Odd smell?

[Minkness]

While at repticon I picked up a ball python and knew I'd need food for him so also grabbed 25 mice. He hasn't eaten one yet but that's not surprising really. (Just frustrating). I have noticed though that when I go to throw the mouse away, it has an oddly....medical smell. Not bleach or chlorine but something kind of chemical. I was wondering if this is the gas that people say they use to euthanize, and if so, could that be part of why he's not eating them? Any suggestions on to fix it?

[Zelg]

I have no experience with that but I would think that gas smell would not linger once the container was opened. Do they gas them in the bag or something? Anyways, I guess im in for answers :) GL.

[Chris72]

Can you reach the rodent vendor from the Expo?

There are various ways to humanly euthanize rodents.

Commonly used are C02 chambers.

Have seen people talk about a method using dry ice in a closed chamber (eats air, so same)

Once I did read about a method where you mix vinegar and baking soda. (?) This might make the rodents smell, but not chemically I would imagine.

We have used thousands of dollars in F/T rodents here and never had one smell "chemically".

If the smell of a chemical remains on the rodent after you warm it up in hot water then I wouldn't give it to your snake.

It might be ok....but,...better safe. There may be a logical answer but I wouldn't eat a steak that smelled like chemicals. :/

C&H

[Minkness]

I don't smell it till I take the uneaten mouse out the next morning, so it's not in the bag. I don't even remember the name of the vender honestly. I was so tired and broke by the time I thought I should pick up some food for the new guys because all I had at home were sized for my MBK. I got extra small pinkies from the same vender for my hognose, and he eats his right away (GREAT feeder!) So I don't know if those smell the same or not since they aren't left over by morning. Just found the smell of the full grown mice a bit odd.

[Chris72]

Didn't realize it was a next day smell. (Hmm.)

We don't feed mice here so I can't specifically comment. Occasionally, the morning after feeding, there is a left over "rat surprise" that was started and dropped. I would call that smell allot of things, but not chemically.

Hopefully someone with extensive mouse experience can chime in. Mice do have slightly different body chemistry (rat pee doesn't smell like popcorn) so it may not be an additive.

As a last resort you could get one of the same feed item from another known good source and use that next week. If the known good one does not present the same smell the next day you know it's the feed.

[millertime89]

It could just be from decomposition. Did the person you bought the BP from say it was eating mice? IMO BPs should be started on rats, so I would give them a try.

[Minkness]

I did ask and he said that if I wanted a slow grow to use adult mice, if I wanted a fast grow, to use rats. I asked if the BP would take a mouse after being on rats and he said that he would switch it up between mice, rats, and ASFs as treats.

Since I wanted a slow l, but healthy grow, I went with mice. I figured I'd try rats next and see what happens. I need to pick fuzzies up for my king soon anyway. If he hasn't taken a mouse by then, I'll try a rat and see what happens.

I was more worried about the smell of the container than the BP eating since I kind of expected trouble with feeding before deciding on a BP. I'm not stressing, just in the process of finding his feeding needs, but didn't want to harm him if the smell was indeed bad for him.

I also now just open the tub if I'm around and let it air out as much as possible. He stays in his hide alot so I'm not too worried about that.

Just a new personality to learn lol. I was expecting feeding issues with my hoggie too, but he eats like a beast! He's also currently in blue and STILL feeding! ^_^

[millertime89]

That's about the dumbest thing I've ever heard, if the prey size is the same, growth will be about the same. Find rats that are the same size as the mice you're now offering and I'm willing to bet he'll start eating. I would also leave him alone except to fill his water and clean until he starts eating. Drill holes to allow air movement. Every time you open the tub you're disturbing him. He needs a chance to settle into his new digs.

[Minkness]

Er...ok...not sure which part you find dumb...but there are holes in his tub for air flow.

[millertime89]

Er...ok...not sure which part you find dumb...but there are holes in his tub for air flow.

This bit.

I did ask and he said that if I wanted a slow grow to use adult mice, if I wanted a fast grow, to use rats.

It's the same concept with humans. The more calories in the faster you grow. The calorie difference between rats and mice of the same size is going to be negligible.

[Minkness]

Fair enough...though...perhaps you could use a more constructive way to correct misinformation other than calling someone dumb? I am still new and doing my best. =/

[millertime89]

Not calling you dumb, calling the person that told you that dumb.

[Albert Clark]

Er...ok...not sure which part you find dumb...but there are holes in his tub for air flow.

Minkness, I think Millertime89 was referring to was the vendors statement about the growth of the bp as to whether you fed mice or rats to make him grow. I don't really think the "dumbest thing I ever heard" was in any way directed at you.:blink: As far as that smell is concerned I think it's just tissue decomposition in the rodent. PEACE.

[Minkness]

Ah...ok then. Sorry for the misunderstanding.

As for the smell being decomposition...it's chemical, not rotten. It's not even a bad smell, just kinda strong (in my opinion anyway).

[millertime89]

Ah...ok then. Sorry for the misunderstanding.

As for the smell being decomposition...it's chemical, not rotten. It's not even a bad smell, just kinda strong (in my opinion anyway).

Albert is spot on. It's all good.

What are the mice packaged in? Just tossed in a ziplock or were they vacuum sealed? Smells suck to diagnose because what may smell chemical to you may not even register to someone else. Yay senses.

[Minkness]

Good point! The mice were just in a ziplock. Got them from repticon same day I picked up my new babies.

The best way I can describe the smell is this...ever buy a new shower liner/curtain? Smells like that.

[millertime89]

THAT smell... lol. Probably just the plastic then. I would swap them out to a plastic bag of your own (or a tupperware container) and see if the smell leaves when you toss the bag. Process of elimination. :)

[Minkness]

It's not the mice. It's the tub the snake is in. I MAY just move him into a 20 long tank. This is my 1st tub experience for a reptiles. The other tub holds dubias and I never had this smell.

[millertime89]

Gotcha, how new is the tub? It can take some time for that smell to go away.

[Minkness]

Brand new. Bought it same day as the snake >_>

[millertime89]

Give it about a month. No biggie.

[Minkness]

Ok, thanks!

[millertime89]

You bet! I have yet to get a new tub that doesn't smell like that. Don't worry, give your snake a month and it'll smell like, well, snake.

[Minkness]

Ok =)

And I'll try the rat as well if he doesn't eat in 2 weeks (that's when I need to pick up more fuzzers for Calypso as well).