blood splatter (spatter?)

[sophia]

(Let me preface with the fact that I left my roommate to monitor the rat, but apparently she got distracted, even though she volunteered, and didn't see the feeding. This IS my fault, and I apparently didn't stress the importance of watching the rat b/c they can be dangerous to the snakes. I'm new to this and doing my best, so I hope no one will judge me on that mistake I made.)

(Also, I just inherited this snake from my dad who can't care for her anymore. I knew her when she was younger, but haven't worked with her in a number of years)

I have two questions:

1) How much blood splatter have you seen come from a rat during a killing? This is a medium rat and an 11 year old female BP (just got her and don't know her weight yet). The rat was a bit small for her (b/c it was her first feeding in her new home and she's been known to refuse larger prey). Based on the clean spot of the substrate - therefore where she must have gotten it - there is blood at a 10-12 inch radius and up to about 6 inches off the ground. Small droplets. Is this normal, because I've never seen it before? Am I correct in thinking this came from the strike/kill?

2) Should I check the snake's body, and when? I mean, is there any chance this could be her blood? I have lifted the lid on her hide and she looks alert and I don't see anything. Because she is in sort of a tupperware hide, I need to handle her to see more than about a quarter of her body. I ask when, because it's been 18 hours since she ate and I don't want to put her in danger.

Sorry this is wordy, and thank you in advance for your help.

[bait4snake]

Until you get her out, we can't be sure. But from experience... I've had BPs and Burmese sqeeze a lot of blood out the rat's nose, and if your snake moves around a lot after the kill (especially if they try to eat the rat from the wrong end) the blood will get everywhere.

[SarahMB]

I would go ahead and check the snake over real quick. Better safe than sorry!

[sophia]

Thanks for your responses. I'd like to check the snake too, but will handling her make her regurgitate? It hasn't been 24 hours.

[SarahMB]

A quick check with minimal jostling shouldn't cause a regurge.

[dr del]

Hi,


How does she normally react to handling?

A quick but gentle overall examination hopefully shouldn't have any ill effects but if she hasn't been handled recently and is stressed by it then you might need to be a bit more cautious and gentle.

dr del

[sophia]

My dad wasn't handling her at all. I've handled once - one week ago. She seemed alright - I don't think she was very relaxed or very tense, but of course I don't know the snake and am no expert.

Before that, I don't think she was handled for at least a year, probably more because I think my dad wants to make it sound better than it was. He said he was getting afraid of her, which is strange to me, especially because she's never bitten or anything like that. She was also kept too cold, and with one hide (I have 2 identical ones ready to go once this is straightened out, and have gotten her temps more or less under control). From what he has told me, she was shedding well, feeding somewhat reliably on undersized prey between April/May and September/October, and not eating at all in the late fall and winter.

I'm glad she's with me, because I think I can give her a happy life, but I still have lots to learn.

[frankykeno]

You've learned the first lesson Sophia. Feed your snake yourself. When it comes to live feeds you're the one who needs to be there. I'm not being harsh, just realistic that no one is going to care about your snake as much as you will.

I'd just very gently check her over as much as you can without moving her about a lot. Nudge her over and check the substrate directly under her for any sign of continued bleeding after the feed. It's likely it was the rat and she just squeezed it enough to pop a few blood vessels in it as she moved it around to eat it but it's best to have a good look at her just to be sure she's okay.

[sophia]

Yep. I don't think you're being harsh, at least not as harsh as I was on myself.

[frankykeno]

Thanks dear, I didn't want it taken that way...I'm just a bit of a plain speaker sometimes and online that can come across badly. I know I'm tough on myself too if I make an error and one of our animals pays a price...way more than anyone else ever could be. Hope all is well with your snake!