Snake ate substrate

JakeBP · 08-19-12, 04:23 PM

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.

iBaman · 08-19-12, 04:30 PM

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.

JakeBP · 08-19-12, 04:35 PM

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

mykee · 08-19-12, 04:39 PM

Keep an eye on him.
Also, use this as a learning experience (should he die or not) NOT to feed on a loose substrate.

JakeBP · 08-19-12, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mykee

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.

Jlassiter · 08-20-12, 03:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lankyrob

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...

iBaman · 08-19-12, 05:03 PM

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by iBaman

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

iBaman · 08-19-12, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lankyrob

Or dont get the prey wet in the first place

hard to do that with f/t ;p

alessia55 · 08-19-12, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iBaman

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.

iBaman · 08-19-12, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alessia55

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

SpOoKy · 08-19-12, 05:05 PM

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.