Ball python ATE shed!!!

Hey everyone!
I fed my ball python frozen thawed for the first time today (he was on live before), and he took it very well The problem is that he had a bit of stuck shed, and as it happens, it came off onto the mouse and then he ate the mouse. When he yawned after swallowing the feeder, I saw a tiny (very small) piece of shed on the bottom of hi mouth, just laying there. Do you think this is ok?

Also, the mouse was perfectly sized for him, but when he ate the mouse, the neck was curled down (making the mouse larger than it actually was). Because of this, it took him 30 minutes to get it down, and a lot of yawns to readjust his bones (on his mouth). Usually it takes him 5 minutes with live food (the same size) to get the food item down. Will he be ok from this too?

Thanks,
HenryTheSnake

Both of your problems are fine and there is nothing to worry about. I have had snakes get the legs stuck at the corner of their mouths and sometimes it takes longer then usual but they always manage.

He should be just fine. Don't worry about it to much.

Don't worry. Snakes have very strong gastric enzymes that are capable of breaking down many tissues including bones. Shed skin is easily broken down and is probably converted into a fluid in the snakes mouth.

Like others said, no sweat.

However, stuck shed means that you should be making some adjustments to your husbandry, if you haven't already. Try to bump that humidity up to at least 60%.

Now, I am trying to lower my humidity because without spraying it is going 60%+ :D

He only had a bit of stuck shed on his neck/head, no retained eye caps etc.

Thanks,
HenryTheSnake

Quote:

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Originally Posted by HenryTheSnake

Now, I am trying to lower my humidity because without spraying it is going 60%+ :D

He only had a bit of stuck shed on his neck/head, no retained eye caps etc.

Thanks,
HenryTheSnake

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What are you using to measure the humidity?

This
http://www.amazon.com/AcuRite-00613A.../dp/B0013BKDO8

many animal's eat parts of their body when cast off due to not needing them. many lizards eat their sheds. deer eat the velvet that their antlers have when they develop once it falls off. for many its just recycling the energy it took to build up the tissues for others its just accidental. typically unless brain matter is involved there isn't much harm. remember ball pythons some times will eat other balls, so the whole skin thing shouldn't hurt it.

I figure if it can eat a whole rat\mouse including teeth, nails, gastric enzymes and acids. Then turn around and crap it into something unrecognizable and usually small, a bit of shed can hurt. :gj: