Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My neighbor recently gave me a wild caught corn he accidentally injured. The snake shed and it appeared that the neck injury was only superficial. He is about twice the size of my own snakes.

Today was feeding day, so I decided to go ahead and see if he would eat. I fed him a medium fuzzy (smaller than some of my other snakes that are much smaller are eating regularly). He went right for it, and I thought okay, cool, no problem.

He has been trying to swallow this fuzzy for over an hour, has coiled around the half still sticking out of his mouth repeatedly. I am worried that me might choke. Possibly the neck injury isn't stretching. I was wondering if there is a way to get him to spit it out.

I have walked in when one of my not so easy eaters wasn't finished yet and he would spit it out. But this guy apparently really wants this mouse. If I could get him to spit it out I would try to feed him a local lizard in a few days. Much skinnier and maybe easier for him to eat.

Thanks for your help.
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1.2 Ghost Corns, Beetlejuice, Casper and Spooky
1.1 Charcoal het pewter, Smokey and Flame
1.1 Hypo het lavender, Rosy and Rocko
1.0 Anery, Goku
0.1 Amel, Sunny
2.0 Tabby Cats, Daddycat and his son Brat
0.1 Australian Shepherd, Angel

Gypsy

Gently pull it out or be very carefull and take some small scissors and cut into pieces(being VERY careful not to injur the snake). I just had this happen last night and i gently pulled the mouse right out. I stress being careful not to injur the snake!!!!

I was just like you yesterday night, almost the same thing happened with me and my spider ball python (I know different snake, and thousands of dollars more) she was given a pre killed hopper and she slammed it. No problem I thought and then an hour went by and she was still curling around the thing, then 3 hours went by and she was still coiled around it.... Then after 6 HOURS she finally ate it. I posted on the bp forum and got the advice I'm going to give you...Leave it alone. If the fuzzy mouse is proportionate to the size of your corn the let it be. Trust me leave it alone and don't cut it up with scissors or something. And DEFINATLY don't try any lizards that are wc or any lizards for that matter unless you are readily equiped every week and ready for possible infections.

You shouldnt laugh,I have done this many times. Shown to me by someone with years and years expeerience. It works!!!

>>>You shouldnt laugh,I have done this many times. Shown to me by someone with years and years expeerience. It works!!!

I did not laugh at you or what you said. I suggested he should not cut it up with scissors just because the snake won't immediatly swallow. If the fuzzy is to big then yes cut it's head and body. BUT if it can be downed by the snake then leave it alone. I also have years and years of experience and have never done this just because the snake wouldn't immidiatly swallow. I bet the snakes already ate it....

Thank you all for your ideas. He had it half swallowed for over 2 hours and I was really worried. So I was going to follow the advice and try to gently pull the pinky out of his mouth. When I picked the snake up, he spit it out on his own. Like I said, he was wild caught and accidentaly injured by neighbor. I will try a very small pinky in a few days. Or may half a f/t to give injury time to heal.

Thanks again for your help.
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1.2 Ghost Corns, Beetlejuice, Casper and Spooky
1.1 Charcoal het pewter, Smokey and Flame
1.1 Hypo het lavender, Rosy and Rocko
1.0 Anery, Goku
0.1 Amel, Sunny
2.0 Tabby Cats, Daddycat and his son Brat
0.1 Australian Shepherd, Angel

Gypsy