Messy Eater!

[PythonBabes]

So, this is the second time a mouse has exploded while Karma was coiled around it. Mice guts are the nastiest thing I've ever smelled, but she didn't have any problems, except for eating it backwards tonight. Usually I just thaw the mouse and dunk it in some hot water that's been boiling, but I can't keep doing that because its causing my little problem...

Next feeding I'll just thaw it and heat it with a hair blow dryer.

Also, I've heard people say don't feed your BP again until it poops. Does that even make sense for babies, don't they use most of their food items for growing so less poop/leftovers?

I feed Karma every 4 days and she only poops like twice a month, but pee/urates regularly.

[Meerna]

I agree that mouse (and rat) guts are pretty awful. I've only had one "leak" (they didn't quite explode) once or twice but it's a pain in the butt. As far as the feeding/pooping, I agree that especially young snakes are probably not going to poop every week so don't worry about waiting for a poop to feed again. My adult male only eats every other week and he still doesn't always poop between feedings.

[Ba11er]

When I thaw my rats in water I make sure it's never too hot as to cook the rat, if my hand can stand the temperature then it's good. They might be exploding because they have been in the freezer for too long or defrosted improperly.

You should also be feeding your snake a food item about the size of the thickest part of its body one a week, babies can be fed a little more frequently. I wouldn't worry about the snake pooping, they will do their business when they need to.

[piedlover79]

I agree about the water being too hot can lead to exploding mice, but they can also explode if they have been defrosted and refrozen too many times. I'm not saying you defrosted and refroze them, but perhaps you got a bad batch that had been allowed to melt? When you defrost a mouse it should look pretty much like it just died, if the belly is distended or the skin there looks and feels thin then there is a good chance that they defrosted at some point.

[blue roses]

I defrost my rats in a baggy on a counter, then put the baggy in some hot tap water for a min. or 2, if the rats head is very warm to the touch, but not hot, i offer it. Since i've been doing it this way no more exploding rats.