Reptile & Amphibian Forums

How do you feed your snakes other than removing them off of the substrate? Ive got a few snakes that dont like to be handled and it is difficult to move them for feeding. Also, I dont like to agitate them after feeding to put them back as it may cause regurgitation. Ive been feeding my kings on the substrate but I believe some was ingested today and Im worried now. I dont like the removal strategy, so what are my other options?

What substrate are you using? I use aspen, never remove any of my animals to feed.

What happens if they ingest aspen? I have aspen for my snakes as well, but I was told to feed them off of the substrate.

The only thing that will happen is it will pass right on through it's system, if they injest any at all. There are people out there that say don't feed on aspen but there is absultly no evidence that aspen can lead to impaction. The one that tell you that, are just relaying to you what they have been told. I have been feeding on aspen and pine for over 30yrs, never had a single problem nor has anybody else I know, and I know alot that use aspen and pine.

30 years? I think Ill trust that. What kinds of snakes do you have, and is aspen good for all kinds of snakes? Just wondering if I should use it for my entire collection.

Have you never seen them eat the substrate? Ive seen sand stick to mice a few times before, which is what Im worried about. I have yet to feed on aspen because I was worried.

..............take a 4 or 6qt. lid and lay the feeder on that and take it out after feeding.

Not a bad idea. I tried a paper towel today, it didnt work. The mouse would not stay on the towel long enough for the snake to find it. I was also considering laying down the liner stuff you see at shops, but Im not sure if it is ok to use one for all of your snakes. I dont want to have to buy separate ones for each cage.

I just got my snake and fed her for the 1st time today (very cool to watch - frozen and thawed pinky though.)

Anyways, I have been doing a lot of reading and remember reading that some folks feed in a paper bag - like a lunch bag maybe? Seems like it would prevent the substrate getting in and I would think a live mouse would like to stay in the dark area. ONly down side is that you couldn't see if your snake did ingest anything abnormal until it "came out".

Right now Iv'e got kings, milks, black rat, balls, and one boa. Aspen works great for them all. The bigger snakes balls and the boa do get some aspen when they eat. The other smaller ones almost never injest aspen when they eat. Also if you feed dead prey that elminates injestion because they don't have to strike at the mouse. They just crawl up to it and start eating.

Actually, I do feed live. I breed mice, and dont know how to kill them. My kings jump all over them, so Im not so sure that they would not squeeze and kill. Would use of forceps help, so they can strike the prey in the air and then constrict?

All you need to do to kill a mouse is hold it by the tail and strike it on a hard surface, like the edge of a table. Or if you have a cement floor like a patio, just slam it to the floor, usually one shot does it. As feeding goes, I just lay the mouse in the cage, they will find them.

Alright Ill try that on next feeding. Thanks for the advice.

Do NOT keep your snakes on pine. . .aspen is fine. . .pine is a death sentence. As for feeding on and ingesting the aspen, the ingestion isn't harmful. . .its when the shavings get stuck in the mouth. I've been keeping snakes for 14 years. . .and yes I still have my first snake. I feed prekilled to all my snakes that will eat them. . .some take more patience than others before they begin feeding on frozen/thawed food items. There is alwayz the ones that just refuse to even flick a tongue at it if dead. I use newspaper for substrate; I now feed all my snakes in their enclosures. I didn't start feeding them in their enclosures till my collection hit a major growth spurt. As for feeding out of the cage, I did that for 11 years or so without a single regurge. Now I still pick them up and handle them after they eat to clean their enclosures and still no regurges do to handling. As long as you gently handle them and of course support their bodies, you should have no problems either.

Good Luck,
Ian Daviss

You say pine is a death sentence. Have you personaly experienced this, or is this just what youv'e been told? As far as shavings in the mouth when feeding, whats not swallowed, mine get it out with no trouble. Very rarely do they ever get any in thier mouth. Would like your answer on pine. Iv'e used it for years.

Well since you ask. . .a matter of fact I have seen horrible, scabby, skin infectionS related to using pine. Not only that, I've seen snakes produce mouth rot from having aspen shavings lodged in the mouth. Just because you haven't seen it doesn't mean it doesn't happen. . .I guess some people have to learn the hard way.

Have a safe 4th of July Weekend,
Ian Daviss

Cedar is though, and has been proven. That's why people have cedar chest (kills & repels insects). That's why taxidermists have cedar closets to store their tanned hides, etc.. because cedar IS TOXIC. But pine has not been proven. To make a statement that pine is a "death sentence" is very misleading and wrong. You could have said "although pine shavings have not been proven toxic, I prefer not to use it." That would be accurate. I used pine shavings for about 10 years with no problems what-so-ever. I now use aspen because of the price/availablity.

Any snake can be allergic to any substrate, that does make it a "death sentence"

Cheers

Kerby...

*chuckles* okay maybe it was a little of an over reaction.
Yes you are correct that any snake(or animal) can be allergic to different substrates. The allergies can be tested with a sample of blood.

Have a Safe and Happy 4th of July Weekend,
Ian Daviss

Any substrate lodged in the mouth can lead to an infection. Maybe the pine was more prone to lodge leading to an infection, but aspen should be albe to cause similar problems as well. Probably just a little bad luck for him with the pine.

I worry about regurge from my more aggresive snakes. They hiss and squirm when handled. I used a hook to transport them, seemed to work better than my hands. I hope they get better and more used to handling, but for now, they dont like it.