Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My 5 month old ball python swallowed a woodchip while eating a mouse yesterday. Is this something that he can digest on his own or is there something I should do? This is my first time as a snake owner so I am very unsure about things.

first off i recommened not feeding in his tank. after a while when the lid opens he will think food. so if u go to [pick him up u might get bit. i use a cardboard box stick the snake in and then the food, that will avoid eating the substraight. he should be okak. jst keep and eye on him. anymore ?'s just let me know.
-----
Jeff Kearney Orlando Florida (407) 766 6066

0.1 CB Spouse
4.4.1 Bearded Dragons
1.0 Mali Uromastyx
2.5 Ball Pythons
1.1 Blue Dumpys Tree Frogs
1.0 Armadillo Lizard
1.0 Tokay Gecko
0.1 Marble Gecko
1.0 Fat-tailed Gecko
1.0 Lucy Leopard Gecko
0.1 Carrot Tail Leopard Gecko
0.1 Speckeled Hog-Nose
0.1 Garter Snake
1.1 Dogs
2.3 Cats

As long as the snakes aren't taking down some large pieces or a good quantity of any woody beddings, I would say they are fine if some accidentally gets taken down while eating.

Also just because you feed in an enclosure does not mean everytime you open the enclosure or go in there to get the snake or otherwise that the animal will associate everytime the cage is opened that hey it is feeding time. This is quite a big misconception. If you really are worried about getting bit all the time, then touch the animal with some other sort of object when getting him out to let him know its not feeding time.

Honestly if you get a good bit of animals, it can be quite a task pulling everyone out to feed and then transfer back, and this can include a few different reasons.
-----
-Amelia
ES Tropicals

I agree completely. I have 17 snakes, and they all eat in their tubs. I haven't had a problem with them being agressive. Aside from the fact that it would be a pain to take them out to feed them, some of them are shy and they wouldn't eat if I moved them. Besides, I open the tubs often enough when I'm not feeding that I don't think they associate the tub opening with being fed.

i was just saying, my bigger snakes are fed in the cage. but to avoid swallowing substraight feed somewhere else.
-----
Jeff Kearney Orlando Florida (407) 766 6066

0.1 CB Spouse
4.4.1 Bearded Dragons
1.0 Mali Uromastyx
2.5 Ball Pythons
1.1 Blue Dumpys Tree Frogs
1.0 Armadillo Lizard
1.0 Tokay Gecko
0.1 Marble Gecko
1.0 Fat-tailed Gecko
1.0 Lucy Leopard Gecko
0.1 Carrot Tail Leopard Gecko
0.1 Speckeled Hog-Nose
0.1 Garter Snake
1.1 Dogs
2.3 Cats

I think unless it consumes a large piece there's not much to worry about. There IS the off chance a piece may get lodged in the intestine, but in general a snakes gut is a pretty straight line to the exit. I kept my older pair on cypress mulch for a long time and an occasional piece would go down, but always made it out the next bowel movement. Considering the size of a snakes turd, I would think it could pass most anything. Just my thoughts on this.

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