What the heck?

[Royal_Python]

Ok, so I just went to feed my python f/t.. and after he took the food i noticed that his scales on his bottom of his mouth/jaw are separated in one place.. so much so that I could see the mouse fur through it! handling the snake normally, I couldnt see this because the scales were together, but when stretched out, its split.. What happened, and what do i need to do. I worried!

[RestlessRobie]

Not an expert but mine has this split as well when eating so I would think its normal strecthing to fit the mouse in
Robie

[muzikfreakah]

All BPd have that no Need to worry 


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[dr del]

Yep,

Perfectly normal.


dr del

[Royal_Python]

It seems like I saw a membrane there before.. this was totally open, but in that same spot. Still normal? Like the membrane that stretched there was split? Thanks for the responses

[dr del]

Hi,

Is it the same as the line you can see in the first post of this repticzone thread?

http://www.repticzone.com/forums/Bal...s/2080619.html


dr del

[Royal_Python]

Hi,

Is it the same as the line you can see in the first post of this repticzone thread?

http://www.repticzone.com/forums/Bal...s/2080619.html


dr del

Yes, that is the same line..only it was literally split there.. So when it stretched to allow the mouse to fit, there was fur sticking out. He took the food just fine though.. and seems fine overall.. Just concerning.. Will that heal back?

[dr del]

Wow,

I know it is see through and that fur can be easily spotted but I have never heard of it literally splitting so fur was sticking through it.

Are you certain it was split and not just the normal stretched see through membrane?

What size of prey were you feeding him in relation to his size?

I'd assume it would heal but I can't say how long it will take - I would feed him much smaller prey for a while though to take the strain off it.


dr del

[blushingball419]

Yeah, a snake's lower jaw actually consists of two separate pieces that can move independently of one another, and the outer scaled membrane is capable of stretching to extreme lengths to allow them to swallow their prey. When it's stretched tight, it can seem very transparent... there have been several times during feeding time when my immediate thought was that it had split, but it never has.

I suppose it could happen, and if you actually did see fur sticking through then that's obviously not good, but, as dr. del said, it can heal. The only way you can tell for sure without poking around your bp's mouth and stressing him out is wait until next feeding day. If you're concerned you could feed him a smaller prey item... you should still be able to see the membrane and tell if it's split or not.