Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So, today I went to pick up my bullsnake and he did his normal quick hiss while he try to take off to the other side of the tank. Well when I picked him up I noticed he had some how had a little piece of aspen bedding in his mouth, my wife grabbed some tweazers while I opened his mouth but it was to late he swalloed it. It was a very tiny piece of bedding, dooes anyone think this could impact him or would it take a larger amount?

I used to worry about the same thing.

I asked somebody here a lot wiser than I, and he reminded me to think about what they swallow normally, on a regular basis:

hair, cartilage, bone, etc. Not to mention all the other stuff they must swallow in the wild in their habitat!

If they can digest all that stuff, surely a little aspen will be nothing.

I'd just keep an eye on him, but he'll probably be just fine. I feed all 20 of my snakes on aspen, and have never had any problems.

Obviously, I do all I can to prevent any ingestion: I dry the rodents very well before feeding, and try to direct them on top of something out of the way of the aspen, but then there's the feeding response.

I'd be more worried about him getting that piece (say a splinter like piece) stuck on the way down, and causing an infection...

//Todd

I remember I used to worry about the same thing until I was reminded about the items that must make it into their mouths in the tunnels and burrows of their prey. I have a friend who's kept his snakes on aspen for years and never had a problem.

reako45