Well, I hope I'm overreacting...but [possible rat bite]

[HighVoltageRoyals]

Thanks for all the advice guys; you've put my mind at ease for now. She is a pretty hardy girl so I have faith in her but will be keeping a close eye on here and watching for any signs that it is getting worse. I'll let everyone know how it goes in a couple weeks.

[DooLittle]

I would think infected bite also. I have also heard neosporin is not good for snakes. Wish I could remember what the name is of what you should use betadyne or something like that. Don't quote me on that as I am having a brain fart. Hopefully somebody else will help out..... I know I have heard you have to go to a pharmacy to get it. But there was a thread on here awhile back where a snakes scales were coming off, from neosporin use. Good luck though.

[HighVoltageRoyals]

I would think infected bite also. I have also heard neosporin is not good for snakes. Wish I could remember what the name is of what you should use betadyne or something like that. Don't quote me on that as I am having a brain fart. Hopefully somebody else will help out..... I know I have heard you have to go to a pharmacy to get it. But there was a thread on here awhile back where a snakes scales were coming off, from neosporin use. Good luck though.

As far as I know, neo is okay to use as long as it doesn't have any pain killers in it. Someone correct me if I'm wrong!

[ballpythonluvr]

Neosporin without pain relief is fine if you don't over use it. Betadine would be better to use though.

[HighVoltageRoyals]

Neosporin without pain relief is fine if you don't over use it. Betadine would be better to use though.

Is Betadine over the counter or prescription?

[satomi325]

Neosporin is ok in light moderation and shouldn't be used over and over again as it softens the scales. Betadine will work just the same if not better without harming your snake.

It doesn't look like a bite to me. I say the rat scratched your snake. It most likely kept kicking its hind legs and flung a scale off. In my experience, most rats coiled wouldn't even be able to bite since they're too busy trying to breathe, even when your snake bites the butt.... My snakes bite both heads and butts when coiling and I've never had a rat attempt to bite. They were more concerned with kicking to get away...

The bumps could be from the rat claws piercing the skin though the scales. Rat claws contain bacteria that will irritate where its touched. If the bumps are from the claws, it will clear up on its own.

To avoid future injuries, you can feed smaller sized rats more often instead if larger prey and less frequently. Weanling pups and small rats are harmless.

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[h00blah]

It doesn't look like a bite to me. I say the rat scratched your snake. It most likely kept kicking its hind legs and flung a scale off. In my experience, most rats coiled wouldn't even be able to bite since they're too busy trying to breathe, even when your snake bites the butt.... My snakes bite both heads and butts when coiling and I've never had a rat attempt to bite. They were more concerned with kicking to get away...

I monitor each and every LIVE feeding until the rodent is dead, and I often see the rodent biting at the paper towel substrate whenever it gets the chance... So I wouldn't count on the rodent finding breathing more advantageous than biting HARD. The rodent will constantly chew at the paper towels until it can't anymore. THEN it will focus on trying to breathe.

[satomi325]

I monitor each and every LIVE feeding until the rodent is dead, and I often see the rodent biting at the paper towel substrate whenever it gets the chance... So I wouldn't count on the rodent finding breathing more advantageous than biting HARD. The rodent will constantly chew at the paper towels until it can't anymore. THEN it will focus on trying to breathe.

I suppose it depends on the size of rat. Like I mentioned before, weanlings and small rats are harmless. I feed smaller and more frequent than larger and less often. It's safer that way. I've never experienced anything you described.

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[HighVoltageRoyals]

I suppose it depends on the size of rat. Like I mentioned before, weanlings and small rats are harmless. I feed smaller and more frequent than larger and less often. It's safer that way. I've never experienced anything you described.

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I might try this. I have all my balls on a 7 day cycle with medium rats (small rat for the youngin'). Should I just split that up into a 4 day cycle with small rats?

I remember hearing on here (somewhere, I'm not about to wade through years of posts to find it) that feeding bigger meals less frequently is better than feeding smaller meals more frequently. But I personally see it as this: if they eat, they eat so why not?

Also, I'm.....dumb. I can't currently do F/T because I don't have a freezer. I would hate to see a rat go to waste if my babes decide to be super picky about frozen. :/ So I guess I'll have to wait a bit until I splurge on a proper fridge.

[Slim]

I remember hearing on here (somewhere, I'm not about to wade through years of posts to find it) that feeding bigger meals less frequently is better than feeding smaller meals more frequently. But I personally see it as this: if they eat, they eat so why not?

People have had success with both methods. I think that keepers and breeders with large collections tend to gravitate to a 7 day cycle because they have so many things to do, husbandry wise, on the other 6 days. The most BPs I ever kept at one time was 6, and even with that few, it was easier for me to feed on a 7 day cycle.