messy snake, tips on cleaning

lilredcorn · 01-14-14, 09:54 PM

Fed my corn snake a dethawed frozen pinkie tonight and it basically fell apart. My snake got pretty messy from it. what's the best way to clean him off? You can basically only use warm water right?. i'm a bit of a germaphob so extra worried about salmonella now that he got gooey mouse guts all over him. I wanted to wipe him off right then and there but seeing as he had just ate I didn't think I should disturb him that much. Thanks

Kera · 01-14-14, 10:06 PM

I think just let him digest a bit, and make sure his water bowl is big enough to soak in. He'll clean himself off, or after a day or two, put some warm (not scalding, but warm to the touch) and let him swim around then hold him with paper towels in your hands so it gets the extras off.If he cleans himself, get fresh water in the bowl.

lilredcorn · 01-14-14, 10:24 PM

Ok thanks for the tips

Wyldrose · 01-14-14, 11:22 PM

How did you thaw it? I use warm tap water and have never had a mouse explode (knock on wood). Too hot can often make them explode.

lilredcorn · 01-15-14, 12:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wyldrose

How did you thaw it? I use warm tap water and have never had a mouse explode (knock on wood). Too hot can often make them explode.

I had it dethawing in hot water, guess it was to hot and in there to long cause it made the mouse super soft, made sure it wasn't hot when he ate it though. Lesson learned, first time I've fed a snake. Next time i'm just going to let it thaw naturally and then dip it in warmer water so it appears to have body warmth for snake

KORBIN5895 · 01-15-14, 01:28 AM

Your corn probably won't care if the mouse is heated up.

Also careful when putting a snake in warm water as they are ecotherms.

Starbuck · 01-15-14, 04:57 AM

Korbin is correct. You want water that is between 75 and 90 degrees, which probably wouldn't feel very warm to us. Hotter than that and they can quickly overheat.

formica · 01-15-14, 05:10 AM

sounds like the water was too hot and the mouse got cooked

If you have an IR thermometer, you can check the temp of the mouse, mice and rats have a body temp between 37-38C, its not essential to achieve this temp, but its a good thing to aim for and it does help avoid the possibility of ''cooking'' the mouse, or feeding one which is cold.

if you can hold your finger in the water and its hot, but not so hot you can only keep it in for a little while, then its probably the right temp.

around 45C water is what I use for most corn sized mice, over 60C and it could start to cook, under 30C and it will take a while to defrost and will probably be cold (under 20C, if the mouse is big enough) when defrosted and theres a small chance it may be ignored, although corns rarely ignore anything worth eating

Terranaut · 01-15-14, 05:27 AM

You should never thaw in hot water. Thaw at room temp and put it in hot water for a min or 2 before offering. This way even if your water is tonhot there isn't enough time to cook the prey. A corn will take prey that is warm to the touch. Many feeding threads deal with ball pythons who require almost hot prey 9 times in 10. Just thaw yours by leaving it sit out for a few hours. Toss it in hot as you got tap water and in a min or so take it out. Drip dry for 10 seconds and present. Won't be as messy

**EL Ziggy** · 01-15-14, 08:42 AM

I was thawing in warm water and too often the mice would get squishy, now I let the mice thaw naturally and then warm them up with a hair dryer for a minute or two.

lilredcorn · 01-15-14, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Starbuck

Korbin is correct. You want water that is between 75 and 90 degrees, which probably wouldn't feel very warm to us. Hotter than that and they can quickly overheat.

Good to know thank you

lilredcorn · 01-15-14, 01:05 PM

Cool thanks guys my next feeding experience will be alot cleaner now lol

KORBIN5895 · 01-15-14, 01:34 PM

Honestly I would say even water at 90°f is too hot. That is the basking spot for most species and I feel just throwing a snake into a basin if water that is its basking temp is too much. I always try to soak them in water that is in the ambient range.

Starbuck · 01-15-14, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KORBIN5895

Honestly I would say even water at 90°f is too hot. That is the basking spot for most species and I feel just throwing a snake into a basin if water that is its basking temp is too much. I always try to soak them in water that is in the ambient range.

I guess that is true. Whenever i have cleaned up my snakes I've dipped a paper towel into the water, then wiped down the snake, but i wouldn't go tossing him into that temp to soak.

It's important to remember that reptiles are ectothermic and operate on a lower body temp. Smaller animals also have a greater surface area through which to lose/absorb heat relative to their mass; so the effects are compounded.

lilredcorn · 01-16-14, 12:24 AM

Today I let him soak in some water for about 3 mins. The temp was 82 degrees. I think he was getting a little dehydrated skin looked a little wrinkly before but tonight he looks better. I don't think he's drinking enough water on his own for whatever reason. Everyone I get done handling him I put his head by his water bowl and hell drink.