F/T too big for him?

[NickP]

I just fed my BP a new size F/T and he's been struggling with the swallowing. Till now he's had three F/T fuzzies, but they were way to small and he hasn't pooped or gained much wait, so I decided to switch size. Well, I think it was successfull. He quickly struck and grabbed the mouse, but he's been swallowing it for over 15 minutes now. He still hasn't gone past the head. I think he didn't get a direct strike at the head and is kinda holding the F/T from the neck. Could i be too big? Here are some pics:



Getting ready to eat:



Here's him swollowing:

[NickP]

Sorry for all the typos. I typed it very fast and had to go to a store since they close at midnight, but anyway, not that I am back it seems like he has either swallowed it or dumped it somewhere. He's tucked nicely in his hide and I can't tell if the F/T is within him stretching some part of his body or not.

[Repti-Rob]

Not to come down on you and maybe some of the others can chime in but I believe that it is problematic to feed on that substrate. It looks like your using Aspen and and can get stuck in their mouths and cause some problems. I had one get a piece stuck and luckly was able to remove it. Just my 2cents

[NickP]

Not to come down on you and maybe some of the others can chime in but I believe that it is problematic to feed on that substrate. It looks like your using Aspen and and can get stuck in their mouths and cause some problems. I had one get a piece stuck and luckly was able to remove it. Just my 2cents

Very true and I agree. I have 3 bricks of coconut bark sitting under his tank. I'm just waiting for him to poop before I clean out the aspen.

[SoundUnsleep]

Size seems fine. If you are worried check his body. He should have a nice lump on him, without skin showing between the scales right after feeding.
Don't worry about feeding sessions taking too long. Some just "gulp" it down, others are connoisseurs, checking, tasting and swallowing slowly, enjoying every millimeter of their meal.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Size seems fine. If you are worried check his body. He should have a nice lump on him, without skin showing between the scales right after feeding.
Don't worry about feeding sessions taking too long. Some just "gulp" it down, others are connoisseurs, checking, tasting and swallowing slowly, enjoying every millimeter of their meal.

Ideally you want to feed a prey slightly smaller than the girth size (widest part of your BP's body) and no, proper size meal does not need to leave a lump as suggested above.

None of the prey I feed leave a lump on any of my BP.

[NickP]

Well, it's been a day and he's been tightly pressed against the back of his hide. I'm hoping he ate and is actually digesting right now, but we'll see tomorrow when I check up on him. I hope he didn't spit it back out and the mouse isn't stinking up his hide.

[Brimstone111888]

Not to come down on you and maybe some of the others can chime in but I believe that it is problematic to feed on that substrate. It looks like your using Aspen and and can get stuck in their mouths and cause some problems. I had one get a piece stuck and luckly was able to remove it. Just my 2cents

These creatures dissolve solid teeth and bone. A thinnly sliced piece of soft wood probably won't hurt if he digests it. If anything gets stuck most of the time they will be able to get it them selves. Not a big issue. Far too much coddling of BP's. I can probably go out on a common sense limb and say that most wild BP's don't die of twig in their teeth.