Concerned My snake just ate a sick mouse please read

Hello everyone, i am kind of concerned that my snake may have eated a sick mouse today.

I had picked up 2 mice and one of them was very active and the other was not really doing anything. I picked it up by its tail and it moved and then i put in into the cage and it didn't move to much. i was thinking that i should remove the mouse and just get another one but by the time i went in to remove the mouse Nyxx( my snake) was striking it and began the constricting process. The " sketchy" mouse was breathing but it looked like all it wanted to do was sleep. IM pretty scared for my snake right now.

I have a couple of questions.

is it possible that the mouse could be sick with something that can kill my snake? I was thinking that because of the strenth of the acids in their stomach that maybe it would kill everything that the mouse coudl have had wrong with it. But i could be wrong so im looking for some advice on how or if they can catch something from the mouse if its eaten.

If not is there anything that i can do to make sure that my snake does not get sick or die. Would you guys suggest a vet visit or shoudl i just watch for something.
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If you need any mre info please ask me, im really uneasy about this whole thing, if my snake dies or gets sick i dont know what i would do with myself

I think a visit to the vet would, at the very least, set your mind at ease. If you know a reputable vet who is experienced with herps, you could try calling and just asking for advice. Explain the situation and ask if there are any illnesses that might transfer from a mammal to a reptile via ingestion.


My gut reaction would be to say that everything will be fine. Chances are the mouse was sick with some sort of "cold" or something that would be highly unlikely to transmit to your snake. My biggest concern would be if the mouse had possibly ingested some sort of poison....but if you got it from a decent petstore along with other healthy mice, that is extremely unlikely.

All that being said, I am NOT a vet and not even remotely trying to diagnose for you. I'd give the vet a call and see what he says. :hug:

Ya i have a vet that has helped me with my snake before. he is not only a reptiles specialist but a regular vet, but he does have some exp with reptiles.

I piked up mice with my friend, he got 4( bigger snake then me) and i picked up 2. they were from the petshop that i go to and they were all taken from the same cage.

I do know that human's can not give colds to snakes through air but i assume that eating something that is sick is much different.

Thanks for the reply.

If anyone else has any other advice for me PLEASE PLEASE POST!!!!

I wouldn't worry about it... but then what do I know :)


If you are very concerned you could closely monitor your snake, and take its next poopie or two to the vet for a fecal... Snakes and Mice are different animals, the mouse could have had a seizure due to inbreeding, or a number of physical failures that arent necessarily disease releated. Additionally it could just have been some mouse only disease...


I think your snake will be fine, but keep a close eye on him, and try to be more wary in the future.

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Originally Posted by JLC

I think a visit to the vet would, at the very least, set your mind at ease. If you know a reputable vet who is experienced with herps, you could try calling and just asking for advice. Explain the situation and ask if there are any illnesses that might transfer from a mammal to a reptile via ingestion.


My gut reaction would be to say that everything will be fine. Chances are the mouse was sick with some sort of "cold" or something that would be highly unlikely to transmit to your snake. My biggest concern would be if the mouse had possibly ingested some sort of poison....but if you got it from a decent petstore along with other healthy mice, that is extremely unlikely.

All that being said, I am NOT a vet and not even remotely trying to diagnose for you. I'd give the vet a call and see what he says. :hug:

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Good point! Poison! I missed that one.... another reason not to catch a mouse in the house and sick the snake on it :)

If I had to say, I would bet that your snake is probably ok....you have to remember that even though it's cruel, some shippers of rodents ship their feeders with no food or water. add in the fact that mice are shipped in huge quantities in the same box, so with the warm weather we've been having, and the crowded conditions many pet stores keep their feeder mice, It could have been stressed/weakened as well as dehydrated. I have had mice collapse in the box on the way home from the store!

Depending on the size, it may just be an older mouse, such as a breeder that is being "retired" to the feed stock. In comparison to a younger mouse of the same size, the mouse will appear far less active.

Thanks for the advice everyone. Keep it coming!!!! hehe

has anyone herd of mice transmitting a virus or any kind of sickness to a snake? Im definitly ruling out poison unless this petshop poisons their mice that they sell to people, which i tink is pretty unlikly.

none the less i am still worried, if anyone can shed some light on weather mice can give sickness to snakes i think im going to watch her close and take her next poop to be looked at by someone who can tell me what is going on.

Since you regularily use that same pet shop for feeders I would also give them a call. Mention the specific tank that feeder came out of and ask if they've noticed an suspicious die offs in that colony.

ya thats a good idea too, ill put in a call to them asap.

I don't mean to be a pain in the a$$ but do any of our more versed snake owners know if sickness can be transfered from a mouse to the snake from eating it?

Im waiting to get a fecal sample to get it sent to my vet, but in the mean time just to settle myself i would just like to know if this is even possible.

I hope someone can answer decisively.... to me the obvious answer is , yes, but not likely ... we will see

Not likely at all unless said mouse stepped in contaminated reptile feces before you took it home and then fed it to your snake. Your snake could then contract any parasites or possible illnesses that the infected snake was carrying. Like I said, highly unlikely, but still.

since it's been over 36 hours since you posted this thread and question... i'm wondering... what did you vet say when you called them today? did they feel a mouse could make a snake ill?

in the great circle of life and all of the amazing things that happen on this earth, i doubt very very much that a mouse illness would harm a snake... i just can't see mother nature working like that.

but then, what do i know... not much that's for sure. but i would think your vet would have waaaaaaaaaay better answers than anyone here. (no disrespect meant to anyone here) :D

Well i talked to another vet and he said that its highly unlikly that the snake could get sick. the vet that i usually go to is out of town and iv just been seeing him for so long i feel like i just need to see him to be sure. heh not sure if that sounds crazy but it will make me feel better.

As for if the snake looks ok or not she does. Same behavior that she has always had. She still comes out at night and explores.

but thanks for all the reply's everyone, you were all a huge help!!