Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just wondered what peoples thoughts were regarding the possibility of impaction from a ball python eating aspen on their food.

The reason I ask is that the snake has very powerfull digestive system that can digest the fur, bones, skull & teeth etc etc of a rat, or ive seen small rabbits fed.. but a bit of aspen taken in at the same time as their food will not get digested too ? I dont like taking risks and I do use aspen at the moment, but I just found it hard to understand how aspen is less digestable than bones.

Thanks for any info or opinions
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Reptiles: Royal Pythons and Bearded Dragons.

They can't digest wood. I doubt a snake would become impacted from aspen though. I've had snakes swallow aspen, and never had a problem with it, it just passes through. If it would cause problems with impaction, I doubt so many people would use it. The only problem I had with it, was it's too dry.

Chad

i was reading that post and wondering how that answered the question... so to support that post, perhaps they cant digest wood because they are strict carnivores and do not have the neccesary "equipment" to digest wood or vegetation. just a thought though...i havent actually heard that anywhere.

HELLO... I'm still on here, waiting for someone to reply to my post of today, enquiring about possible poisoning. I hope that someone gets to me soon!

In the meantime, I'm answering this letter about digesting wood... I have reflux disease, am on food enzymes, and, as a result, have studied them a lot. Here's a link with an article that explains about how snakes utilize enzymes in their digestion. It helped me to understand a lot - not only about my condition, but, also about my snake!

http://www.simplecom.net/timeless/digest.htm

The bottom line is: The snake will not digest wood because neither the wood nor the snake has the enzymes that are required. I could be interpreting this information wrong, but, I think that this is it...

WOLFIN )O(

causing infection, like a splinter.
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Rob Talkington

the snake digestive tract does not contain the enzymes necessary to break down the cellolose and lignins contained in plant material. Consequently aspen in small quantities will pass THROUGH the snakes' gut. At some quantity level there is the risk of impaction, with subsequent sequalae (ie, perforation, intussiception, ischemic bowel disease, etc.). The occasional piece just passes through.
Scott J. Michaels DVM