BP has masking tape stuck to her chin! Help!

Hello-

My daughter's BP got stuck on some masking tape (daughter has been taping down the newspaper so the BP wouldn't burrow underneath and tip over the water bowl). I soaked the snake and was able to remove enough of the tape to clear the mouth, but there is a 1 inch square piece firmly stuck to the underside of her head. The skin there is so delicate that I quit trying to remove any more when I damaged a bit of skin in the attempt to remove it.

She ate a large meal about 4-5 days before this and she sheds frequently- every 6 weeks or so- should we wait and see if it comes off with a shed? I'm afraid if we try to feed her before then, the tape will prevent the skin from stretching around her jaw and cause more problems.

Would oil break up the adhesive? Would something like olive oil be okay to use on her?

Needless to say we won't be taping the newspaper down any more :( I'll just make her a heavier water bowl I guess.

People report that mineral oil is safe for BPs (mostly used for mite eradication). Maybe that would help get it off?

I have heard of using mineral oil and olive oil. Good luck!

I would rub her chin down with olive oil and carefully remove what you can. And please use no tape, or barely tacky tape like the blue painters tape in the enclosure. (I still dont see why anyone needs tape in the enclosure, but some do...)

Btw, you may want to get a heavier bowl. Some of mine like to push, & pull their newspaper around and I have to keep straightening it out, but they never tip their bowls over because I get the heavy ones. ;)

Mineral oil... use a q-tip and very gently drip it under the tape... push the tape up, then pull away gently, you'll get a bit more free each time.

You want to force the oil into the back of the site of adhesion.

And get that tape out of that enclosure for good... there is no good reason to have it in there.

Bruce

Thanks everyone! yes, we have learned the lesson about tape. And I'm a potter so a heavier water bowl will be easy to come by ;)

I'm off to the store for mineral oil....wish us luck!

Mineral oil works very well with a lot of patience. Goodluck with it.

Best of luck. A warm soak with oil for 30 minutes will help losen it up for sure. This is a very common mistake that newer owners make, tape is an awful thing for a snake.

We tried holding/working/scrubbing a cotton ball soaked in oil to her chin for a while last night. She is NOT wanting us to mess with her head and we can't very well soak her head in oil, so I'm hoping a few sessions just trying to saturate the tape with the oil will do it. It's not easy hanging on to a snake with oily hands when she wants NO PART of what you are doing to her!

Another example of why ANY tape should NEVER be used ANYWHERE inside an enclosure.

I know this is like beating a dead horse. I think they should begin to post a sticky in the forum on this very subject as it's suprising how many times this comes up here.

Get one of those ceramic dog bowls, they are heavy and work well. One of my bp's and my corn like to burrow under the newspaper, it's perfectly fine as long as your UTH is properly regulated by a thermostat. In fact I sometimes use the hides and water bowl to make "tunnels" of newspaper for my corn, he absolutely loves them. :P

Good luck!!

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Originally Posted by mrmertz

Another example of why ANY tape should NEVER be used ANYWHERE inside an enclosure.

I know this is like beating a dead horse. I think they should begin to post a sticky in the forum on this very subject as it's suprising how many times this comes up here.

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Yes- we had done a LOT of research before getting this snake, and I had never run across a mention of this problem. *sigh* if only I had known (or used some common sense). I mean, it's drummed into us about heat rocks and heat lamps and all that- we need some more anti-tape info in caresheets and the like!

Hopefully she come out of this with all her scales... seeing a BP with a tape scars is such a sad thing.

I think if they do a sticky it should include pics of what it can do to a snake.

Bruce

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Originally Posted by mrmertz

I think they should begin to post a sticky in the forum on this very subject as it's suprising how many times this comes up here.

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You mean make a sticky about tape? :D

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Originally Posted by simplechamp

You mean make a sticky about tape? :D

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LOL!

Well, I got it off of her today! No loss of scales. WHEW. I am now an anti-tape-activist. Let her mess up the cage- better than what all 3 of us have gone through in the last couple of days!

Thank you so very much for all of your help!

I am very glad you got the tape off. Please let me know when and where the first anti tape rally will be held. I will work on sponsors but i think the big ones like 3m and Duck are out...

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Originally Posted by hoax

I am very glad you got the tape off. Please let me know when and where the first anti tape rally will be held. I will work on sponsors but i think the big ones like 3m and Duck are out...

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:8:

Oh thank goodness your snakie is ok! I'm glad there was no harm done!