Mouse stuck in BP mouth .. PLEASE help .. WHAT DO I DO??

[Domdrianna]

HI, first Im brand new and I am not even sure if I am posting in the right place if I am not SO SORRY!! I am a new owner of a 6 month old Ball python and this is my first snake... She has eaten 2 other times NO PROBLEMS she is awesome I have had not one problem with her .. This time it looks like the tail is caught wrapped around the bottom of her jaw and goes back in her mouth and one foot is sticking out .. it has been a while now 30min atleast .. every other time she has eaten it has taken a min or so .. my question is how long is too long .. and if it is stuck what do I do?? Thanks

[dc4teg]

should be fine.... but take pics if you want the best answer!

[Domdrianna]

Thank God She just got it down .. I was so worried .. Like I said she never had trouble like that before now that I look t the clock it was almost an hour.. it usually takes her like 2 mins to eat .. Thanks So much for your reply .. I was getting really worried there for a min .. like I said ths is my first snake so I didnt know how long was ok and what was a problem ..

[Chocolate Muffin's]

You did the right thing by watching, discovering and making sure things were ok. Good Job! That sounded pretty scary.

[Jason Bowden]

Glad she got it down! Maybe try a smaller food item in the future.

[Domdrianna]

Thanks I was a sacred .. Only cause I love her so much LOL .. I dont think the size was the problem cause its the same size that they were feeding her in the store and since we have had her home.. I think it was the tail it was wrapped around her bottom jaw .. maybe it WAS a bigger mouse for its size though I will def talk to the store about it when I get her food next time Thanks for the replies it made me feel so much better talking to you guys about it.

[mommanessy247]

be careful getting advice from a store. most times they know nothing but talk alot trying to sell stuff you dont need, making you spend WAY more then you should ever have to.

[EdShal]

glad she got it down! Maybe try a smaller food item in the future.

x2

[Vypyrz]

What I do to make sure that I am feeding the correct size of prey is to use a scale to track my snakes weights. I take the scale to the pet store and weigh the rats to make sure they are 10%-15% of the snakes body weight. You can get a digital food scale from Target or Wal-Mart in the kitchen section. Some people use digital postal scales. Some tobacco shops sell them. Or you can get them from here:

http://www.reptilebasics.com/digital-scales/

Hope this helps...

[mrmertz]

Yes, food sizing is important. Select a mouse/rat that is appropriate for the size of the snake. The mid-section of the snake is where the largest girth (diameter) is. The prey should equal this, at least that's how we do things here anyways. Just use that as a guage. Our Kingsnake takes down prey a little larger than this diameter easily on a regular basis. Our RTB we actually have to give smaller than usual prey.

We once had a Bullsnake at work we saw trying to wolf down a rabbit that was about 4 or 5 times waaay to big for it. It worked and worked trying to get it down and eventually gave up 'cuz later the snake was gone and the rabbit was in the same location - abiet regurgitated. If the snake senses it just ain't gonna' work - that's what happens.