Rat Bite question

Well last week when it was feeding day my boy was in shed, but still acting hungry so I fed him a small to medium rat. He got a bad hold on it and it bit him on the face. He was curled up around it in a way that I couldn't see the head of the rat until he was done constricting it. There was some blood and it got him on the left side of his jaw. I felt horrible, but he shed good a couple of days later and seemed back to his normal self. Well today was feeding day again and he bite the rat before it even touched the floor of his cage and once again was holding in a way that I couldn't see, and sure enough this rat bit him too, in the same spot. He ate the rat, but understandably seems a bit uncomfortable around his face. So the question is, do I do anything, bleeding stopped pretty quick, but it is a noticable bite, he is rubbing his face on that side a bit. But since he just ate the rat, should I still leave him be for 48 hours, or do I need to do something about the wound now? He has eaten rats this size before and always managed to get it at a good angle where the rat couldn't bite him. Thanks everyone for the advice:)

If its not bleeding, id say leave it alone. Theyre not babies, and are quite hardy from everything ive seen.

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Stun the rat next time. Seems that he is a pretty agressive eater so sould go fine. Just smack it on a table or concrete outside. I have one that always gets a bad hold so i dont chance it.

Clean it with betadyne. I usually take a snake who's been bitten out every other day or daily to clean it depending on how bad The bite it. I do this for a few days to a week depending in severity. It should heal really quickly. I just like to clean it with betadyne to prevent infection. Grab a bottle of betadyne from any local drug store and keep it on hand at all times. If you're a live feeder it'll come in handy and more than pay for itself.


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Whack the rat. I have some huge girls over 3500 grams that eat jumbos and i stun the rats and take plyers to their teeth before i feed em.

He will be fine! But do clean the bite area, you gotta remember that's why they have scales; it's armor. Your guys a killer machine by the sound of it lol.

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Originally Posted by snake lab

Whack the rat. I have some huge girls over 3500 grams that eat jumbos and i stun the rats and take plyers to their teeth before i feed em.

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I find this to be just horrific! How can you take a pliers and just pull their teeth out like that?????

I scruff my bigger rats with feeding tongs, always a head shot

That's not the first time I've heard of people pulling the teeth out; good lord I'd find it easier to give the rat a concussion before pretending to be a dentist up in here...

I don't feed jumbos to even my largest girls. I just think there's no reason to use them. But if I did. I would just prekill it. Much easier and no worries about bites.


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Originally Posted by ballpythonluvr

I find this to be just horrific! How can you take a pliers and just pull their teeth out like that?????

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I am glad I am not the only one whom thought that was barbaric!

How we treat animals tells a lot about our personal morality.

something I have fond that works for me is when I go buy my live feeders if I want to do pre killed, I normally bring them home in a box. before I open the box I will give one hard thrust of the box and it will either knock the rat out or kill it.

question about this, if your snake does get in a position you can't see the rats face is it ok to move him around? I know snakes have different personalities but it seems like a bad idea.
Just have that feeling to help protect your snake though

I've moved some around while they are killing the rats. That's usually their most vulnerable position as well as eating. Go gently and you can move the snake around a bit and then back off.


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I handle mine all the time when they are on the kill..........I always look for the head to make sure everyone is safe.

Thanks for all the helpful information. I will try to knock the rat out next time. And I really apprecaite the information on cleaning the bite. I am not brave enough to try and move him around when he has a rat, he is a very aggressive eater and I just don't dare stick my hand anywhere near him when he is hungry:D Thanks again

He's concentrating on killing the rat. If his mouth is on the rat he certainly won't let go for your hand. It's basic instinct. Don't be scared. Make sure your snake is safe.


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Originally Posted by snake lab

Whack the rat. I have some huge girls over 3500 grams that eat jumbos and i stun the rats and take plyers to their teeth before i feed em.

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Dude... What??? NO!!!! Just no!!!! :mad:

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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

I handle mine all the time when they are on the kill..........I always look for the head to make sure everyone is safe.

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Yup, me too. A little gentle handling to make sure they are ok is alright. If one gets a bad grip I will either gently adjust them, use my tongs to keep the rats teeth at bay or give the rat a good thump on the noggin with my finger as an attitude adjuster. :gj:

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Originally Posted by snake lab

Whack the rat. I have some huge girls over 3500 grams that eat jumbos and i stun the rats and take plyers to their teeth before i feed em.

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And than we wonder why snake owner have a bad rep :rolleyes:

If you are not capable to feed live without having to mutilate another animal that's pretty sad.

There is such a thing as respecting the prey item, you don't have to like them (I don't like rats) however there is absolutely no need for unneeded stress and pain even if the animal is set to die shortly after.

Maybe some people need to learn how to feed live :rolleyes:

Cry me a river. They're dirty vermin who are about to get eaten. Dead rats don't talk. Is it inhumane to let them get crushed to death by a snake that might take a few minutes to kill?

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Originally Posted by nock

Cry me a river. They're dirty vermin who are about to get eaten. Dead rats don't talk. Is it inhumane to let them get crushed to death by a snake that might take a few minutes to kill?

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You know so little about your own snake... really they suffocate the prey and there is a lot of research being done around the fact the heart of the rats stops before they suffocate so there is a possibility they kill by heart failure.

Leaving the morality aside, this is a public forum and comments like these hurt the hobby more deeply than you have given thought to. I am not in the United States but with the discussion of laws being passed around giving the anti reptile lobby ammunition doesn't seem like a good idea.

That plyer comment made my teeth hurt just thinking about it....:mad:

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Originally Posted by kitedemon

You know so little about your own snake... really they suffocate the prey and there is a lot of research being done around the fact the heart of the rats stops before they suffocate so there is a possibility they kill by heart failure.

Leaving the morality aside, this is a public forum and comments like these hurt the hobby more deeply than you have given thought to. I am not in the United States but with the discussion of laws being passed around giving the anti reptile lobby ammunition doesn't seem like a good idea.

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I've watched a rat struggle for at least two minutes before it died. I've even seen videos of snakes eating rats who were only stunned and came back to life in the middle of being eaten.

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Originally Posted by nock

I've watched a rat struggle for at least two minutes before it died. I've even seen videos of snakes eating rats who were only stunned and came back to life in the middle of being eaten.

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Then why add unnecessary suffering by pulling teeth? Oh wait, you believe in not giving your rats water...at all....for 7 days. I forgot who I was talking to! Silly me. :)

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Originally Posted by RuthlessReptiles

Then why add unnecessary suffering by pulling teeth? Oh wait, you believe in not giving your rats water...at all....for 7 days. I forgot who I was talking to! Silly me. :)

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I did give the rats water, they just pooped in it so I have to replace it every day. I don't pull out the teeth of a rat before I feed it, that's a lot of work and I might get bit. I let the snake handle himself.

Well I said something about 2 days and YOU made the comment that you didn't give them any for 7 days, smart one.

Anyway. back on topic please...

Nock this will be my last warning to you for the day, however you want to handle this is up to YOU

After reviewing your post counts I have seen nothing but trollish behavior and attempts to stir the pot in various thread.

I think it is time for you to step away from the keyboard take a big breath and think about YOUR future here on this forum.

Just be warned this type of behavior is not welcome here and should you persist you will have to face the consequences.

Thanks Deborah, I am sorry, I should not have bothered with him.

I loathe threads where I have to listen to people bantering around their methods of inhumanity towards feeders.

I rarely feed live and when I do I feed several sizes smaller than the snake 'could' take. Out of concern for the feeder and the fed.

I wish frankykeno was still here to tutor on how to introduce a calm and adjusted rodent to lessen the chance of distress.

If you feed live you need to understand and respect the behavioral ecology of both animals.

Feeding live does not give keepers carte blanche to disregard their humanity.

I have 140 snakes and only 5 eat live and those snakes are maintenance fed. I do not care what others feed, but I do take offense at how others feed.

If your animals are at risk of injuries sufficient for you to question your methods then you need to question your methods.

Bruce

Bruce well put!!!


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After reading this thread I personally am ecstatic that My little guy and I persevered, and learned to feed/eat f/t mice. I dont like the idea of him getting hurt unnecessarily and I dont like the idea of intentionally hurting the mouse or putting it through any more stress than it should have to go through. But I am glad that you figured out what to do about that rat bit = D I may not like the idea of live feed, but hey some snakes just dont want it any other way apparently.

Get a taser gun they are really cheap, one shock to the head and they are out, stronger tasers even kill them. I dont personally do this but i know a friend who does. Not everyone can afford the Co2 method. And all other methods are not for the faint hearted, e.g snapping there necks.

Co2 is rediculously cheap in my area.


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Most tasers will stop a rat/mouses heart after 1 second, you can pick cheap ones up at a security shop for $20-$40 depending on the strenght and quality. I would never setup a tank just for euthanizing rats i really dont have enough space.

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Originally Posted by ekoplex

Get a taser gun they are really cheap, one shock to the head and they are out, stronger tasers even kill them. I dont personally do this but i know a friend who does. Not everyone can afford the Co2 method. And all other methods are not for the faint hearted, e.g snapping there necks.

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Check Wal-Mart for Dry Ice. Some places even sell $2 portions, enough for a Gas Chamber.

Thanks again everyone for the helpful advice. I am going to try and get my guys to eat fresh pre-killed. I have been looking into the ways to humanely putting rats down, and the Co2 chamber seems to be the best way for me. I just can't kill them by hand. I personally love rats, and since the snakes have to eat, I don't want to add to their suffering when feeding them to the snakes. I just hope all of my snakes will trade over.:please: