what went wrong??? (feeding incident)

[Eric Sandoval]

First off new BP's should be left alone for a minimal for a week to settle in to their new environment, no touching~taking it out~handling, no trying to feed it, etc. It will only stress the snake out more.

Considering most people only guarantee their animals for 48hr-7 days, I would never wait a week to try and feed it. When I get new snakes in they eat the same day they arrive. When I ship snakes out they are typically not fed for 10 days prior so I tell the buyer they're ready for a meal as soon as you get them.

If your snake only had bubbles and excess mucus that one time, I'd guess it had just finished drinking water. When bothered after having a drink they will spit it all back up. If it still has the problem you should take it to a vet to check for RI.



Eric

[RoyalGuardian]

Considering most people only guarantee their animals for 48hr-7 days, I would never wait a week to try and feed it. When I get new snakes in they eat the same day they arrive. When I ship snakes out they are typically not fed for 10 days prior so I tell the buyer they're ready for a meal as soon as you get them.

If your snake only had bubbles and excess mucus that one time, I'd guess it had just finished drinking water. When bothered after having a drink they will spit it all back up. If it still has the problem you should take it to a vet to check for RI.



Eric

Not even for the good of the snake? Feeding them right when you get them is VERY stressful. It is a problem that most places only guarantee their animals for only a short while but that is a problem that doesn't need to be made worse by stressing out your animal, resulting in a failure to take a second meal. I would take it to a vet for a check up just to be sure its not RI (respiratory infection) and to get the head wound taken care of!!!!!!!. I do agree with Eric that it could just be water, but it never hurts to be cautious. Good luck with your new snake!! I hope this helps.

[littleindiangirl]

Bubbles and mucous; when we were not there to observe the snake, it should not be shrugged off so immediately.

A vet is not a terrible thing, they are for the good of the animal, and it never hurts to be on the safe side when the drooling and spitting can very easily be signs of an advanced respiratory infection that can easily kill a snake.

Don't feed such large meals next time. Depending on the size of the animal, a just weaned rat is ample food for most ball pythons and there isn't such a large risk of injury, although it is not entirely depleted, it is minimized a bit.

[HaleBug]

Uh oh, you guys are making me second-guess my decision to feed adult rats. Although my boy is pretty darn big, still bigger around than the rat is.
Hmm... I might go for it anyway.

[lillyorchid]

A adult BP who gets an adult rat will:

1. Go off feed over a period of time
2. Get fat
3. Become a poor breeder~if you plan to breed (fat breeders get lazy)
4. Not be able to consume all the rats nutrients and will end up just pooping whatever it can not handle aka a loss of money and a loss of a good rat.

[tigerlily]

What was the snake fed prior to you receiving it?

First off your biggest mistake was feeding a prey item that was too big. Always err on the smaller side, especially when you are not familiar with the snake and it's normal behavior.

I've never heard of a snake being stabbed in the head by the aspen. Are you sure the rat didn't bite the snakes head as well? That doesn't sound right to me.

Now I do offer food to ALL of my snakes on the same day, even if they are new. I'm usually offering f/t so it's not an issue, and if the snake looks interested I feed. If not I just wait until the following week. I try and base my judgement on the individual snake.

[FloridaHogs]

I to feed all mine on the day they arrive. Almost all f/t, so there is really no added stress to placing a f/t mouse or rat outside of the hide. Granted most of my newbies are colubrids.....

[python baller]

What was the snake fed prior to you receiving it?

First off your biggest mistake was feeding a prey item that was too big. Always err on the smaller side, especially when you are not familiar with the snake and it's normal behavior.

I've never heard of a snake being stabbed in the head by the aspen. Are you sure the rat didn't bite the snakes head as well? That doesn't sound right to me.

Now I do offer food to ALL of my snakes on the same day, even if they are new. I'm usually offering f/t so it's not an issue, and if the snake looks interested I feed. If not I just wait until the following week. I try and base my judgement on the individual snake.

it was fed live rats b4 i got it.

it might have been one of the hides in her tank. i didn't bother taking that one out as i didn't expect the kill to take as long. man, i'm a dummy. i will apply some neosporin as soon as i can get ahold of some.

[tweets_4611]

Make sure you get the neosporin WITHOUT painkillers.

Feeding live can be very safe if done properly. Now that you know to start with a smaller size prey, it should be better next time. And it never hurts to go too small until you get to know the snake. Once your sure of what he can handle, moving up prey size isn't a big deal.

Next time you feed, pre-sent the room. When I do it, I set the box the rat is in on top of my girls tank. This gives them time to get into a hunting mode. Once your snake seems interested (poking his nose out of his hide kinda thing) you can put the rat in. I wouldn't take out the hide that the snake is in, since they are ambush hunters and like to feel safe when they eat, but I usually take out the other hide and the water bowl, just to give her space, and so the rat doesn't hide. Keep something like that cloths hanger around, just in case the rat is able to turn and get to your snake once your snake strikes. I always make sure to watch until she starts to swallow the rat before I go off to do whatever else, but some shy feeders need privacy to eat. Figuring out what your snake wants/needs to eat is part of getting to know your snake.

Personally I would take the snake to the vet to check for an RI. It can't hurt, and if he does have one, it's better to catch it now than later...

[littleindiangirl]

Uh oh, you guys are making me second-guess my decision to feed adult rats. Although my boy is pretty darn big, still bigger around than the rat is.
Hmm... I might go for it anyway.

I'm sorry, do you know how large an adult rat is? Serious question.