So Excited! Another "first time feed" Success Story!

[TheGreatStevearino]

My male is ~3.5 years old and a rescue from his previous owners due to miscare. I instantly fell in love and took him home on Sunday. He has been on a Wednesday feeding schedule and has been acting comfortable and hungry for two days now. So I decided to go ahead and try feeding him a small rat "crawler." He took it within 15 seconds! This was the first time he has eaten in three weeks due to shedding.

Three questions:

1)The rat was small (a good bit smaller than the thickest part of the snake), should I attempt to feed him another tomorrow (Thursday)? I didn't buy two today because I wasn't sure if he would even take one in the first place.

2) How long after BPs eat should you wait to handle them? I haven't handled this guy aside from putting him in his enclosure when I initially bought him. I read you should wait 24 hours after feeding to handle him in order to allow proper digestion, but is this long enough?

3)He looked to ingest a small amount of substrate (aspen shavings) upon feeding. I know they can pass small amounts of substrate along with meals so this is fine, right? I'll put down a paper towel next time.

They told me he was a good eater and now I believe it!

[NormanSnake]

1) I would offer another tomorrow

2) 36-48 hours is how long most people wait. Less if it's a small meal, more if it's a large meal.

3) They digest mouse bones, right? the substrate won't hurt him, just make sure from now on you're feeding him appropriately sized meals and the prey isn't wet.

Congrats on the new addition, and welcome to the forum!

[dsirkle]

1. I wouldn't personally.

2. Two days IMO.

3. I once had an aspen chip get stuck and prop the mouth wide open on one of my bp's. Since then I have bought shavings instead of chips and never had a problem again. I sometimes see pieces of shavings ingested.

[TheGreatStevearino]

Okay thanks guys. I think I'll probably just wait until next Wednesday and feed him an appropriately sized meal.

[Willie76]

I just want to say thank you for trying to give a neglected animal a great home. Asking questions here (I still do) shows us that you are indeed a true animal lover that WANTS to give this BP an absolutely great home. My normal was also a "rescue" and I would do it over again in a heartbeat. Though I have owned/fostered many snakes over the years, I still find myself with questions time to time. No matter how simple you think the question is...ask it. The ONLY stupid question is the one you don't ask.

So I applaud you in giving your new acquisition a good home...