Swallowing substrate when eating

[Dawn1131]

Tonight I let my husband be in charge of the feeding of our girl. She swallowed a BUNCH of big pieces of her cyprus mulch. Please tell me she'll be ok 😞 or at least give me some signs to watch for. Thanks!

[redshepherd]

Keep her temps and humidity on point and she'll be okay! People are usually worried about impaction, which is when an inch or two above their vent feels hard, but it seems to be very rare if their husbandry is correct. They just digest it.

My ball pythons and dumeril's boa swallow aspen every time they eat... I just let them at it. Afterward, they have some stuck in their mouth, and they slowly work it out themselves.

[Dawn1131]

Thank you so, so much!!! I appreciate your answer.

Keep her temps and humidity on point and she'll be okay! People are usually worried about impaction, which is when an inch or two above their vent feels hard, but it seems to be very rare if their husbandry is correct. They just digest it.

My ball pythons and dumeril's boa swallow aspen every time they eat... I just let them at it. Afterward, they have some stuck in their mouth, and they slowly work it out themselves.

[Craiga 01453]

Something to remember: Snakes digest bone, fur, etc... they can handle some substrate. Plus, they eat off the ground in the wild, so safe to say they digest some substrate then too. However, you'll find a lot of keepers will put a paper towel or paper plate or something down inside the enclosure prior to feeding. Not 100% necessary, but puts many people at ease, and certainly can't hurt.

[Neal]

Just let her be and it'll be fine. I generally only use the hemostats to pull stuff if it's sticking out their mouth, but that's more for my sanity than theirs.

[L.West]

Just curious - when using a paper towel is there any chance they would eat the paper towel??

I am new to using aspen for my newly acquired Dumeril's boa and am worrying about the substrate issue too.

[predatorkeeper87]

Just curious - when using a paper towel is there any chance they would eat the paper towel??

I am new to using aspen for my newly acquired Dumeril's boa and am worrying about the substrate issue too.

they aren't going to rip and tear if they get a piece of papertowel stuck in their mouth, but in all honesty that's going to digest far easier than substrate anyhow lol, nothing to worry about.

[Dawn1131]

Very true, thank you! I'll pass this onto my husband, who is scared he did something that will kill our snake haha. He did put some paper towel down, but she dragged the rat off of it, so next time we will put more down. Thank you for your reply! I always appreciate when you answer because I know I'm getting really good advice/answers.

Something to remember: Snakes digest bone, fur, etc... they can handle some substrate. Plus, they eat off the ground in the wild, so safe to say they digest some substrate then too. However, you'll find a lot of keepers will put a paper towel or paper plate or something down inside the enclosure prior to feeding. Not 100% necessary, but puts many people at ease, and certainly can't hurt.

[Dawn1131]

Thank you! Last night when she had a bunch of substrate in her mouth my hubby wanted to pull it out with his fingers, but I figured that wasn't such a hot idea. We'll have to get some hemostats for next time.

Just let her be and it'll be fine. I generally only use the hemostats to pull stuff if it's sticking out their mouth, but that's more for my sanity than theirs.

[Dawn1131]

I've used paper towel every time I feed my girl, and she's never eaten it ☺

Just curious - when using a paper towel is there any chance they would eat the paper towel??

I am new to using aspen for my newly acquired Dumeril's boa and am worrying about the substrate issue too.