Bite Piercings Explained: Snake, Spider, Angel & Shark
"Bites" is just piercer shorthand for paired lip piercings — two or more that are meant to look like a set. The name comes from the way they can resemble little bite marks. They're not a special category of piercing. Every single one is still a labret. What turns them into "bites" is simply how they're placed together.
The names can get messy. Different studios and websites don't always mean the same thing by the same term. Here's a clear breakdown of what each one actually is, what they all share, and how to decide which (if any) is right for you.
Quick numbers: Lip and labret piercings usually sit around a 4/10 for pain and take about 2–3 months to heal. That stays true no matter which arrangement you choose — the placement changes, the healing process doesn't.
The Bite Piercings, Placement by Placement
| Name | Count | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Snake bites | 2 | Lower lip, one on each side, toward the outer edges |
| Spider bites (sometimes called viper bites) | 2 | Lower lip, close together, both on one side |
| Angel bites | 2 | Upper lip, one on each side — basically a monroe plus a madonna |
| Shark bites | 4 | Lower lip, two on each side |
| Dolphin bites | 2 | Lower lip, close together and centered |
| Cyber bites | 2 | A centered pair — one philtrum above the lip, one labret below |
| Dahlia bites | 2 | Right at the corners of the mouth |
| Canine bites | 4 | Angel bites on top + snake bites on the bottom |
We've already written full guides for the four most common ones: snake bites, spider bites, angel bites, and shark bites.
The Names Aren't Standardized
This is worth knowing before you walk into a studio: not every piercer uses these terms the same way.
Shark bites is the clearest example. Some people mean four piercings on the lower lip (two per side). Others use it for the full upper-and-lower combo that most of us call canine bites. Spider bites and viper bites get treated as the same thing by some shops and as different spacings by others. Dolphin bites and spider bites only differ by whether the pair sits in the middle or off to one side.
None of that has to matter. Just describe what you actually want instead of relying on the name. Point to the spots and say how many. A good piercer will mark them, let you look in the mirror, and adjust before anything gets pierced. That conversation is way more reliable than hoping you both define "shark bites" the same way.
What They All Have in Common
Since every bite is just a group of labrets, they all share the same practical side.
Pain: roughly 4/10. Lip tissue is soft and each piercing only takes a second. Most people feel a sharp pinch and get watery eyes. Getting more of them doesn't make each individual one hurt worse — it just means you feel that pinch a few times in a row.
Healing: 2–3 months. Faster than cartilage, but half of each piercing lives inside your mouth, so aftercare is basically double duty. Saline on the outside a couple times a day, and a rinse with saline or alcohol-free mouthwash after anything you eat or drink that isn't plain water.
Gauge: 16G or 14G. Lips aren't the place for 18G or 20G. Those thinner sizes belong in earlobes and nostrils. In lip tissue they tend to migrate more easily.
Jewelry: start with flat-back labret studs. No matter what you plan to wear later, every bite gets pierced with studs. Hoops and rings can come once everything is fully healed.
Material: implant-grade titanium, solid 14K or 18K gold, or niobium. Nothing else while you're healing. We broke down the differences in titanium vs surgical steel.
Downsizing isn't optional. The initial jewelry is longer on purpose so it can handle swelling. Once that calms down (usually a few weeks in), you need to go back for shorter posts. This is honestly the single most important thing you can do for the long-term health of a lip piercing — more on why in a second.
The Dental Question — It Multiplies
This is the one place where bites really differ from a single labret, and it's worth thinking about carefully before you go for a four-piercing set.
The back of every piece of jewelry rests against your gums and teeth. Over time, a disc that keeps rubbing in the same spot can contribute to gum recession and enamel wear. It's not guaranteed and it doesn't happen overnight, but it is well documented. And four pieces of jewelry means four contact points instead of one.
The things that keep the risk lower are the same no matter how many you get: flat-back discs instead of balls, downsizing on time, not clicking the jewelry against your teeth, and mentioning it to your dentist so they can keep an eye on the area during cleanings.
If you already have any gum recession or dental work in that area, talk to your dentist first — especially if you're thinking about four.
Do Them All at Once, or in Stages?
For a two-piercing set, most piercers will happily do both in one sitting. It's easier to get the symmetry right when they're marked together, and healing two is usually manageable.
For four, a lot of piercers will suggest splitting it up. Four healing wounds in the part of your face you use to eat and talk is genuinely rough — swelling peaks in the first week and everything feels harder. Doing one side or one pair first, letting it settle, then adding the rest spreads that discomfort out. It also means if something migrates or just doesn't sit quite right, you find out before you've committed to all four.
Ask your piercer. Some will do four at once if that's what you want. The ones who prefer staging usually have a good reason.
Choosing Between Them
A few practical differences that don't always show up in a simple placement diagram:
- Symmetry vs asymmetry. Snake, angel, dolphin, and dahlia bites are even. Spider bites are intentionally off-center — they sit on one side and pull the eye there, which can look really good if you're balancing something on the other side of your face.
- Upper lip is more noticeable. Angel bites sit right in the middle of your face in a way lower-lip piercings don't. Worth thinking about if you need to keep things low-key — we have a whole piece on how to hide your piercing at work.
- Corners move the most. Dahlia bites sit exactly where your mouth is constantly moving, so they can get irritated more easily than a placement farther from the corner.
- Start smaller if you're not sure. A single labret or a side labret is easy to turn into snake bites later. Going the other direction isn't.
Still deciding between lip placements in general? Our lip piercing guide covers the whole family, and the labret piercing guide zooms in on the classic single centered one.
Should You Get Bites?
- Are you willing to go back for downsizing? Multiply that appointment by however many piercings you get.
- Do you already have gum or enamel issues? Dentist first, especially for four.
- Can you stick with 2–3 months of oral aftercare? Rinsing after everything you eat gets old fast.
- Does the visibility work with your job? Lip piercings are harder to hide than ear ones.
- Do you actually want the full set, or just one piercing? Starting with one and adding later is a totally valid plan, not a compromise.
When you're ready, check out our implant-grade titanium range and CZ bezel threadless studs for after you're healed and downsized.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are bite piercings?
Paired lip piercings that are placed as a deliberate set and named after the bite marks they can resemble. Each individual piercing is still a labret — the arrangement is what earns the name. Snake bites, spider bites, angel bites, and shark bites are the ones you'll see most often.
How much do bite piercings hurt?
Around a 4/10 for lip and labret piercings, no matter the configuration. Getting several doesn't make each one hurt more — there are just more of them, one after another.
How long do bite piercings take to heal?
2–3 months, same as any other lip or labret piercing. Swelling is heaviest in the first week, and you'll need to downsize the jewelry once it settles.
What's the difference between snake bites and spider bites?
Snake bites are two piercings on the lower lip, one on each side and spaced apart. Spider bites are two piercings close together, both on the same side. Snake bites look symmetrical; spider bites are deliberately off-center.
What's the difference between shark bites and canine bites?
Shark bites usually mean four piercings on the lower lip (two per side). Canine bites combine angel bites on the upper lip with snake bites on the lower. Just know that studios don't all use these terms the same way — describe the placement you want rather than relying on the name alone.
Can I get all four done at the same time?
It's possible, but a lot of piercers prefer to split a four-piercing set into stages. Four healing wounds in an area you use constantly is uncomfortable, especially that first week. Staging also lets you make sure the first pair settles well before you commit to the rest.
What gauge are bite piercings?
Usually 16G or 14G. Thinner gauges like 18G or 20G are meant for earlobes and nostrils — in lip tissue they're more likely to migrate.
Can I wear hoops in bite piercings?
Once everything is fully healed, yes — and hoops are a popular look for snake bites in particular. While you're healing, stick with flat-back labret studs. Hoops move around more, are harder to keep clean, and contact your teeth differently.
This article is for general information only and isn't medical or dental advice. Pain and healing times vary from person to person. If you already have dental or gum concerns, talk to your dentist before getting lip piercings. If you notice spreading redness, heat, increasing swelling, or thick discharge from a piercing, see a reputable professional piercer or a qualified healthcare provider.