bleeding f/t

[TanyaL]

We just bought some f/t small adult mice, moving up from the poor advice from the pet store to feed her mouse fuzzies.

When we opened the package, there was some blood on the mice. We didn't think anything of it. But, now that Foster is constricting and attempting to eat the f/t there is a lot more blood on the mouse. Is there any concern? There is also some blood on Foster. This is probably a stupid question but I just want to make sure. I would think that a f/t would not bleed like this one is.

When it's all said and done and the mouse is swallowed, is there anything that we should do to remove the blood from the snake? Or just leave it as is. I don't want to stress her out in any way.

Thanks!

[TanyaL]

Another question...

Now that we are feeding her small adult mice, should we stretch the feeding schedule? Instead of every 5 days, should we maybe offer her a mouse every 7 days? I'm sure I was probably told once before but I forgot.....old age is getting to me.

[Nate]

Happens to me every week...I always get a mouse or a rat that thaws out and bleeds from the nose. No problems

[Nate]

Once a week is good for me...do you have a weight?

[lovemetalivy8]

the bleeding happens to me every week too..


well.. not to me....
the the mouse..


but it's natural.. no need to worry.

[TanyaL]

the bleeding happens to me every week too..


well.. not to me....
the the mouse..


but it's natural.. no need to worry.

If I was doing the feeding instead of my son I would be doing the bleeding! LOL In some way or another I would end up hurting myself out of pure fright!

Foster weights 140g and I'm not sure of the weight on the mouse since we didn't think of weighing it until after. The others in the package weights 8g, frozen.

Like I said, we were feeding fuzzies before and never seen the feeders bleed. Sorry for a stupid question.

[lovemetalivy8]

it's not a stupid question..

you were concerned... and asked if it was okay.

I applaud you!


it shows you care.

[NickP]

If I was doing the feeding instead of my son I would be doing the bleeding! LOL In some way or another I would end up hurting myself out of pure fright!

Foster weights 140g and I'm not sure of the weight on the mouse since we didn't think of weighing it until after. The others in the package weights 8g, frozen.

Like I said, we were feeding fuzzies before and never seen the feeders bleed. Sorry for a stupid question.

That might be too small. My bp just cracked 150grams I believe and I feed him mice that are 25g. The next 2 in the freezer are 30 grams apiece.

Btw, don't worry about the blood. If the F/T is bloody, it actually gets my BP more excited. Just yesterday after defrosting I put the F/T under the lamp on the top screen to heat up the head when I noticed Buddy stick his head out. Within few seconds he crawled out of his hide and started striking towards the mouse. From the looks of it he definitely enjoyed it when I finally gave it to him LoL.

[dalvers63]

If the mice you are feeding are only 8g, those are more fuzzies than anywhere near adults. Most 140g ball pythons can easily take 25-30g adult mice. Both of my girls from last year are eating rat pups that weigh anywhere from 20-29g.

I noticed, when we took in a foster snake for the local Herp society, that the "adult mice" they bought from the pet store were really more fuzzy sized. I'd go look at the live mice they sell and compare one of those to the ones you bought frozen. I bet you'll be surprised!

If the mice you have are truly 8g, I'd suggest feeding your snake two or three at a time if s/he will take them, otherwise keep the feeding to every 4-5 days.

For a good comparison on rodent sizes, check out the Rodent Pro website. Here's a link directly to their mouse page:

RodentPro mice sizes

[TanyaL]

Now I feel really stupid! LOL

We weighed her before and after feeding. Before feeding, she was 140g. After feeding her this so-called 8g mouse, she was 164. My son weighed one of the other mice in the package since they were all similar in size and he said it was only 8g. I didn't think much of it at the time but I then thought that was awful light considering the size. I just weighed them again and sure enough, he weighed it wrong. The other mouse in the package is 24g which would explain the 24g difference between the pre-feed weight and post-feed weight.

Why is it though that when I eat a 1.5oz chocolate bar, I gain 5 lbs. But when snake eats 24g mouse, she gains... 24g. So NOT FAIR, IMO! lol