BP ate substrate and I'm freaking out!! Will he be okay??

[chloe1110]

Okay so like 30 minutes ago I was feeding my BP and I accidentally dropped the mouse in his water bowl but before I could go to grab it and dry it off he striked at it. I watched him for a bit to make sure he was gonna eat it and that he was okay and then I left him alone to finish eating. In his enclosure I have aspen and then a few random pieces of sphagnum moss scattered around just to help with his humidity. I came back to check up on him and there was a piece of sphagnum moss sticking out of his mouth. I started panicking and tried to figure out what to do. I ran downstairs to get my tweezers and by the time I came back it was fully digested. All of the pieces of sphagnum moss in his enclosure are really long and there could've been pieces of aspen that he digested too and I just didn't see it. I'm really worried and I feel so terrible. Will he be okay?? What do I need to look out for in the following days to make sure it didn't cause issues?

[wnateg]

It'll be fine. Sphagnum moss is pretty digestible.

[Bogertophis]

He should be OK. It's best to prevent our snakes from ingesting substrate, but it's not always possible- it happens in nature too. If it keeps happening, or with things
like wood chips, or anything that can swell up, or has sharp edges (sticks or crushed walnut shells- sold for cage use), it can cause internal injury or constipation, but
no need to panic right now.

[Craiga 01453]

No need to worry. Try to think of it this way...nobody serves them clean food in the wild and they've survived thousands of years.
Although not ideal, a little substrate ingestion won't be a problem.
Many people will put a piece of cardboard or paper plate (not paper towel) down before feeding. I used to, be found that the snakes tend to drag the prey off of it anyway.

It's perfectly normal to worry when you see something like that. But your snake will be ok. You don't need to feel bad, it happens all the time.
Good on you for asking though, it shows you care.

[Zincubus]

It'll be fine. Sphagnum moss is pretty digestible.

This ^^

I’ve seen some of mine swallowing pieces of Orchid bark down with their food .. never had one single issue ..

It’s probably irrelevant but I’ve always thought that if their system can cope with mice and rat bones then presumably a bit of moss or aspen shouldn’t be any concern


I always feed over pieces of card but just occasionally they decide to drag their meal around the floor

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[scobro]

Many people will put a piece of cardboard or paper plate (not paper towel) down before feeding.

Why not paper towels? Do they eat them?

[Bogertophis]

Why not paper towels? Do they eat them?

It doesn't take much dampness to make either cloth or paper towels stick to the rodent (or catch on the snake's teeth) & get swallowed, causing potentially life-threatening blockage & need for surgery to save snake. Yes, this has really happened, and while snakes have the enzymes to digest their normal prey, there are things they cannot digest, such as wood & fabrics.

[Bogertophis]

...Sphagnum moss is pretty digestible.

Plant material is not very digestible by snakes, but the saving grace is that moss is flexible, not hard or sharp...it should pass ok & far better than shards of wood etc.

[wnateg]

Plant material is not very digestible by snakes, but the saving grace is that moss is flexible, not hard or sharp...it should pass ok & far better than shards of wood etc.

From some research, that seems to be the case. I was right, but for the wrong reasons. Sorry.