Lesson for All *GRAPHIC*

Before you scroll down and view the picture please read my story first. Now before I begin explaining the horror that has happened to me, let me tell you how I feed my snakes. I pick up the rats usually in the evenings, which means the snakes are in hunt mode, I go home and just drop them in. All of my snakes are great eaters, if they haven't struck in the first 5 minutes it's because they don't want to eat. So when I feed I hang around until everyone has swallowed their food and move w.e has been eaten to a hold bin for a few days and try again.

Well last night was feeding day, I went out grabbed my feeders, came home and placed the rats in the snake tub. Everyone except my male Pastel Lesser & Mocha had eaten. I figured he didn't eat because he's in breeding mode and I figured she didn't eat because I think she's gravid. So I grabbed her rat in gave it to one of my normals. I couldn't do the same for him because my only other snake thaat could eat a rat that large was still swallowing her current prey. So I waited...

Then all of a sudden an emergency came up where I had to rush over to my grandmother (she lives in the same house). About 2 hours later, everything was said and done and I go back to my room. I lay down in bed and hear some noise coming from the rack. I jump out of bed, turn the lights on and see a rat in the corner of the Pastel Lesser's tub still alive. So I went to get him out and place him another tub, when I saw the horror! In just a few short hours, he chewed my Pastel Lesser like if he hadn't eaten in days and was desperate for food. You have no idea how sick to my stomach I got when I saw the damage. Mind you this was just in a couple of hours, I can't imagine what would have happened if I had let him stay for a few more hours.

I NEVER leave rats in my tubs with the snakes, NEVER! I've seen what can be done, but unfortunately an emergency popped up and this one rat slipped my mind. As of now, I cleaned out his tub, put him on paper towel and showered him with hydrogen peroxide. I'm letting it dry so I can apply an ointment like Neosporin on it. I don't know what to do. The tip of his tail is so chewed up that I don't know if it will stick back together or if he will just end up losing it.

First things first, I have to make sure all the wounds scab so the wounds close. From there I'll just continue treating him until the scabs are gone and the wounds are closed. This puts a huge stop in my breeding plans as he is my only male breeder, but his health comes first. Poor little guy...

For those of you who feed live, this is a perfect example as to why you should monitor feeding at all costs. This happened in just a few hours, imagine what could have happened if I would have left him over night or a full day.

http://i965.photobucket.com/albums/a...5/Snakes/2.jpg

I had a similar thing happen a long time ago with my normal male. The rat was in for only 30min-1hour and chewed the tip of his tail off. Much like yourself something came up and I got pulled away and came back to something so terrible. I wonder sometimes why the snakes dont attack/kill the rat just out of defense when these things happen.


I am very sorry to hear keep us updated on how the healing goes.

Oh my GOD I want to cry, I can't imagine how you feel right now :tears:

Thank you for posting this, although it was a HUGE mistake to leave a live rat in there with the snake, a lot of people can learn from this. I'm so sorry this happened. Figures the ONE time you screw something up it goes horribly wrong, it works that way with everything :tears:

I wish him a speedy recovery, keep those wounds cleaned. I'd be on high alert for infection....
:please:

Best of wishes to you and your snake. Keep us updated on how he progresses in his health. Poor little guy :(

I can't imagine how terrible you must feel. It's a perfect example of what could happen to even the most conscientious and careful owner. It's upsetting, but you shouldn't be too hard on yourself for tending to a human emergency.

I've never had an injury like that occur, so I can't comment on what you should do. If it were me, I'd take him right to the vet. Better safe than sorry.

Good luck and keep us posted.

DON'T use Neo, or Peroxide for extended periods of time, what you need to get is betadine

I'm sorry that this happened to you.

A helpful tip for the future and safest method of feeding live: small and frequent. Not large and less often.
Crawlers and small rats are harmless. Their claws aren't even sharp and long enough to scrape anything.

Also, untamed feeders are scared. Frightened animals have to potential to be dangerous.



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Quote:

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Originally Posted by that_dc5

Before you scroll down and view the picture please read my story first. Now before I begin explaining the horror that has happened to me, let me tell you how I feed my snakes. I pick up the rats usually in the evenings, which means the snakes are in hunt mode, I go home and just drop them in. All of my snakes are great eaters, if they haven't struck in the first 5 minutes it's because they don't want to eat. So when I feed I hang around until everyone has swallowed their food and move w.e has been eaten to a hold bin for a few days and try again.

Well last night was feeding day, I went out grabbed my feeders, came home and placed the rats in the snake tub. Everyone except my male Pastel Lesser & Mocha had eaten. I figured he didn't eat because he's in breeding mode and I figured she didn't eat because I think she's gravid. So I grabbed her rat in gave it to one of my normals. I couldn't do the same for him because my only other snake thaat could eat a rat that large was still swallowing her current prey. So I waited...

Then all of a sudden an emergency came up where I had to rush over to my grandmother (she lives in the same house). About 2 hours later, everything was said and done and I go back to my room. I lay down in bed and hear some noise coming from the rack. I jump out of bed, turn the lights on and see a rat in the corner of the Pastel Lesser's tub still alive. So I went to get him out and place him another tub, when I saw the horror! In just a few short hours, he chewed my Pastel Lesser like if he hadn't eaten in days and was desperate for food. You have no idea how sick to my stomach I got when I saw the damage. Mind you this was just in a couple of hours, I can't imagine what would have happened if I had let him stay for a few more hours.

I NEVER leave rats in my tubs with the snakes, NEVER! I've seen what can be done, but unfortunately an emergency popped up and this one rat slipped my mind. As of now, I cleaned out his tub, put him on paper towel and showered him with hydrogen peroxide. I'm letting it dry so I can apply an ointment like Neosporin on it. I don't know what to do. The tip of his tail is so chewed up that I don't know if it will stick back together or if he will just end up losing it.

First things first, I have to make sure all the wounds scab so the wounds close. From there I'll just continue treating him until the scabs are gone and the wounds are closed. This puts a huge stop in my breeding plans as he is my only male breeder, but his health comes first. Poor little guy...

For those of you who feed live, this is a perfect example as to why you should monitor feeding at all costs. This happened in just a few hours, imagine what could have happened if I would have left him over night or a full day.

http://i965.photobucket.com/albums/a...5/Snakes/2.jpg

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I am so sorry that this has happened. You may not want to use any more hydrogen peroxide, it effects the tissues ability to heal. You would do better using betadine. You can pick that up at any pharmacy. I hope your snake gets better quickly.

That's terrible, I'm sorry that happened, but it was an accident so don't let people start attacking you for feeding live. You know and do moniter them usually from what you've said. Hey, I'd do anything to help my grandmother in an emergency. Hope he heals up fast. Again sorry this happened.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

DON'T use Neo, or Peroxide for extended periods of time, what you need to get is betadine

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You beat me to it again! LOL! Very good advice.