Reptile & Amphibian Forums

What's the incidence of problems resulting from small wood chips adhering to rodent fur during swallowing?

Thanks,

Leon

If your snake is small, the aspen splinters can perforate the stomach lining and kill the animal. This can happen with any sized animal, really, but the chances of it happening are more likely in hatchlings.

I lost a gorgeous hypo-bloodred female (for which I had paid $200!) a couple of years back due to this problem. I don't feed hatchlings on their substrate any more for that very reason.
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Darin Chappell
Hillbilly Herps
PO Box 254
Rogersville, MO 65742

Having lost my first snake to substrate inpaction, happened before i purchased the snake, i suggest against feeding on any loose substrate. I am sure some do it with little to no problems, but for me it isn't worth the risk.

I bought a cheap $5 rubbermaid container that i use to hold my snake while i clean the cage and for feeding. It has a secure locking lid, and after i took a dremel tool to it it has a lot of air holes. I place the food into the container add the snake close lid and get the cage cleaned while he eats with no worry about ingested substrate or escape.

best of luck to you and the snake(s) on whatever your choice is.

Wayne

I lost a female eastern king a few years back. I actually did my own necropsy on the garage floor and found her stomach had been sliced open with the aspen.
Since then, I dont thaw my mice in warm water anymore, I dry thaw them over my room heater. I tried plastic bags/Ziplok too, but they seem to have minut holes in them and the mice get wet anyway, or the mouse claws poke holes. Then you have to deal with trying to sink a mouse balloon. Big pain. I feed dry thawed food now, and usually taunt the snake to take it from the tongs so the head is started before the mouse settles on the bedding.
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Tom
TCJ Herps
"The more people I meet, the more I like my snakes"

I always feed in the cage on aspen.If you use frozen/thawed dry them good so the substrate doesnt stick...Paul