my bp was bit

in a 30" inch tank glass

thats your humidity problem most likely. I assume the lid is probably a screen top right? If thats the case part of the top needs to be covered, either by stretching plastic wrap over the screen and taping it (on the out side, tape+snake=bad) or a piece of plexiglass cut to fit in the rim in the top of the tank. It shouldnt interfere with the screen top's fit at all. The one problem i can potentially see is that the plexiglass tends to swag, so you may need to run a brace of some type across the tank under the one unsupported edge of the plexiglass. I just use plastic wrap with out tarantula and scorpion. Also, if you are going to go the route of the plexiglass, i would do it with plasticwrap first to see how much of the top needs to be covered. That ill also increase ambiant air temp in the tank, so be sure you adjust for that. Another fix is placing the water bowl over the heat pad. Just be sure you have a big enough bowl, because it will evaporate much quicker that way.

lucky the mouse didn't bite through, but if it does, and there's a cut, i think you're suppose to put neosporin on the wound? am i right?

OK! You are all right. If you feed live you have to keep an eye on the rat or mouse just in case your snake does not eat it.But most of the snake keepers say its better not to feed live, so you can prevent accidents. Right? :mad:

Better be safe than sorry!!!!!!!:D

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Originally Posted by novato

But most of the snake keepers say its better not to feed live, so you can prevent accidents. Right? :mad:

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Maybe you should read the polls around here (being that its a hot topic) and check with some of the big breeders out there and see what they feed... see how many "accidents" they have every week.

thanks for all the help everyone

i moved this into the ball python forum ;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by novato

OK! You are all right. If you feed live you have to keep an eye on the rat or mouse just in case your snake does not eat it.But most of the snake keepers say its better not to feed live, so you can prevent accidents. Right? :mad:

Better be safe than sorry!!!!!!!:D

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actually most of the breeders and members on this site believe in responsible feeding, whether live or p/k or f/t. for example adam who feeds thousands of live prey items every year has never had any problems at all. if done right... it's completely safe. :carrot:

link to thread on feeding live

Well since it didn't pucture him, I'd say you were lucky. I feed f/t as I don't think it's a natural situation to place two live animals in a small contianer where neither can get away, then again, knowing my luck, if I ever did feed my BP live, it would kill him.

If he wasn't fast enough this time, I'd keep an extra close eye on him. If his next few feeds he gets it right away, then it might have been a fluke. If he's having problems, it may be a good idea to switched to stunned, pre-killed or f/t. As you wouldn't want a more serious bite to happen.

That said, currently my corn is on live food, but is in the process of being switched over.

there is also a way to feed live prey. i hope i don't leave anything out, if i do.. hopefully adam will fill in the gaps :eek:

first, scent the room. bring your live prey into the room and set it (in a container of course) beside your enclosure for 20 minutes. this allows the snake to smell that dinner is on the way. after 20 minutes you open the enclosure and usually your snake is out and ready to eat... even if it's not... you place the prey item at the opposite end of the enclosure as your snake. this way, you have a calm mouse or rat in the enclosure. it'll start to sniff around and check out it's new location (as they don't even notice the snake so they aren't afraid) and the snake can begin the process of "stalking" it's prey.

if you are feeding more than one prey item... once your snake has completed it's meal and popped it's jaw back into place (a big yawn) then you add the second prey item at the opposite end of the enclosure and allow your snake to do it's thing.

never leave your snake unattended while feeding live prey. this way IF something does go wrong, you are there to witness it. often there isn't much you can do as the snake will kill and eat a prey item even if it has been bitten - but by watching you will know if there is a problem and you can get medical attention to the bite wound if needed.

i've seen the odd mouse try to bite my snakes when feeding, but they've never even left a mark on the snake... mind you, i've only been doing this for a year now so that's only 52 feedings. (per snake)