Feeder question

So I was feeding today and took out my frozen mice to thaw. As they were thawing I noticed ALOT of blood in the tray I was thawing them on. It was too much blood to be a nose bleed so I investigated. One of the mice apparently broke in half while frozen and as it thawed began to leak if you will. Solution - stitched that bad boy up with 4-0 PDS and the snake never knew any difference. I am curious though, have any of you ever had a "broken feeder"?

I feed live but I have head of thawed mice and rat exploding when the snake strikes them.

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Originally Posted by Ladybugzcrunch

So I was feeding today and took out my frozen mice to thaw. As they were thawing I noticed ALOT of blood in the tray I was thawing them on. It was too much blood to be a nose bleed so I investigated. One of the mice apparently broke in half while frozen and as it thawed began to leak if you will. Solution - stitched that bad boy up with 4-0 PDS and the snake never knew any difference. I am curious though, have any of you ever had a "broken feeder"?

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I get a stronger feeding response from my BP if the thawed is bloody. I haven't had ones broken completely in half but I have had ones that suffered damage while in popsicle form. I've found they're more likely to bleed out their nose if I put them in the bowel head-down to thaw in warm water. If I put them in head-up they don't always bleed. So I always try to remember to put them in head-down.

I've had a mouse de-gutted by my snake a couple of times. A whole leg and part of it's body was coming off and she took it down now problem. She even popped the guts of the mouse right on to her own back. I left her to feed, came back and it was gone(the guts on her back that is).
Blood's no problem. I get blood from their noses just by leaving them in the refrigerator for 24 hours. I think snake owners can be even more picky about blood than most snakes would.
What's your process for preparing your f/t?
I noticed I get guts when I thaw, place mice in sandwich bag and place that bag (w/mice) into very hot water.
But when I thaw, place in sandwich bag and put in room temperature water for 10-15 min and then dip the head of the f/t in very hot water for 15 sec, I don't get any guts.
I would suggest experimenting with your f/t process.

Thought I would share a picture of my handy work (warning - yucky)
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http://i336.photobucket.com/albums/n...h/DSC08606.jpg
http://i336.photobucket.com/albums/n...h/DSC08604.jpg
http://i336.photobucket.com/albums/n...h/DSC08605.jpg

I would be worried about the stitches not passing through the digestive tract . Those kind of sutures are for internal wounds and take months for the body to dissolve . I would worry about the snake not passing it.

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Originally Posted by ScottNBecky

I would be worried about the stitches not passing through the digestive tract . Those kind of sutures are for internal wounds and take months for the body to dissolve . I would worry about the snake not passing it.

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:P You are joking right! The snake's digestive juices can break down bones in less than a week but can not break down synthetic dissolving sutures? Even if they were not dissolvable which they are, they would pass through the gut and out the other end. I did not use a continuous loop so no chance of internal entanglement in the gut. I assure you they will certainly pass! LOL

Well ok no need for the sarcasm ... Lol. I am in the medical field and was just making a point. Bone = calcium.... Well calcium is a lot easier to break down then sutures that are made to last internally for months to allow internal wounds to heal. So they are made to last and stay strong and intact where ever they are used including in they stomach,intestines ect. I understand the it's a snake thing and yes they are able to digest bone. But like I said bone is calcium not something designed to last in a acid environment. I was just stating my opinion.

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Originally Posted by ScottNBecky

Well ok no need for the sarcasm ... Lol. I am in the medical field and was just making a point. Bone = calcium.... Well calcium is a lot easier to break down then sutures that are made to last internally for months to allow internal wounds to heal. So they are made to last and stay strong and intact where ever they are used including in they stomach,intestines ect. I understand the it's a snake thing and yes they are able to digest bone. But like I said bone is calcium not something designed to last in a acid environment. I was just stating my opinion.

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K, sorry. You are right I should not have been so snappy:) I think he will be fine though, sutures dissolved or not. I wish I would have had some gut instead of PDS though:)

I love the sutured up mouse! Ha ha!