How to Stop a Pet Snake From Striking

How to Stop a Pet Snake From Striking. Snakes are cool reptiles to have as pets. Occasionally a snake will develop the pesky problem of striking at you. If you don't do everything possible to correct the problem, you will soon have a pet that you can no longer handle.

Step 1

Feed your snake in a different enclosure. If your snake knows that he gets fed in a different enclosure than the one he lives in, he is less likely to get confused and bite you instead of his food.

Step 2

Wash your hands thoroughly after feeding your snake. If you smell like his food he may mistake you for it.

Step 3

Ensure that your snake is getting enough to eat. Biting you can be a sign that he is hungry. Check with your pet's veterinarian to see how much he should eat.

Step 4

Handle him frequently so he learns that you aren't going to hurt him. Snakes will strike if scared, so the more familiar he is with you the less likely he is to strike at you.

Step 5

Pretend that it doesn't hurt when he bites you. If your snake thinks that his bite has no effect on you, he will give up and stop biting. Jerking your hand away when he bites just reinforces his belief that he can bite you if he wants to be left alone.

Step 6

Wear gloves if you feel nervous. It will help you get over your fear the first few times you handle your snake after being bitten. Ensure that the gloves are clean and don't smell like food.

Warnings

• If you feel like you can't handle your pet snake anymore because you are afraid of him, you may need to consider finding him a new home.