Thank goodness for Listerine!

[sam_b]

I was just feeding some of my snakes this evening when I heard a big bang from one of my boa tubs, one which wasn't being fed today. I looked in, expecting it just to be one of the boas striking at the side because of the smell of rats, but unfortunately I was wrong!

When I looked in I saw my big albino girl (7.5') wrapped around my small (4') het male. I suddenly realised that she must've smelt rats and detected movement and BANG, went for him. All I could see in the coils was his jaw open and not a lot else.

My first thought was to dunk them in a big tub of water, which I did, then I remembered I kept some Listerine in the room to release any 'hanger ons'. I scrambled around for it then poured a little on their heads, and just like that they seperated.

I immediatly removed the male from the tub and checked him and he seemed fine, his jaw was a little crooked, as if he had been the one doing the biting?! I then looked in on her and she had teeth marks on HER head! I couldn't check her properly as she is striking at anything and everything. I will have a proper look when she's calmed down a bit but she looks fine.

Turns out he is a little blue and so his vision must've been all but gone. That combined with the smell of rats and a big warm head moving around was all it took. Really surprised he went for something so much bigger. He must have had her, but she was also constricting him. Kind of interesting to have seen how it would have played out, although I'm definately glad I managed to stop it.

Anyway, the moral of this story, always have some mouthwash to hand, you never know when you might need it!

Sam

[2kdime]

Were they being kept together for breeding?

Listerine is a good one, as well as vodka.

I saw a thread a guy posted a while back, he took the animal into the bathroom and turned the shower on with hot water. Snake let go immediately as well.

[Patrick Long]

I have had that happen with my boas as well.

Except it was the big girl doing the wrapping!

[sam_b]

Yeah, they were together for breeding. She's actually 'done' in my opinion but I prefer to keep them together for too long then not long enough!

It seemed odd when I thought it was her doing the biting as she's been off feed for well over a month now.

I think the mrs would get suspicious if I started keeping vodka out in the snake room!

Sam