Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have for years always used newspaper as a substate.Today i fed one of my hypos a fresh killed mouse.Well i didnt even think of looking over the mouse before i fed her.Apparently a piece of aspen bedding was somehow stuck to the mouse.Now a nice size piece is stuck in the back corner of her mouth.To make matters worse she is my wild child,i call her the mamba,and i cant pin her down or hold her head without hurting her.I have fingers the size of bratwurst with carpal tunnel surgery in the near future because my hands are either numb or in pain.I have been trying for the last hour to hold and use plastic tweezers with her spazing on me.There are no vets open and anyone who could help me isnt home.Im probably freakin for no reason,will she digest it?Or am i looking at a full blown mouth infection?She is so miserable trying to get it out.Thanks for any advice...Paul.

Try sitting in a chair, bending over a little, and then restraining the snake's body between your knees so you can use one hand to hold her head and neck. Then you will have a free hand to use the tweezer to remove the piece of aspen, if she hasn't already done it herself. I found this position useful whenever I have to perform tasks such as force feeding or egg aspiration, without any assistance.

Normally a soft piece of aspen could probably pass right through with the food, but it is possible that it could get stuck or puncture something if it is a hard piece, or got lodged in the wrong place at the wrong angle. I am not aware of having lost any snakes from an aspen impaction in the last decade or so, but I would still remove it if at all possible.

I have no idea how a half inch shaving of aspen got passed me.Well i do i just didnt take the time to look it over.100% my fault.The biggest problem i have working with corns is there small size.I would rather force feed a mad as hell 8 foot retic than a juvie corn.hehehe...thanks again..Paul.