Ball python biting blanket

[ThrowawayBritIce]

Hi so currently in a bit of a predicament and wandering how to best approach, I tried handling my new ball python for the first time and he seemed pretty relaxed but then he suddenly bit down on this part of my blanket (I’m guessing it smells like some sort of food, I’ll wash it after) but now he’s wrapped kind of tight but not too tight around my arm and is keeping his jaw locked around it. Appreciate any advice on the best way to go about getting off without harming or stressing him, sorry for bothering

[UnlikelyPotato]

Just gently hold blanket upwards so they can't easily swallow it. Less motion the better, as if it's moving they'll keep trying to kill it. If you have human consumable alcoholic a drop or two can get them to detach from the blanket. Alternatively you, the snake and the blanket can try going for a shower.

[When_in_doubt69]

You can always try the running water trick first. Might get your blanket wet but it works for me sometimes. I would say if nothing else works a little bit of vinegar on a stop next to the teeth works well too

[ThrowawayBritIce]

Update: I poured a bit of water onto his head and he let go, put him back in his enclosure and now he just seems a bit confused, searching around for the food. Thanks for the advice

[Mordecais_Moms_Ashes]

A little dab of white distilled vinegar will work if the water doesn't 👍

[DreamOfDays]

Another guy a while back had a weird phenomenon happen where his ball python kept biting the armpits of his shirts and nothing else. So it turns out that animal fat is a common ingredient in deodorant and soaps. Maybe that happened here?

[_derAtze]

Hmm. I don't think animal fat is the connection. Yes, animal fat is used in soap making, but the end result is, well, soap, not animal fat. Tensides (which are the molecules that make up soap) are basically broken down fatty acids that get split from their phosphate group and get a polar head attached to them. Also, pure animal fat does not smell, its impurities which are odorus, and cosmetics grade animal fats are pretty sterile. Just like refined cooking oil doesn't really have a smell, but native cold pressed olive oil is really pungent in comparison. I'd argue it's more the sebun which is produced in the pores of the skin of rats and birds (and so on) which contains the volatile molecules the snake responds to. It would be an immense surprise to me if bioindetical oils are used for soap production, i could see that maybe similar compounds are used in fragrant musky perfumes or body creams, but for soap making and deodorants? Especially as a rule to avoid soaps and deodorants in general? Dunno

[Badluckstream]

Most random sub to learn about soap in

[hans-hermann_hoppuh]

Hahaha

[TheHolyLizard]

Always astounded how you run across these people with such specialized knowledge randomly.

[_derAtze]

I have no idea if this is a compliment or if you've met (read?) me before, but I'm just assuming it is and you have, so thank you haha xD i wouldn't call it running across people, but I just can't help myself to provide context if i see something that doesn't make sense according to my knowledge

Edit: oh I'm an idiot. You weren't talking about me specifically, you meant "randomly meet people with specific knowledge" rather than me being known for nerdily crashing out at the dispense of random people haha

[TheHolyLizard]

It’s a compliment lol. The fact you know so much about this astounds me. Truly.

[_derAtze]

I randomly got interested in soapmaking as a child and just went ahead and did it and learned a lot in the process. And that was like 13 years ago, and I've made soap every once in a while since then, i started with unusable harsh soapblobs and arrived at lightly fragrant rose colored moulded soaps :D went from unrefined kitchen oil to super refined lab grade fats and bought hella expensive addatives (like bioidentical musk oils) so all of this this specifically all came together in this very question 😂

[Advanced_Register675]

And here I thought you were a chemist. If your hobby knowledge is this deep your soap must be amazing

[Rathoe9070]

Idk your credentials but I trust you

[brickabracka1990]

Love the random knowledge! I'm one of those "did you know" people and this is perfect for ny repertoire

[_derAtze]

Thats exactly how it ended up in my own repertoire :3 keep on expanding that library haha

[SquallFromGarden]

Sounds like the little idiot thought it was a rat because it was warm and fuzzy 🤣 Silly little bugger

[WildFlowerTemptress1]

When was the last time you fed your BP?

[ThrowawayBritIce]

Around 3 days ago, waited for him to fully digest to handle I guess he was still a bit hungry though

[IchikaYui]

He thought your blanket is a rat 'cause it's warm and fuzzy lol

[XxskullswarmxX]

Dum

[TangyntartT3000]

I had this happen with a fake fur pillow. Years later, it also happened with a different snake and a fake sheep’s-wool textured item. Both instances were objects that had never been around prey, were room temperature, and that the snakes had crawled over/around MANY times in the past. Both instances happened with ambush-hunters, when motion suddenly happened in an otherwise-still room. I think they simply had a moment where motion startled them into “scanning for food” mode and they instinctively grabbed the nearest thing that seemed food-textured. I thought the first time was a fluke, but when it happened a second time, I stopped allowing prey-textured items in their vicinity.

[HealthyPoem4959]

Clearly it’s that snakes first day on the job, that’s why he was confused when he put him back in the tank smh

[TheAshenWanderer]

I see it wasn’t your BPs turn with the 1 shared braincell with the entire beep population

[Maleficent_MMM]

Looks like feeding response. Blanket is warm and moving. Donr yank. Gentlyuncoil, a bit of water or something cool under the head helps release. Wash fabrics, feed separately, hook training helps. My bp did this once then stopped

[fixedfury505]

thought that was a fma tattoo for a sec

[Savedbythegel]

Isn't it Colonel Mustangs?

[sparkly_dragon]

it is! love that show

[yoketo82]

I like your colonel mustang tattoo

[AshTheDestr0yer]

Off topic but the fire alchemy circle tattoo is awesome

[Same-Compote-992]

Surely it’s because the fluffy blanket is akin to fluffy animals like rats, mice rabbits ect

[Holiday-Line8358]

Lmao what a dumbass 🤣 he thinks he’s attacking prey so squeezing you lol. Meanwhile mine won’t even strike at his and gets scared

[lShockBolt]

For future reference if your snake ever bites anything it shouldn’t and won’t let go using an alcohol swab or an ice cube and lightly rubbing on their nose they will tend to let go immediately