Forget feeding on Aspen

I'm sure this topic has come up many times but I just had to vent. I just fed my ball a rat, ate it up great. On my second rat, the rat had the heads up I think from scent and from the previous rat scream. The rat, instead of just throwing up the white flag decided to burrow in the opposite corner and avoid Aza at all costs. I finally pushed a little stick into the cage to get a rise from the rat, the rat moved then started a trench warfare-esque defense. no dice for Aza, was smart not to strike. I know not to feed Aza in her housing or to do it on woodchips due to possible digestion of the wood but yeah I tried it. From now on only on newspaper or reptile turf. some rats get all the luck. back at the pet store probably gloating. unbelievable. lol.

We actually feed on a piece of cardboard layed on top of the aspen; first we remove one hide, throw the cardboard in there, then mousey/ratty, wham-bam-*swallow*-thankyouma'am, and a slither back to the warm hide...

No substrate is harmed during the feeding of the snake. =)

Your snake is just fine.....and aspen is just fine as a bedding.

Newspaper and reptile carpet can have their problems too. I have had a ball pythons rip off a small piece of newspaper during constriction (the rat was under the newspaper corner) then proceed to eat the rat and piece of paper. I have also had a ball python miss a rodent when striking and get it's teeth caught in the reptile carpet until it jerked free.

There is no "100% carefree" substrate....and after all.... these guys don't eat off clean surfaces in the wild ;)

yeah i use carpet and a couple weeks ago Monty (on a multiple rodent feed) missed twice and got stuck in the carpet....very worrying.

totally agree. pros and cons. ahh the choices. i like that cardboard idea, very realistic for me due to the fact Aza loves her Aspen tunnels. I'll try that next time. Going to Louisiana on Sunday so when I get back it's feeding time. crazy- i didn't realize they could get snagged on that rept-turf-stuff. those damn mice and rats, i'm glad my hamburger isn't that squirrely when i try and take a bite.

I use paper towel in my vivs and never had a problem yet, but then I feed f/t and not live (feeding live is illegal in the UK). I think if I fed my snakes live they'd probably look at me as if to say "What the hell'ssss that!!! It movessss...and it'sss got teeth:O " LOL.


Jokes aside, I prefer paper towel. Usually use just plain white but sometimes get the paper towel with the printed borders (like at Christmas). Gives the vivs a different look:D

nice nice. i'll remember that. paper towel. live feed illegal in the UK? wow, had no idea. yeah, when i got Aza she was being fed frozen. She was a little confused the first time but she nailed it within minutes. Since then she's been 100% on it except for one time when i put too large of a rat in and had to take it out and yesterday when the Aspen messed the second rat up.