Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So we were cleaning out the EDB vision cage the other day, and found a fang in his waste. Apparently this is a normal occurance. what I'm curious about though, is why all the rodent bones were digested, but the fang was not.

Anyone got any answers for this one?

If you look carefully, you may find rodent teeth also. Much more durable than bone and especially more resistant to acid (teeth have to hold up in a bath of acidic saliva after all).
-----
What goes up must come down...unless it exceeds escape velocity.

I didn't remember finding any rodent teeth, but they could have been there and we just didn't see them.

In the case that the rodent teeth were digested as well, could one then claim that the fang was not digested because it's larger than the rodent teeth, and would take more time to break down?

Rodent teeth are composed mainly of a softer material called dentin with a very thin outer layer of enamel. They are designed to wear down easily and grow throughout the life of the animal. They are made of a much less durable material than snake teeth which are mainly enamel. Rodent teeth therefore breakdown during the digestive process to a much greater degree.

Kelly

Great explanation. Thanks!

I've seen a good number of rodent teeth in snake feces over the course of many years, as well as a snake tooth from an Emerald Tree Boa(Corallus caninus)in it's feces. Neither are digestible at all for the short time it takes for them to pass through the snake to my knowledge.

~Doug
-----
"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

Okay, makes sense.

I was just confused because all the bones were gone, but the fang was virtually untouched.

I never actually took into consideration the different materials, strenght, etc. between teeth and bones. At least not the answer to my question is glaringly obvious.

Thank you all who responded! I appreciate it.

Hey, the answer is fangs are like teeth they are made out of enamel (non digestible) and are way more dense than bone. The bones in the snakes dinner are the snakes primary source of calcium, helps with keeping the bones of the snake nice and strong as well as growth and if it is a female egg production. Hope this helps.

.
-----
"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"