Wounded!

Ok i am so upset. Tonight was feeding time for LuLu my BP. I have had her for a little over a month now. I absoultley LOVE this snake. She has been slamming small mice one a week every week with no problems, untill tonight. I don't know how this happend but it did. When she struck and nailed her dinner, it nailed her as well. She has a small puncture wound on her neck (area between head and tail :D ) There was some bleeding, only while constricting. I have learned form this very helpful community that she should be ok with minor treatment, just watch for infection. But none the less, i am very upset...How could this happen? It's not suppose to be this way!
Ok i just had to share, speaking of sharing does anyone have any simular stories of this nature to share. I think it would lessen my pain, maybe LuLu's too.
Thanks

Did you take the snakes hides out or disturb the enclosure before introducing the rodent?

-adam

just one of the risks of feeding live. I have had a snake get bit by a mouse,healed up no problem, after that i started stunning my mice, now gasing the rats. I would have to say keep in mind that the mouse is fighting for its like so saying "its not supposed to be that way" isn't the best assumption. like i said when you feed live things don't always go down easy if ya know what i mean;)


~mike

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Originally Posted by luluizzi

Ok i am so upset. Tonight was feeding time for LuLu my BP. I have had her for a little over a month now. I absoultley LOVE this snake. She has been slamming small mice one a week every week with no problems, untill tonight. I don't know how this happend but it did. When she struck and nailed her dinner, it nailed her as well. She has a small puncture wound on her neck (area between head and tail :D ) There was some bleeding, only while constricting. I have learned form this very helpful community that she should be ok with minor treatment, just watch for infection. But none the less, i am very upset...How could this happen? It's not suppose to be this way!
Ok i just had to share, speaking of sharing does anyone have any simular stories of this nature to share. I think it would lessen my pain, maybe LuLu's too.
Thanks

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Yes matter of fact i was feeding one of my girls just tonight and she was so exited she grabbed the rat in the midsection.Of course the rat did what its instinct told it to do BITE.Well since i was right their i grabed a screw driver that i have just incase incidents like this and made the rat stop trying to bite her.Of course it worked:) .Now if you notice some open flesh you can place some neosporin on that area a couple times a day.Use just enough to cover the area no more.Since it has antibiotics it will prevent infection from getting out of hand.I am not saying it will get infected just incase it does.If it start to bleed or leak alot for any reason get her to the vet ASAP.I am sending well wishes your way :D .Keep us posted

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Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki

Did you take the snakes hides out or disturb the enclosure before introducing the rodent?

-adam

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When I feed live I take the hides out, to kinda prepare the snake for dinner- is this good or bad? Hopefully you can help the both of us out..

I keep a pen handy at all times. If the snake doesnt immobilize the rat, I let the rat chew on the pen/bite down on it.

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Originally Posted by mmchoppers

When I feed live I take the hides out, to kinda prepare the snake for dinner- is this good or bad? Hopefully you can help the both of us out..

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Myself i do not take anything out of the enclosures before feeding time.I would think it would confuse your snake and just might stress it out then it will refuse to eat.Why take away the snakes feeling that its safe.

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When I feed live I take the hides out, to kinda prepare the snake for dinner- is this good or bad? Hopefully you can help the both of us out..

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Leave the hides in, ball are ambush hunters and the hides act as a place to strike from.

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Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki

Did you take the snakes hides out or disturb the enclosure before introducing the rodent?

-adam

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No i feed in a seperate viv with no hides. THis is when i clean her viv and it also as newspaper substrate instead of the coconut bark substrate in her viv. She has been doing well with this method thus far. Should this be something i should reconsider for future feedings??? Thanks for your input.

Also thanks for sharing Mike and Joe

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Originally Posted by greenmonkey51

Leave the hides in, ball are ambush hunters and the hides act as a place to strike from.

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Hmm, the reason I ask is because I use to feed my snakes in a separate container until I found out they are fine being fed in the tub. Your probly right. The snake has the perfect hunter technology built in- so I guess it would be prepared to eat right when I bring the rat in the room.... I'll just keep the hides in.

Try to leave her in her home were she is most comfy...we also used to feed outside of there cages/tubs but switched and find it works very well...dont be afraid of her biting your hand everytime you reach in..as long as your in there often for cleanings, holding etc. she should be fine....also you said you take this time to clean her cage etc. make sure to keep an eye on the whole feeding process...until the rat/mouse is dead obviously just to make sure nothing like this goes any further then a simple bite when your not looking....Good Luck and keep us posted!

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Originally Posted by TheAudOne

Try to leave her in her home were she is most comfy...we also used to feed outside of there cages/tubs but switched and find it works very well...dont be afraid of her biting your hand everytime you reach in..as long as your in there often for cleanings, holding etc. she should be fine....also you said you take this time to clean her cage etc. make sure to keep an eye on the whole feeding process...until the rat/mouse is dead obviously just to make sure nothing like this goes any further then a simple bite when your not looking....Good Luck and keep us posted!

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Wow we have taught you well young grasshopper :8: :P :cool:

The hides also act as a shelter for the ball python so that the rodent doesn't see it until it's flying toward it, mouth open wide. :P

If you could be attacked by a mouse (and you were a BP LOL), would you want a place to hide until you're ready, or do you want to be out in the open where it can get you?

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Originally Posted by TheAudOne

Try to leave her in her home were she is most comfy...we also used to feed outside of there cages/tubs but switched and find it works very well...dont be afraid of her biting your hand everytime you reach in..as long as your in there often for cleanings, holding etc. she should be fine....also you said you take this time to clean her cage etc. make sure to keep an eye on the whole feeding process...until the rat/mouse is dead obviously just to make sure nothing like this goes any further then a simple bite when your not looking....Good Luck and keep us posted!

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Thanks, actually i have an 11 year old assistant who doesn't even blink while she is feeding :D . I stay till she has the head down then take care of her viv. After tonight's episode this will probally change.
As of now she has her head poking out of her hid.. not usual for her. I dont wont to bother her yet, i will give her overnight then check her out again. My poor poor baby. :(

A BP's hide simulates a rodent burrow in the wild. They wait in the burrow until the innocent rodent decides to take a break, from gathering grains, and as soon as the rodent enters it doesn't know what hit him.:eek:

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Originally Posted by SnakeySnakeSnake

I keep a pen handy at all times. If the snake doesnt immobilize the rat, I let the rat chew on the pen/bite down on it.

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Ok how does this trick work with hides, say if for some reason the snake easts the prey in it's hide?? Also how do you observe feeding if they are in hides?? And one more: If hides are available, how often does/would it happen that the snake eats prey in hide?? I feel like a sponge right now, thanks everyone for all of your advise/expertise. :rockon:

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Originally Posted by luluizzi

Ok how does this trick work with hides, say if for some reason the snake easts the prey in it's hide?? Also how do you observe feeding if they are in hides?? And one more: If hides are available, how often does/would it happen that the snake eats prey in hide?? I feel like a sponge right now, thanks everyone for all of your advise/expertise.

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By lifting the hide while the snake is constricting its prey, you will not disturb your BP because any movement is interpreted as the prey's struggle. By moving the hide to the side you will be able to watch over your BP. They will eat on the same schedule when in their cages and hides and they may have a stronger feeding response from in their hides. :D

I feed 500+ ball pythons a week live ... leave the hides in ... pre-scent the room for 15 - 25 minutes ... put the rodent into the enclosure as far away from the snake as possible ... let the snake do what it is designed to do and get r done ... never had a single bite, scratch, or mauling and I've been doing it like this for 10+ years! :sweeet:

-adam

You'll notice your ball python using the hides as a hunting aide. Some will strike from the hide, some will use it as cover and strike from around it as the rodent approaches, others climb up on the hide and strike downward as the rodent wanders by. Follow Adam's instructions and you and your snake will do fine.

Good info everyone:) I was wondering the same thing the other day when I was feeding, the mouse went in my BP's hide but my BP was out - so then my BP tried to reach his head in quickly and grab it and missed!!! Then my BP sat there patiently waiting for the mouse to come back out and then he got it. But I did remove the hide to watch after he striked to make sure all went well. So yea I did not mentally scar him for life!:rockon:

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Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki

I feed 500+ ball pythons a week live ... leave the hides in ... pre-scent the room for 15 - 25 minutes ... put the rodent into the enclosure as far away from the snake as possible ... let the snake do what it is designed to do and get r done ... never had a single bite, scratch, or mauling and I've been doing it like this for 10+ years! :sweeet:

-adam

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I find this hard to believe. Not calling you a liar, just hard to believe. I have a few that started out on live prey before I switched them to f/t. A couple of them did get nipped, usually in the process of constricting. If they didn't get the mouse or rat near the head or neck, it was on! It happened twice, and almost a third, but I managed to get a pencil in the mouses mouth. I was doing it the same way you are, it just depended on how the snake was holding the prey.

If you're feeding 500+ snakes a week, I can't imagine how you would notice a nip here or there??? I only noticed my "incidents" because I was right there watching the whole process. Can't imagine you could do that 500 times every week. That would make for some very long feeding sessions! :D

Anyway...just my opinion, not tryin' to stir up trouble.:)

Ok, I do not know if maybe i was seeing things or what but i just gave LuLu a very thourough examining and she appears to be fine!! :eek: I now feel like a very releaved crazy person. There was blood and there seemed to be a wound. Is it possiable that it was just from the mouse?? OR could she really heal that fast?? Reguardless, thank all of you for your responses help and advise. You guys ROCK.:rockon:

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Originally Posted by sho220

I find this hard to believe. Not calling you a liar, just hard to believe. I have a few that started out on live prey before I switched them to f/t. A couple of them did get nipped, usually in the process of constricting. If they didn't get the mouse or rat near the head or neck, it was on! It happened twice, and almost a third, but I managed to get a pencil in the mouses mouth. I was doing it the same way you are, it just depended on how the snake was holding the prey.

If you're feeding 500+ snakes a week, I can't imagine how you would notice a nip here or there??? I only noticed my "incidents" because I was right there watching the whole process. Can't imagine you could do that 500 times every week. That would make for some very long feeding sessions! :D

Anyway...just my opinion, not tryin' to stir up trouble.:)

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You're welcome to take a trip up any Monday and watch. ;)

-adam

I usually wait until 730 or so at night to feed Normy. He? is usually active at this time, slithering around the viv. I make sure I put the mouse on the other side of the viv to allow him to hunt. I always watch to make sure nothing serious happens. It's great watching Normy attack from on top of one of the branches I have in there.

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Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki

You're welcome to take a trip up any Monday and watch. ;)

-adam

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You better watch it or I may take you up on that!