Substrate stuck in my BP's upper lip

Hello everyone. I have some not so great news to announce. My new baby BP got some Zilla Jungle Mix substrate stuck in his upper and lower lip.it's been there for a few days and the two times I tried to get it out he got very scared and tried to squeeze my hand. I've gotten most of it out but there is still a bit more left. Sadly, when I was taking the substrate out I accidently bruised my little boys snout a little bit. I really don't want my snake to get a mouth infection so any recommendations are greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Can you share a pic?

Sorry I cant really get a great image because of his active movement and my phones terrible quality. Ill describe the scene to you. Where his tongue flickers, you see some of the substrate around there in the upper and lower lip, and his little bruisr is to the right of his "tongue hole". The bruise is around 1mm in length and is red.

So are you able to get his mouth open and see exactly what is still stuck?
Do you have somebody who can help you either hold the snake or try to remove what's stuck?

I think I'm kinda seeing what the issue is, but it's hard to just visualize my perception and try to offer help.

How did you remove the pieces you were already able to get?

The two times I opened his mouth I was alone. I gently held his body between my feet and opened his mouth with a cotton swab. The problem is, he's very head shy, so he starts squirming frantically and pulling his head away. I dont want to stress him any more becuase he has been with me for only 6 days. Yes, I can get someone to help. The substrate I saw was just stuck to his upper and lower lip. I stupidly used my finger to get it out. That's what caused the little bruise. Luckily the bruise is on the outside though. Do you have any ideas that I could use to remove the substrate? Thanks.

I'm really afraid of giving bad advice since I can't see it.

If it's where I'm thinking it is it might just take someone with confidence to hold the mouth open and another to use tweezers.

BUT....That's Not the easiest task if you're not super confident. If you're not, please don't try it

Thank you for the advice. Sadly me nore any of my friends/family have any experience with snakes, so this would be a last resort type of thing. What do you think would happennif we let the snake figure it out or if we opened his mouth and tried to wash it out with water?

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Originally Posted by Danya

Thank you for the advice. Sadly me nore any of my friends/family have any experience with snakes, so this would be a last resort type of thing. What do you think would happennif we let the snake figure it out or if we opened his mouth and tried to wash it out with water?

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Trying to flush it with water would probably be safer, but would still require confidence holding the snake. If it's lodged in there good, which seems the case since it's been days I'm not sure it'll get it. Ugggh I wish I could just help you from here! Hahahaha

You're really helping me out a lot today. Thank you! Anyways, the substrate comes out easily if you can reach it, so using a little water squirter would probably do it. I'm worried that I might drown the snake or somehow the substrate could hurt it If it went down my Ball Python's throat. Do you think anything will happen to the snake? (This would be so much harder if I had a large boa, lol) Thank you so much again! :)

Great news! My older sister came and helped me with Monty. We got every pece of substrate out of his mouth. I never thought that a snake could be this calm! All he did was hiss once and squirm a little bit. We found some sore spots from the substrate or the shooting water in the mouth. I will check on them in a few days just to make sure. Thank you so much for helping me Craig! Lot's of respect.

What kind of substrate do you use? When I was using Aspen shavings it seemed like I always had problems with substrate in my snakes mouth. But since I changed to a coconut husk chip bedding I don't have that problem very often and I usually just leave the snake alone and they figure it out on their own. Coconut husk doesn't have sharp edges like Aspen so I'm not that worried. Seems like my big Retic female always has a bit in her lip after eating, I just leave her alone and she figures it out. Hasn't hurt her at all in the last couple years.

Awesome!!! I'm glad you were able to get it out.

A lot of times if we go in with confidence it's almost as if the snake knows we're trying to help and will relax and allow us to help. Obviously not the case with every snake or every situation though, hahaha.

Anyway, I'm happy for you and your snake. I would Just let him chill for a few days. I'm sure this ordeal stressed him out, but he'll be fine.

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Originally Posted by craigafrechette

Trying to flush it with water would probably be safer, but would still require confidence holding the snake. If it's lodged in there good, which seems the case since it's been days I'm not sure it'll get it. Ugggh I wish I could just help you from here! Hahahaha

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This is a good idea .... I'd have grabbed it in a towel so it felt secure ( to both of us ) then tease it's head out . You could hold it secure in the towel with one hand and have good look with your other hand - then poor water across / over the mouth area .


Bit of a tangent but I feed over pieces of card so the chance of ingesting is minimised . Then just remove the card pieces afterwards .


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