Quote Originally Posted by Bogertophis View Post
Treating minor wounds (not deep) on snakes, you can use Betadine (povidone iodine- dab it on & let dry), Vetericyn (a topical & water-based antiseptic get that's
made for use on snakes-probably won't find locally, so good to order & have on hand), or a little bit of Neosporin ointment (for human use- only use the NON-pain
relief version on snakes & don't use too much...it's petroleum jelly-based & that can mess up future sheds if not used very sparingly.) Personally I would treat these
minor scratches, even without bleeding, rat nails can have lots of germs & she might get a nasty infection. Don't wait long to treat either.

Converting a BP to f/t prey takes patience: after thawing properly (until soft inside) in cold water, immerse briefly in very warm water, blot the water off, & many here
have the most success with using a blow dryer to give life-like warmth quickly before offering (using tongs). Best time to feed is evening/night, when your BP is in his
hide & peeking out. "Ambush predators"...remember? They want to pounce on unsuspecting prey that happens by their hiding place, so do make the rat too active &
don't approach the snake with it (they don't volunteer to get eaten in the wild & that behavior can scare a timid snake). You want to elicit a little bit of "chase" from
your snake, but don't expect him to run a marathon. Some snakes grab & constrict & then lose interest...you can try a re-warm...some BPs can be "royal pains".

And don't offer too often if food is refused...that just adds stress & can make it worse. Let them get hungry...don't offer more than once a week, & every
other week is fine.
Thank you so much this is all very helpful. I will definitely look into some of the treatment 'medicines' you mentioned above and have some on hand as right now i don't have any to be honest. I will also be sure to try your suggestions when it comes to reverting back to F/T rats - you outlined a lot of great stuff for me to try so thank you so much