Splash Attack

[Meerna]

I just fed my new BP, and when he struck the rat they ended up in his water bowl. He got the rat down fine, but his entire paper towel is soaked. Should I take everything out and change it, or do I need to wait a bit because he had just eaten? It's made the humidity skyrocket in the tank, and I think it's causing me to get some odd readings on the UTH as well.

[bcr229]

I would, if you can manage it without too much fuss.

In the future maybe take out the water bowl an hour before you put the feeder in, and put it back later.

[Meerna]

Good idea, thanks

[Sauzo]

Also be careful with paper towels especially wet ones if you feed on them. I have seen pictures of rats that got wrapped in paper towels while the snake(boas) was eating them and they swallowed the paper towels too and couldn't regurgitate it and died. Maybe throw down a paper plate or piece of thick paper like construction paper before feeding. I feed all my gals on aspen but for babies I will put down a paper plate first. Mine are all big now so i'm not worried if they eat a few pieces of aspen as they are plenty large enough to pass it.

[Kibbleswhites]

If they can digest bone, they can digest paper towels. I would just leave him with the wet towels for 24 hours then clean it up. In 24, most of the digestion is done and regurge is less likely. If you feel the need to clean right away. Place him in a dark box while you lean then put him back. Handle for as little time as possible and support the body evenly.

[Meerna]

I managed to clean it. I took everything out except him and the hide he was in, dried one side, moved his hide and scooted him away from the wet side, then dried that and put everything back. Barely had to touch him, and he curled back up in his hide no problem.

[distaff]

If they can digest bone, they can digest paper towels. I would just leave him with the wet towels for 24 hours then clean it up. In 24, most of the digestion is done and regurge is less likely. If you feel the need to clean right away. Place him in a dark box while you lean then put him back. Handle for as little time as possible and support the body evenly.

Not an expert, but I'm not sure that is true. Bone is calcium, and acid will break that down, but paper products are from wood pulp. That may need a particular enzyme.

Furthermore, the issue for the snake may not be digesting - could the animal get a wet wad of towles down without possibly choking on it? I am suggesting this possibility because I had to pull a big wad of CareFresh out of my corn snake's mouth last night. He was VERY distressed!