Vote for BP.Net for the 2013 Forum of the Year! Click here for more info.

» Site Navigation

» Home
 > FAQ

» Online Users: 3,131

3 members and 3,128 guests
Most users ever online was 6,337, 01-24-2020 at 04:30 AM.

» Today's Birthdays

None

» Stats

Members: 75,031
Threads: 248,490
Posts: 2,568,453
Top Poster: JLC (31,651)
Welcome to our newest member, isismomma
Results 1 to 6 of 6

Hybrid View

  1. #1
    Registered User
    Join Date
    01-10-2010
    Location
    Gainesville, FL
    Posts
    73
    Thanks
    10
    Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts

    Help for the forum

    I just experienced the scariest moment of my short BP career. Loki accidentally got a chunk of coconut husk stuck in his mouth after feeding. He was unable to free it from his mouth and was unable to swallow it. I managed to get it out, but I was hoping an advanced keeper on here could post a thread dealing with situations like this.

    I had no idea how to hold him to help him out. How to hold him firmly yet not hurt him. Just something that will help newbies handle their snakes in situations where they need complete control over the snake, without hurting the snake.

    I was hoping it could just become a sticky or something.

  2. #2
    BPnet Veteran llovelace's Avatar
    Join Date
    12-10-2008
    Location
    South Florida
    Posts
    7,835
    Thanks
    420
    Thanked 1,864 Times in 1,703 Posts
    Images: 4

    Re: Help for the forum

    Every snake owner should know this, not only for substrate stuck in mouth, but for general mouth inspections.

    hold snake firmly with hand at base of skull, using free hand, use a Q-Tip, to gently open the snakes mouth.

    It is easier if youu have an extra set of hands, especially with bigr snakes.

    Hope this helps
    Check out what's available at


    "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." - Gandhi

  3. #3
    BPnet Veteran redstormlax12's Avatar
    Join Date
    08-16-2009
    Location
    Saranac Lake, New York, United States
    Posts
    659
    Thanks
    51
    Thanked 150 Times in 120 Posts
    Images: 5

    Re: Help for the forum

    Opening the mouth is pretty easy. But can be kinda scary for someone new. But do it just like llovelace said. With a BP, you can just use a few fingers to grip the head. I like to support the rest of the snakes body on either my lap or my forearms. Since they are a heavy bodied snake, being held by there head can be stressful on their spinal column. Then a q-tip or anything of that nature, a smooth plastic pen even, can be used to gently open the mouth. You basically just slid it in sideways. It doesnt require alot of pressure and the snake will sometimes open its jaws just because it is irritating and is instinct.

    With herps, its best to be bold, than to be afraid of them. They are extremely resilient. That said, being too rough can cause harm. Just be gentle at first and once you get the hang of it you'll be fine.
    Connor Paschke
    Pre-vet Major at SUNY Plattsburgh

    1.0 Jungle Carpet Pythons (Headhunter lineage)
    1.0 Dwarf Albino Reticulated Python (Steve Gooch)

  4. #4
    Registered User jfreels's Avatar
    Join Date
    03-29-2010
    Location
    Marietta, Georgia, United States
    Posts
    1,081
    Thanks
    302
    Thanked 200 Times in 162 Posts
    Images: 2

    Re: Help for the forum

    That's pretty much the only reason why I use a feeding bin.
    -J.B.
    http://www.iherp.com/jfreels
    Technology & Reptile mashup blog
    YouTube Channel
    "STOP ANTHROPOMORPHIZING YOUR ANIMALS." - WesleyTF

  5. #5
    BPnet Lifer snakesRkewl's Avatar
    Join Date
    09-14-2009
    Location
    Milwaukie, Oregon
    Posts
    7,665
    Thanks
    2,687
    Thanked 3,036 Times in 2,147 Posts
    Images: 2

    Re: Help for the forum

    It's one of the reasons why I quit using aspen and am now using paper towels for all of my snakes.

    One of my large females struck at a rat and missed only to shove a stick of aspen into it's throat.
    Trying to remove a piece of wood from a 2000 gram female that's trashing around with wood jammed into her throat is no easy task.
    I don't miss using aspen much
    Jerry Robertson

  6. #6
    Registered User
    Join Date
    01-10-2010
    Location
    Gainesville, FL
    Posts
    73
    Thanks
    10
    Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts

    Re: Help for the forum

    Thanks for the help guys, like I said, I fixed my problem fine. I was hoping an admin or another advanced user could post a sticky onto the normal husbandry page for other new keepers to refer to

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v4.2.1