View Full Version : Snake ate substrate
I was just feeding my snake a pinky and he swallowed piece of his aspen with it. He got it down before I could run and get tweezers to grab it. He's completely swallowed it and I'm freaking out, especially after reading about the guys snake who died due to a tiny piece of substrate causing an infection. I red that using a feeding tub is a bad idea so I used his regular enclosure. Hes acting fine and didn't puke it up. Is there anything I can do, or is it too late?
alessia55
08-19-12, 04:28 PM
He's probably FINE. Think about it- in the wild, snakes eat their dirty prey along with whatever was on the floor that gets stuck to the prey in the eating process, and they're fine. One pice of aspen isn't anything to worry about.
the case with the carpet was a super random case. there was likely some other issue going on as well (like he said, infection, which probably made passing the aspen difficult, which made pooping difficult, etc). My guys eat theirs all the time...haven't had a problem yet.
Thanks for the replies, I'm just freakin out since its my first snake (other than a garter when I was super young) and I'm wanting to do everything right. I'm just worried, because it was a decent size of aspen, and he's just a little dude
Keep an eye on him.
Also, use this as a learning experience (should he die or not) NOT to feed on a loose substrate.
Keep an eye on him.
Also, use this as a learning experience (should he die or not) NOT to feed on a loose substrate.
I've read that taking them to another place to feed is bad, since you have to handle after eating.
Is it alright to use a seperate feeding place, or should I avoid it? I'm just trying to do the best thing for the snake.
Tekpc007
08-19-12, 04:58 PM
I feel best feeding in a seperate tub , and i use a snake hook to move him back to his cage after about 20 minutes after eating. They are stillin feeding mode , but then again I wont worry about them swollowing some thing in the cage . The infection was caused by the aspen splinter lodged in the intestinal tract , this then cause the swelling . i have fed other snakes both in and outside the cage and really have not noticed different behavior so long as i used to hook to return them to their cage depending on the level of feeding mode they are still in, but you can also switch to a different substrate like currigated roll cardboard or newspaper .
Lankyrob
08-19-12, 05:02 PM
Using a loose substrate like aspen i would put a plate or piece of cardboard in his tank and then feed on top of that. I used to feed on a plate in the viv but now i just feed on the substrate, using reptibark and feeding dry prey i have had no issues with substrate sticking to the prey at all.
good point, lankyrob. Drying out your prey before feeding is another option so the substrate doesn't stick!
Lankyrob
08-19-12, 05:04 PM
good point, lankyrob. Drying out your prey before feeding is another option so the substrate doesn't stick!
Or dont get the prey wet in the first place ;)
I clear a spot in the enclosure where i lure the snake over to with the rat.
a. snake gets to stay in enclosure, no added stress by removing it.
b. allows me to do a quick wipe of the area afterwards so any mess that may occur is spot cleaned
c. no chance of substrate ingestion.
d.enclosure is easily "back to normal" with a quick brush of substrate back in place.
alessia55
08-19-12, 05:08 PM
I use a hairdryer to dry the rats before feeding... little to no substrate sticks at all.
Or dont get the prey wet in the first place ;)
hard to do that with f/t ;p
Lankyrob
08-19-12, 05:10 PM
Not at all, i thaw mine the same way i thaw my own food, just leave in a cupboard overnight and then feed the snakes in the morning, i have never put any of my prey items near water and have never fed anything but f/t :)
alessia55
08-19-12, 05:11 PM
hard to do that with f/t ;p
Thaw it overnight in the fridge or out at room temp. Then all you have to do is warm up.
Thanks for the help everyone! From now on I won't feed right on the substrate, hopefully all is well with him.
Thaw it overnight in the fridge or out at room temp. Then all you have to do is warm up.
yeah, was thinking about doing this. Need to get a hair dryer...haha, you know you're a herpaholic when you get a hair dryer not for you, but to thaw food for your reptiles xD
Lankyrob
08-19-12, 05:15 PM
Once my rats are thawed i place them in a glass bowl on top of a radiator for five minutes, then as i am about to feed each item i press its skull against the radiator to give that the hottest temperature and a nice target to ai for :)
Usually my f/t is dry, because I thaw it in a bowl of warm water while it's still in a ziploc bag, but after I took the prey out I dunked his head in the water to get it warmer. Looks like I won't be doing that twice.
alessia55
08-19-12, 05:18 PM
yeah, was thinking about doing this. Need to get a hair dryer...haha, you know you're a herpaholic when you get a hair dryer not for you, but to thaw food for your reptiles xD
LOL... I use the same hairdryer for myself as I do for the rats
I don't even have one for myself! xD
DavethePython
08-19-12, 06:07 PM
As I said in the other post I feed in tank too and I used to use aspen and feed on a plate . They would still pull it away and ingest some aspen . So I prefer to use snake carpet . It is safer for in cage feeding and it is far more reusable and easier to clean. Just kept enought to put fresh stuff in when you clean , wash it and reuse it.
Slcburm
08-19-12, 06:44 PM
I put mine in the fridge overnight to thaw then just dip in hot water. Guess I could try using a hair dryer...
I put mine in the fridge overnight to thaw then just dip in hot water. Guess I could try using a hair dryer...
Try a microwave, it will be a blast.
Gungirl
08-19-12, 06:48 PM
Try a microwave, it will be a blast.
Bahahahaha
try a microwave, it will be a blast.
bahahhaahhahahahaahahha!!!!!
As I said in the other post I feed in tank too and I used to use aspen and feed on a plate . They would still pull it away and ingest some aspen . So I prefer to use snake carpet . It is safer for in cage feeding and it is far more reusable and easier to clean. Just kept enought to put fresh stuff in when you clean , wash it and reuse it.
I used the snake carpet and always had problems with smell. No matter how many times I washed it, it always smelled like urine =/
Thanks for all the help guys :)
Wildside
08-19-12, 09:20 PM
Try a microwave, it will be a blast.
You are bad! I think you need a spanking...
Jlassiter
08-20-12, 03:37 AM
Using a loose substrate like aspen i would put a plate or piece of cardboard in his tank and then feed on top of that. I used to feed on a plate in the viv but now i just feed on the substrate, using reptibark and feeding dry prey i have had no issues with substrate sticking to the prey at all.
I concur...
It's been almost a month and he's doing great! Still eating and being active.
shaunyboy
09-18-12, 09:05 AM
Once my rats are thawed i place them in a glass bowl on top of a radiator for five minutes, then as i am about to feed each item i press its skull against the radiator to give that the hottest temperature and a nice target to ai for :)
i also give the head an extra heat,to give my Carpets something to aim for,they're quite stupid and will eat prey,backwards,sidewards,etc if i don't make the head the hottest target
never ceases to amaze me who daft snakes can be:D
cheers shaun
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