im starting to worry.... please help

[PurplePython]

so I fed my pastel today, and I gave him 2 small mice. The last time I fed him was 5 days ago and this size mouse didn't quite seam to satisfy him, so I offered 2 today and he took them both. During the eating, I noticed that he got a small amount of coconut fibre in his mouth, and after he got the 2nd mouse down, he began opening his mouth really wide (it almost ooked like he was repeatedly yawning).

Now, he has been laying in this hallowed out log (not one of his hides) for the past 2 or 2 1/2 hours, and I have been checking on him frequently because he seams to be breathing HEAVILY.

Could this heavy breathing be from being fed a little bit too much or him getting the substrate in his mouth, or is this heavy breathing some indicator of something more serious? Please help me out guys. I think it has something to do with the substrate getting in his mouth during the feeding because he hasnt done this at all before.

I places a small shallow water dish in front of where he is laying now to see if he will accept some water.

[Big Gunns]

so I fed my pastel today, and I gave him 2 small mice. The last time I fed him was 5 days ago and this size mouse didn't quite seam to satisfy him, so I offered 2 today and he took them both. During the eating, I noticed that he got a small amount of coconut fibre in his mouth, and after he got the 2nd mouse down, he began opening his mouth really wide (it almost ooked like he was repeatedly yawning).

Now, he has been laying in this hallowed out log (not one of his hides) for the past 2 or 2 1/2 hours, and I have been checking on him frequently because he seams to be breathing HEAVILY.

Could this heavy breathing be from being fed a little bit too much or him getting the substrate in his mouth, or is this heavy breathing some indicator of something more serious? Please help me out guys. I think it has something to do with the substrate getting in his mouth during the feeding because he hasnt done this at all before.

I places a small shallow water dish in front of where he is laying now to see if he will accept some water.

Don't mess with your snake at all. There is nothing you can do whether you fed it too much or not. Unless it swallowed a ton of substrate it will be fine. BG isn't saying your snake is gonna die, but unless the meal was way too huge, it should be fine. Leave it alone.

Even if you got totally paranoid and took it to the Vet, the Vet may kill it. Just leave it alone and don't even look at it. That's the best thing you can do right now. The last thing you want is a regurgitation, although that's what you may get if the snake can't digest it. If this happens we have more advice for you.

LEAVE IT ALONE AND PRAY to Big Gunns. Don't make the same mistake again either. Although they can digest a small hippo usually...sometimes the hippo is just a leeetle too big and there's consequences.

[BPelizabeth]

When we used substrate that would happen all the time. Sometimes they would miss and get a mouthful and I would be trying to pick it out. UGH!! Typically if they swallow a little with the mouse it is not a big deal as long as it is not allot. It sounds like she was just trying to realign her jaw. Just keep an eye on her but try not to worry.

A trick we did when we used that stuff was right before feeding we would put down a papertowel and then put the snake on that to stop the whole substrate thing. It worked for us. Now we just use papertowels all the time...I have to tell you.....other than the expense of it.....what a joy!!

[Kaorte]

He was probably breathing heavily because he had just eaten and you were staring at him . Feeding time in general is a very vulnerable time for them. If they see a giant heat source coming toward them, they will be a little bit scared!

Just leave him be, check on him once a day or so. He should be fine.

The substrate ingestion is not a problem. I have never heard of a ball python becoming impacted from eating substrate.

Also, the yawning you witnessed was the snake realigning its jaws. Completely normal.

[PurplePython]

thanks guys. thats the last time i feed him like that tho, from now on i am taking him out of his cage or putting a paper towel down.... it didnt look like he liked a mouthful of substrate

[PurplePython]

He was probably breathing heavily because he had just eaten and you were staring at him . Feeding time in general is a very vulnerable time for them. If they see a giant heat source coming toward them, they will be a little bit scared!

Just leave him be, check on him once a day or so. He should be fine.

The substrate ingestion is not a problem. I have never heard of a ball python becoming impacted from eating substrate.

Also, the yawning you witnessed was the snake realigning its jaws. Completely normal.

nah its not from me staring at him. The area I was standing to check on him, theres no way he could have seen me. He was curled in a ball in a half log and I was checking on him from the side from behind him to see him breathing heavy.

also I have seen them re-align their jaws before and they never do it as much as my BP did it. He did it at least 50 times over and over.

He is doing fine now though. Hes just been relaxing in his hot hide all day.

[771subliminal]

thanks guys. thats the last time i feed him like that tho, from now on i am taking him out of his cage or putting a paper towel down.... it didnt look like he liked a mouthful of substrate

moving b4 and after a feeding can add extra unneeded stress, eating a little bit of substrate wont hurt you bp just think about what all they eat in the wild and are fine. they can completely digest bone and flesh in a matter of days coconut fiber is nothing