BP Ate Some Aspen

[ssmith73]

I recently started using an Animal Plastics T8 and found that the Reptichip was holding it humidity to well so I tried some Aspen. I found that the RHP in the enclosure does (over time) dry out the coco husk and due to the following issue, I will be going back to that tomorrow morning.

Today my female pied ate some aspen while swallowing her rat. It wasn't a lot of it but I've read some posts about impaction and I guess I'm slightly concerned. I tried using the tongs to pull it out but she just would swing her head out of the way (she is also in deep shed).

What should I be looking for?

[zina10]

It should be ok.

They have incredible digestion systems that can break down bones in no time. If it was just a few small pieces of aspen, there won't be any issue. Just make sure they aren't stuck in the side of the mouth.

They are actually quite good at working stuff out of their mouth, in the wild there are sticks, dirt, pebbles and whatnot that can end up in the mouth during eating. Its usually all good.

You could try to put something under the food, but paper towels are a bad idea, they can get eaten, too. Cardboard etc would work, but honestly, mine usually drag the rodent around during eating, so that doesn't really work all that well.

I wouldn't worry so much about it, unless she gets mouthfuls of the stuff into her mouth at each feeding. Usually it happens rarely.

[RickyNY]

She'll be OK