Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just fed my snake nd he squeezed it so hard it popped and the guts spilled out. Should i dissinfect the surface now or can i wait till i do an all over cleaning/sterilizing on everything? normally i would dissinfect it right away, but its just that this particular hide is over the basking spot and i do not want to disturb him too much by taking that one out and putting another in bcause i think he might throw the mice back up.

I fed him two fuzzies and he's still striking at my hand when i put it on his tank. Last week when i first bought him he only ate one , but shoold i feed him a third or keep it at two?

How old is the snake? If it is eating two fuzzy's It can take a small mouse easily.

Shoold i feed my ball just cause its striking when i put my hand in???

I would clean everything up. I had a female do that once it was a huge mess, had to give her a bath and everything..

Untill you know the eating habits of your snake, and his needs, feed on a schedule. Once you get to know his personal habits, you can decide if you should feed him based on his actions. Im having issues with that myself at the moment, a very regular behaving ball has suddenly changed. Im having to "be the parent" and not feed him though hes asking.

To avoid having your snake strike you on his cage, never feed him in the tank. Personally, I like the bathtub. I run warm water so its not too cold for him, and leave a little pooled at the end. His mouse cant get out, he cant get in drain, and when hes done eating a lot of times he likes to drink, and sometimes soak. As with any time your snake is not in his cage, do not leave him alone. A snake will learn that hands coming into cage= food, and you are teaching him bad habits. If you must feed him in his cage, dont let him see your hands when you put the food in. Teach him to disassociate hands and food.

If he already think you = food, try putting a large oddly colored sock over your hand, the stinky ones are even better (as long as your socks dont smell like rodents). Then handle him as you normally would. The point is, try to show him that your actions are NOT a signal to feed. The more un-apatizing you make your hands appear, the better.