BP ate some substrate

[teebyrd393]

I feed my baby BP in its enclosure and it swallowed a few pieces of the substrate too. I use cypress mulch. I didn't want to try to help remove it from the mouse because I didn't want to stress Jade out and have him regurgitate. I figure that they can digest bone so it's nothing to worry about, but please let me know if it's a concern and what, if anything, I should do in the future. Thanks :-)

[Figure8]

There is a risk of impaction (almost always requires a vet visit) when feeding on any loose substrate . He should be fine if he swallows a small piece here or there - but the less, the better. If he's eating a lot of substrate I would recommend putting a piece of cardboard in his enclosure during feeding time so that the mouse doesn't catch any on his coat. Hope this helps.

[cheryls]

I just put some paper towel down before I feed. This keeps the feeding area clear of substrate - also, my snake always knows it's feeding day when I put the towel down while thawing the prey.

[flip9688]

you should get a box or something to feed it. I have my "Death Box" that is only used for feeding. no substrate, just and empty box

[giaach]

I wouldn't be too worried if he/she ate a little bit of substrate. The acids in a ball pythons stomach are strong enough to dissolve bone, and teeth. And thats a lot harder to digest than a small piece of wood.

[FL0OD]

i have one tank that has substrate and i also pull those animals out and put them in a tub to feed them. the rest are in tubs with paper towels so i do not worry about them.

[reptile3]

Pretty good idea!! I use a large plastic(round) container, put holes in the top of the lid. I put that inside my bp's home, to keep it warm. I put the mouse/rat inside the container for a few min, then I add my bp. It only takes him 5-10 sec. & he has already got the mouse/rat. Then you don't have to worry about it eating any substrate.

If it was a small piece of substrate, then it should be ok. I am not sure, but cypress mulch isn't good to have as substrate.
Aspen, newspaper is much better - just some ideas.

you should get a box or something to feed it. I have my "Death Box" that is only used for feeding. no substrate, just and empty box

[bender29]

Pretty good idea!! I use a large plastic(round) container, put holes in the top of the lid. I put that inside my bp's home, to keep it warm. I put the mouse/rat inside the container for a few min, then I add my bp. It only takes him 5-10 sec. & he has already got the mouse/rat. Then you don't have to worry about it eating any substrate.

If it was a small piece of substrate, then it should be ok. I am not sure, but cypress mulch isn't good to have as substrate.
Aspen, newspaper is much better - just some ideas.

Cypress mulch is perfectly fine...

[teebyrd393]

Thank you all so much for your quick replies. I do not plan of feeding Jade in a seperate enclosure so I think I'll try to paper towel idea ! Thanks again....I love this site, it is such a HUGE help. I have come to the conclusion that the average people who work at pet stores know nothing about true BP care...and it's a little disheartening that there could be misinformed BP owners whose animals are suffering for it. I have tried to educated myself as mch as possible and this site helps alot!!

[Moriar]

i feed most of my snakes in a smaller sterilite container. my male ate a bit of aspen on his first feeding with me and after that he went into a seperate container. the paper towel/cardboard works too if you feed F/T not so much if you feed live.