the cage place her in a feeding cage or container of some sort...especially with a ten footer...you want to keep her contained while the feeding process is under way.

Then with a HUGE pair of tongs bring the prey item in the room...*stay as far back as possible*...open the feeding cage just enough so where the tong can slip through, but where your hand is safely out of the cage and then you're done.

If in case you have problems getting your "baby girl" back into her original cage, just cover her head with a large blanket of some sort, so she can't see you coming toward her, and then carry her back to her cage.

Good Luck!

This may sound stupid, but I have a 10 foot boa, and she will strike once in awhile (probably not as often as your python.... lol) but if she's lookin at me like I'm dinner, I'll have my boyfriend go to the other end of her cage and distract her before I walk up with the rabbit. If she's already lookin at him, I can usually get her dinner to her before she decides I'm dinner. If I'm alone, I'll try to put a blanket or something over her cage so she can't see me moving around until I'm already at her cage, then I just do the bunny toss and hope I'm faster than she is!

If her enclosure is adequate for her size, use tongs to place the food in the enclosure. It is important that she be housed in a correctly sized and adequately locked enclosure. At 10 feet, you should not handle her alone-so unless you want someone to help you feed her everytime, a seperate enclosure probably isn't feasible.

Snakes can smell prey items when they enter the room. No matter what order I feed in, the first ones are fairly docile, the last one to be fed is usually going nutso. Also, it takes them at least a few hours if not a day to settle down and get back out of FEED mode.

Pythons can see heat, and when it's feeding time they may mistake the heat of your hand for the heat of the food. This happens a lot when an owner feeds a python cold/dead/frozen food. You can try covering your hand with a wet bath towel, but I wouldn't recommend it. Best thing to do is to build a feeding cage with a sliding door. That way you can place the food inside and then open the door. That way he isn't going for you.

you should never feed your snake in the same cage that she lives. Take her out and feed her elsewhere...also when handling her food, after she is fed, make sure that you wash your hand really well, so that your hands dont smell like her food. She might be striking at you because she cant see you when she is getting ready to shed and just smells the food

take your python out if its cage when you feed it. I use a box with a closeable lid. then your snake will be used to coming out of the cage and will not be used to "when a hand comes into my home, I get fed" (then it will not be able to descern your hand and food) also try the wet towel thing, I just use a glove when I'm a little freaked out. but you should be fine (as for the bigger snake, put a latch on the top of the cage , keep in mind their entire bodies are a spine coated in thick toned muscle.

You can get rid of it! Just kidding. My brother and I, came upon a huge snake pit one time. We where out collecting wood for our campfire. Underneath the last piece, there was a big hole with thousands ,(I'm not exaggerating) of snakes. We just stood there starring at them. I couldn't figure out what it was,until they all started wiggling at once. Really scary! Oh, you really didn't want a story,did you! OK, look in the smaller hobby,hardware stores. Like "True Value", places that sell wood carving tools. Ask for a carvers glove. It's a glove, kinda like a suit of Armour. You can't cut Thu it when your carving small pieces of wood.Bet your snake can't bite you with a glove like that on.Another idea, did you ask your vet? Or call the zoo's information desk and see what the handlers use. Good luck.Bye.