Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just got a new baby ball three days ago. The substrate material in her tank is finely shaved cyress mulch, not chips. Trouble is, the baby likes to burrow in it and now has a lump of substrate somehow stuck on one side of her mouth. Like I said, it's very fine cypress shavings, so not a chunk stuck in there but more like pulp. She can close her mouth on one side, but the shavings are keeping her jaw partially open on the other side. Soaking her in her water bowl didn't seem to help. I don't want to stress her out more than necessary at this point (only had her three days and not yet tried to feed her). Any one have any ideas on what I can/should do here? I don't want to invite a mouth rot issue, but just don't know what to do.

Thanks for any advice!

Just my opinion mind you, but personally I'd remove it. The stress involved will probably only keep her off feed for a bit longer. I'd rather risk that than mouth rot or impaction if the substrate winds up getting swallowed somehow.

Quig
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Don't interupt me when I'm talkin' to myself

Thanks for the advice, but how would you go about getting it out? I'm afraid to use anything to remove it that might hurt the snake--e.g. a tweezers.

What would you do?

boredfoot

You said soaking the snake didn't loosen the stuck substrate, but it would probably help to soften the stuck bits.

I personally prefer tupperware bins with locking lids - the kind you can buy pretty much in bulk at Walmart. I use a 19 quart size for little snakes, and put about an inch or less lukewarm water in it. I would not be concerned about drowning the snake in this depth, but if you are worried, you can use less water.

Soak her for about 20 minutes, then take a moistened cotton ball or cotton swab and try and gently rub the stuck substrate off of her mouth. A cotton swab would probably give you the best control. If there is any substrate stuck on the inside of her mouth, I would suggest opening her mouth while you do this, so you can see what the fibers of substrate are doing if they do start to move - hopefully by keeping an eye on this you can prevent any accidental injury. Rub ONLY towards the back of her mouth, so you don't get any cotton stuck on her folded teeth!

I WOULD NOT USE ANYTHING OTHER THAN WATER to moisten the cotton ball or cotton swab! Hydrogen peroxide or alcohol could really cause harm to the tissues of her mouth/insides. Just make sure you use nice clean water.

Good Luck!
~Rebecca
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0.1 Dumeril's Boa '04 (Courtney)
1.2 Ball Pythons
[1.0 '05 Orange Hypo (Specter)]
[0.1 '05 Het Orange Hypo (Sylvia)]
[0.1 '03 Normal (Sue)]
0.2 American Pit Bull Terriers (40lb darling lap dogs:Brandy&Mara)

Thanks for the advice--the cotton swab worked well. I used it to dislodge the loose bits outside her mouth, then used the stick part held crosswise to gently open her jaws. Things were pretty clean inside. I pulled out that substrate. I think I'll use newspaper or astroturf until she gets bigger.

Appreciate your help!

You want newspaper, not astroturf!!!

Newspaper is cheap and clean and easy to replace.

Astroturf, or what some petstores sell that is kinda like it - basically a wool mat - can tear up the snake's belly. I haven't used actual astroturf, but I have used the wool mat I was talking about, and I was very diasppointed!! It was not as easy to clean as you might imagine, and I'm not kidding, it tore up my snake's belly scales! The best way I can think to explain it is that the wool fibers caught on the snake's belly scales in small spots, and caused something like a "hangnail" on the scale... but she was living on the wool mat, and had countless "hangnails" on her belly. She developed a problem shedding (which I soaked her to help with)... and then a skin infection. I spent a while treating her with antibiotic ointment, but immediately removed the wool mat and switched to newspaper.

IMO, newspaper is much better than the wool mat thing, astroturf (which I see as harsher than the wool mat), or any kind of wood chip/shaving substrate. I know LOTS of people keep their snakes on wood shavings and have no problems - but every once in a while something does happen.

If your snake really seems to miss having something to burrow in, try Spanish Moss; I put a 2-3" layer of Spanish Moss down on top of the newspaper substrate for the Dumeril's Boa I have. You can buy it at any gardening/home improvement store for fairly cheap. It's a little decorative, smells nice, and won't give the snake any splinters. It can also hold some humidity if you mist it. I suggest freezing a package of Spanish Moss for about a week before you intend to use it, just in case there are any bugs.

Good Luck! I'm glad you got the substrate out of her mouth!
~Rebecca

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0.1 Dumeril's Boa '04 (Courtney)
1.2 Ball Pythons
[1.0 '05 Orange Hypo (Specter)]
[0.1 '05 Het Orange Hypo (Sylvia)]
[0.1 '03 Normal (Sue)]
0.2 American Pit Bull Terriers (40lb darling lap dogs:Brandy&Mara)

In the past I would just gently open her mouth with a popsickle stick and just gently remove the shaving with tweezers. Plastic tweezers would be best I think. If it's right on the side og the mouth I would also just use my CLEAN fingers. I believe it's better to get the shavings now instead of worrying too much about stress. She'll also stop burrowing if you put newspaper over the shavings (she'll just hide under the paper)or just use newspaper only.

Personally, I reach in with my fingers. Never been bit. Scout's honor.

I was really surprised. She even put up with me holding her head and prying her mouth open to remove the crud. Never hissed or tried to bite. I used a Q tip.

Thanks

I have had issues with various animals feeding on substrate. I have fed my 15 yr old boa since a hatchling on substrate with no issues. I now feed all my small ball pythons on papertowels and I feed my adults in seperate feeding tubs. I use aspen for the animals that seem to be less stressed with a substrate. When I feed I lift the animal out and lay a papertowel over the aspen and feed on the papertowel and remove after hes done eating. I use three papertowels folded over as a substrate for as many as possible. I try to use pure white towels as they make mite detection a breeze and cleaning is effortless.