HELP!!! BP Tore F/T Rat Open?!

I didn't know this could happen and I don't know what to do! I always feed Kayly the same way. She's been on F/T for over 2 months now and I've never seen this happen. I've heard about rats popping, but I've never seen the skin seem to get torn the way it did just now. I thawed my rat by setting it in the fridge over night and then warmed in up by sticking its baggie in warm water. I scented her room for a couple minutes to get her in hunting mode and then lowered the rat into the tank with my tongs. She excitedly took right away as she has been for weeks. I was slightly concerned because she landed in the water, but she moved after a few seconds, so I was fine. But as she moved, I noticed she'd torn the thing open somehow. What do I do?! There's blood in the tank. I'm currently curled up on the couch with my baby because I'm kind of scared to see if she's still eating it. I usually don't have an issue with gruesome sights, I'm in school for criminal investigation, but this startled me. Do I need to go get her and clean everything ASAP??? I'm home alone with the baby until my boyfriend gets off work, so do I need to call someone to come help me sooner??? I'm honestly scared.

It happens with FT. Wait about a half hour and see if i gets eaten. Regardless, you need to clean and disinfect anything rat blood, guts and feces touched. Maybe some thoughts also to your career choice. Gore is not for everybody.

As I said, I've never been bothered by gore and I've seen a lot. I know that isn't an issue. I've just only ever heard of the popping thing and wasn't sure if it would still be edible. My panic was more about if Kayly would still be safe eating or if I needed to intervene. My boyfriend won't be back from work for at least another 2 hours and the only couple people who are available to come over HATE snakes and refuse to have anything to do with her. Is it urgent enough for me to look for a neighbor or something who would be willing to help me disinfect the tank? I would be able to do it myself, but it takes a while to get everything out, disinfect, replace the substrate, etc. in a 40gal. The baby would need watched during that time.

Update: I checked on her and she didn't eat the rat. Probably because it was wet. She just dropped it in the water and went back to the hide. This means it's going to be nice and mushy by the time my boyfriend gets back to help if I don't find someone quick.

just take her out and secure her in a bag.

I've had that happen a few times. Once my BRB popped one in his water and then ate it underwater with the guts hanging out. He ate it all as all my other have when it has happened. I feed my rats wet so that doesn't bother my collection.

Sorry to hear that the rat popped open, that's one of the reasons I like to do fresh kill with CO2, that would never happen. You may want to check on the date on that rat and maybe get a fresh batch, I think they last about six months or so.

I find that when a snake coils a rat or mouse it goes into a 'trance' mode for a minute or so. When it constricts I can move the snake around without fear of getting bit, especially my aggressive snakes or very large reticulated pythons, they just tend to coil a bit tighter if I touch or move them a bit. If they constrict and fall in the water its easy to pick up the part in the water and move them out right away. I'm always afraid they will drown anyway so I always move them out if they happen to fall in when feeding.

I also love my ARS rack system, if I get a nasty mess like that I can just swap out the tubs, the water dish is a disposable Dixie cup and there are no decorations at all except coconut husk substrate. It takes me less than five minutes to clean them up. With that messed up rat I'm guessing you could probably wait an hour or so before cleanup without a problem.

I can't until either my boyfriend gets home or my baby goes to sleep. He's only a month old, so he's kind of attached to me right now.

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Originally Posted by cchardwick

Sorry to hear that the rat popped open, that's one of the reasons I like to do fresh kill with CO2, that would never happen. You may want to check on the date on that rat and maybe get a fresh batch, I think they last about six months or so.

I find that when a snake coils a rat or mouse it goes into a 'trance' mode for a minute or so. When it constricts I can move the snake around without fear of getting bit, especially my aggressive snakes or very large reticulated pythons, they just tend to coil a bit tighter if I touch or move them a bit. If they constrict and fall in the water its easy to pick up the part in the water and move them out right away. I'm always afraid they will drown anyway so I always move them out if they happen to fall in when feeding.

I also love my ARS rack system, if I get a nasty mess like that I can just swap out the tubs, the water dish is a disposable Dixie cup and there are no decorations at all except coconut husk substrate. It takes me less than five minutes to clean them up. With that messed up rat I'm guessing you could probably wait an hour or so before cleanup without a problem.

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I know it was fresh because I buy my rats one at a time from the local pet store, not in bulk. They had just gotten them in the day before I bought it. It's too late. She's long since abandoned its carcass in the water bowl. She pulled away into her hide as if to say, "Ew. I'm not eating that now." I just have to wait until either my boyfriend gets back or my one-month-old goes to sleep (I've been trying for over an hour) before I can start cleaning.

Also, I have to keep her in the glass tank instead of an easier tub because it was one of the conditions of our lease for me to keep her... :/