Unintentional ball python owner who needs help!

[AmyandSeverussnake]

Hi, I'm new to the snake world,

I have ended up with a pretty little snake that I confiscated from my sister's Uni halls, I am trying my best but until going down to the local pet store I honestly knew nothing about them. She is in a 3ft viv with the right heating and humidity, and has just shed her skin here for the first time, so fingers crossed all is going well, until tonight!

I have had this lovely little ball python for about 4 months now (she was 6 months old when i got her from my sister), and she has been fine eating so far, but tonight during feeding the rat popped and got some substrate stuck to it, and she has eaten it. I am really worried, what should i do? Please help!

P.S I have tried feeding her outside the viv before as I was told it was the best way to do it, but she refused 2 rats in a row when i tried it :/

Thankyou x

[tttaylorrr]

why are you worried? snakes digest bones, so i don't think a bit of substrate will hurt them.

do you feed live or f/t? if f/t: how did you thaw the feeder? thawing a f/t feeder too quickly will usually result in it exploding during the strike and wrap.

also, keep feeding in the enclosure. whoever told you it is the best way is incorrect and i would not trust their info. if you're truly worried about the snake ingesting substrate, lay down a piece of cardboard and offer the feeder over that.

[Caali]

You don't have to do anything. Eating substrate is not ideal but not deadly. Don't worry. She seems to be doing great so just keep doing what you're doing.

P.S. Feeding outside of the enclosure is not necessary (in my opinion). Normally feeding inside the enclosure is just fine.

[AmyandSeverussnake]

Thankyou,

I was worried because she's never done it before, although yeah thinking about it I now realise it is probably a silly worry.

I have been buying a frozen rat from the pet store each week to feed her, and thawing it out in a bowl of hot water.

I'm also pretty sure she's not a normal ball python because she's not brown, I've read that there are different morphs, but I don't know where she came from or anything, is there some way of identifying what she is??

Thanks!

[tttaylorrr]

I'm also pretty sure she's not a normal ball python because she's not brown, I've read that there are different morphs, but I don't know where she came from or anything, is there some way of identifying what she is??

Thanks!

post a picture!!! we love guessing morphs here!

[MD_Pythons]

We could probably identify it, post a pic of it!

[Ax01]

Thankyou,

I was worried because she's never done it before, although yeah thinking about it I now realise it is probably a silly worry.

I have been buying a frozen rat from the pet store each week to feed her, and thawing it out in a bowl of hot water.

I'm also pretty sure she's not a normal ball python because she's not brown, I've read that there are different morphs, but I don't know where she came from or anything, is there some way of identifying what she is??

Thanks!

u can post a pix. start a thread and post pix of her here: https://ball-pythons.net/forums/foru...-Morph-Is-This and peeps can help ID her.

congrats on the successful feed and she will be fine. BTW how do u like being a (unintentional) ball python owner?

[Craiga 01453]

No worries about a little substrate. Your snake will be fine.

Also, I 1000000% advocate for feeding within the enclosure. I feed all of my snakes inside their enclosures and have never been bitten or even struck at within the enclosure. My only voted have come outside the enclosure and I consider my fault.
I also have never had any issues with substrate ingestion/impaction.
Feeding in a separate feeding tub a) increases your chances of being tagged moving the snake back to its enclosure since the snake will likely still be in feed mode. b) increases the chance of your snake regurgitating it's meal. This is unhealthy for the snake and can cause setbacks and lastly, c) it will also be the least likely way to get the snake eating. A snake that is moved to a wide open tub will be more stressed than a snake within its own enclosure and will be far more likely to refuse food.

[AmyandSeverussnake]

Any ideas what she is?

[Caali]

Any ideas what she is?

I'm not the most experienced person when it comes to morphs but it looks like a Super Pastel to me.