I wanted to ask a quick question. I have a ball python that is a troublesome eater so I put a prekilled rat in with him before I left today for work. It was there when I arrived home, about 8 hrs. later. When I went to fetch it out with the tongs,he got possessive, he grabbed it and started constricting, etc. Will this hurt him, being the length of time the rat was thawed.
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How long is too long?
shadowmonkey01
Jun 24, 2003 03:55 AM
Replies (3)
VoodooDragon
Jun 24, 2003 05:35 AM
I don't think it'll do any damage, since snakes can be scavangers in the wild. If the rat has gone bad, your snake'll probably just regurg it.
Hopefully someone with more experience will come along and elaborate.
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-Irish
My Snakes
PerryC.
Jun 24, 2003 06:21 AM
Did he swallow it?? I should say you will be ok. I asked a similar question about thawed rodents and how long I could store them in the fridge...the snake will not get sick. If it doesn't agree with him/her, it will just regirgitate it back up.
serpentcity
Jun 24, 2003 11:35 PM
...if the rat wasn't STANKY or have a blue-belly it was probably OK. If he does hoik it up give him a week off. You might want to invest in some 18" hemostats to wiggle the rat in front of him at chow time. Warming the rat by placing it in a baggy and then in a bowl of hot water (not boiling!) will help the snake to zero-in on the food item. After a few to several times you usually don't need to warm the prey item. SJM
