Please please help!!

My ball python struck the ratpup during the start of a shed, constricted it, let him go after ten minutes, wounding it, and now won't eat it. What should I do with the ratpup??
Thanks in advance for your help..

Freeze it?

How long has he been hovering over the dead rat? Mine do that sometimes if they don't want to be watched, why don't you just leave it in overnight. If not, then freeze it and use it for another time...

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Originally Posted by LGray23

Freeze it?

How long has he been hovering over the dead rat? Mine do that sometimes if they don't want to be watched, why don't you just leave it in overnight. If not, then freeze it and use it for another time...

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the pup is still alive. just wounded it????

Oh, you've only waited 10 minutes, how many times have you interrupted? I say just leave it in there, and leave him alone to eat. Sometimes it takes more than 10 minutes...

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Originally Posted by LGray23

Oh, you've only waited 10 minutes, how many times have you interrupted? I say just leave it in there, and leave him alone to eat. Sometimes it takes more than 10 minutes...

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He is just about to begin shed. he grabbed the pup as soon as i put it in there. (pup was live) the bp grabbed it and constricted it, then let it go after about 10 mins, give or take... then i waited 30 mins to see if he would go for it again and didnt. what should i do with the LIVE pup if he dont eat it?? thx

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Originally Posted by Spyderco1116

He is just about to begin shed. he grabbed the pup as soon as i put it in there. (pup was live) the bp grabbed it and constricted it, then let it go after about 10 mins, give or take... then i waited 30 mins to see if he would go for it again and didnt. what should i do with the LIVE pup if he dont eat it?? thx

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pup is wounded!!!!

I'm not sure, I mean I've never heard of a rat pup surviving 10 minutes of being constricted. If he doesn't eat it, and it's still alive, you can euthanize it yourself. Most people use CO2 to prekill their prey, some people put them in the freezer alive. I personally can't do that stuff, so I would return it. Not sure, the last rat any of my snakes refused live is now my pet, so I guess it's whatever you're comfortable with.

I think you sould euthinise it asap. Then freeze it for an other day. Feeding during a shed might not be the best Idea anyway.

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Originally Posted by kitedemon

I think you sould euthinise it asap. Then freeze it for an other day. Feeding during a shed might not be the best Idea anyway.

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well i gave it a shot anyway. its only like the first stage. and he did go for it so... so do eat during shed believe it or not.

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Originally Posted by Spyderco1116

well i gave it a shot anyway. its only like the first stage. and he did go for it so... so do eat during shed believe it or not.

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Some do eat during shed, and if you feed f/t or prekilled then all you are doing is wasting a rat, whereas now since you fed live during shed you have to kill this rat yourself.

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Originally Posted by LGray23

I'm not sure, I mean I've never heard of a rat pup surviving 10 minutes of being constricted. If he doesn't eat it, and it's still alive, you can euthanize it yourself. Most people use CO2 to prekill their prey, some people put them in the freezer alive. I personally can't do that stuff, so I would return it. Not sure, the last rat any of my snakes refused live is now my pet, so I guess it's whatever you're comfortable with.

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well i cant keep a wounded rat pup. the pet store will not take it back. i dont want to freeze it alive and I have no co2... thanks for the help.

You could break the neck (sorry I don't know how) pithing is likely the fastest method that needs no experience or description. (pithing is just driving a object into the brain and moving it around. always fatal and fast)

I had this happen with an ASF once. My girl ate it alive and wounded. It was a very solemn experience for me. I would just give it a good smack against a wall of floor and freeze it. It sucks to do this but sometimes its the more humane thing..

Best of luck.

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Originally Posted by decensored

I had this happen with an ASF once. My girl ate it alive and wounded. It was a very solemn experience for me. I would just give it a good smack against a wall of floor and freeze it. It sucks to do this but sometimes its the more humane thing..

Best of luck.

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I may have to do this. I feel bad though cause he is just a pup :(

if the pup is critically wounded, euthanize it as quickly as possible. it doesn't much matter whether you have the stomach for it; if it's still alive after an attempted feeding and it's wounded, euthanisia is the humane thing to do. if you don't have access to carbon dioxide, dispose of it as humanely as possible. you can try to freeze it afterward and save it for another day, but if you ball is not interested in feeding and the rat is suffering, you should euthanize it.

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Originally Posted by Spyderco1116

I may have to do this. I feel bad though cause he is just a pup :(

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I hear you - It's hard to do but sometimes the nicest thing to do.. I've lost lots of money thanks to my soft heart lol. I have problems euthanizing rats and since dry ice is hard to come by in Toronto, and I don't have a C02 chamber, I end up giving away rats that grow to big for my BP.

I feed all of mine regardless of who is or isn't in shed. Most of mine will eat in any stage of shedding.

As for the rat, I would have left it in there for the snake to eat. Generally if they constrict it, even if they let go, they will usually eat it. They just need to be left in peace and not stared at. I have a couple that will unconstrict and leave it there if I bother the snake or close the tub.

If you pinch your fingers behind the pups skull at the base of the neck and give a strong tug at the base of its tail away from its head with the other hand, it will separate the skull from the spine and instantly kill it.

It sucks but you might want to hit it against the wall to stun it RIGHT before you do it so it doesn't move and will make it easier for you to maneuver.

Put the rat out of its misery. Grab him by the tail and swing his head against a ledge, should kill him instantly if you do it right.

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Originally Posted by Billy305

If you pinch your fingers behind the pups skull at the base of the neck and give a strong tug at the base of its tail away from its head with the other hand, it will separate the skull from the spine and instantly kill it.

It sucks but you might want to hit it against the wall to stun it RIGHT before you do it so it doesn't move and will make it easier for you to maneuver.

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This doesn't work very well for rats. Mice, yes. But for rats the tail will generally separate from the body and cause a bigger problem..

Cheers.

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Originally Posted by decensored

This doesn't work very well for rats. Mice, yes. But for rats the tail will generally separate from the body and cause a bigger problem..

Cheers.

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I havn't seen that happen but that would suck. Ive seen it done with up to medium sized rats but wouldn't want to rip the tail off.

Most grocery stores carry dry ice and sell it by the weight. I work at one and a small piece is very inexpensive.

Thanks everyone for the help. I took care of it. I appreciate it :)

I know it is a hard thing to do but it is something that has to be done. Good job in getting it done.

The feeding in shed comment is based on an article by VPI and there is a memeber here whom had this happen. It is rare but still there.

When fed the snake has a inflexable object in the belly for a short period of time (undigested rat) The skin to be shed is not a flexiable as the 'live' skin is and can bunch up around the enlarged area where the rat is. If left the shed will dry out and shrink constricting there area. In very rare cases this constriction could be life threatning. Personally a skipped meal or two is preferable to a health risk no matter how big or small. I also skip if there is due to be a storm as snakes no digesting deal with lower temps better than ones digesting.