this post was submitted on 20 Jun 2024
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Science Memes

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submitted 5 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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[–] [email protected] 91 points 5 months ago (4 children)

Crazy parrot and reptile lady here to confirm. I would much rather take a bite from a large snake any day of the week than take a bite from one of my birds. I've had to get stitches multiple times because of my little feathered assholes.

[–] Death_Equity 21 points 5 months ago (3 children)

I have been bit by a conure more times than I can count, I have been bit and constricted by a python once. Getting bit by an actual parrot is a big reason why I haven't gotten into larger birds.

I would rather be bit by the Amazonian Hitler pigeon. Python teeth are like Velcro for skin and it is horrible.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 5 months ago (1 children)

The key to dealing with a (pet) snake bite is to not pull back in fear. Their teeth are definitely like Velcro. Usually I'd just let them go to town and then run some hot tap water over their head. They don't like the water and immediately let go. With birds you're getting hurt no matter what you do.

[–] Death_Equity 15 points 5 months ago (2 children)

I don't remember the exact circumstances, I think I was going to give her a quick bath before a flight(mistake). I was holding her when she bit the meat of my thumb and coiled around my hand and wrist. All 5 feet of her was coiled with her head in the middle of the ball. Water did nothing. I had to wait about a half hour before she got bored, she then peeled her mouth off. I later found out that rubbing alcohol gets them to fuck off immediately, but that was the first and last time she bit me.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 5 months ago

Ooo yea rubbing alcohol works too in a pinch. I've been lucky enough not to have to do it. I typically stuck to working with our carpet pythons and left the boas to my husband.

[–] Anticorp -3 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Snakes don't need baths. Lol.

[–] Death_Equity 7 points 5 months ago

When they are shedding, it helps, especially as they get older.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 months ago

my goffin encounters have been more than enough for me.

[–] geomela 2 points 5 months ago (1 children)

The Amazonian what now?

[–] Death_Equity 2 points 5 months ago

If you had a conure, it makes sense.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (1 children)

This is scary new information for me that puts a childhood incident in a much more horrifying context. I was at pet store when I was like 10 and one of the parrots seemed friendly so I let it climb up to my shoulder, only for it to painfully bite my ear. It hurt a lot, but no blood was drawn. I managed to get free easily enough. I thought that was pretty bad, but now I'm learning that apparently it could've easily ripped off my ear?!? Apparently I'm a lot luckier and that parrot was actually a lot nicer than I thought.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 5 months ago

My African Grey could easily cause me serious damage but he does hold back by only giving me warning bites. He thinks he's being gentle but it still hurts and I don't ever forget what they are capable of.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Do they get reported when you get bit? I've heard in some places even if it's your animal you have to report them for biting you

[–] [email protected] 6 points 5 months ago

No not where I live. When my husband and I kept hot inverts along with our snakes I kept a comprehensive supplemental insurance just in case someone got hurt, but the laws here only apply for reporting illegal animals.

[–] ameancow 3 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

I've had a lot of reptiles and as a result, a lot of reptile bites.

Almost every time I've been bit it was an accident or a response, and as soon as the reptile realized it had human skin in it's mouth it would release. Even herbivore iguanas have a lot of pretty sharp teeth and I've had some unique looking bite marks, but they almost never bite intentionally.

Parrots meanwhile... they are evil incarnate, at least to me. I've never met a parrot that didn't bite me hard enough to let me know it could easily amputate parts of my body if it so chose. Meanwhile I see them loving and cuddling other people, people who say things like "He's really very loving, he never bites anyone, he's perfectly safe to pet!"