To cut or not to cut??

[Reptilegal]

I heard (I think on this forum) that someone's snake died after a meal of a pinky, and they did an autopsy and found that one of the pinkys claws had pierced thru the skin causing internal bleeding:(. In my picture thread here u can see legs of a quail poking out of my pythons mouth and can clearly see how sharp the claws are.:o
Would it be safer just to clip the sharp tips off the claws??:?

[alessia55]

Yes, you can clip the tips of the nails if you want to be safer just in case, but I don't think most people do it.

[Gungirl]

In my opinion that snake didn't die due to a claw cutting the skin inside. I think the prey was to large and that along with other things killed it. In the wild snakes eat every part of the animal. I wouldn't worry about it as long as the prey is proper size.

[CDN_Blood]

Sounds like total bunk to me. I've seen snakes eat things that have outrageously large claws, as well as really pointy beaks and the chances of either of those thing piercing any part of the snake are so remote it's hardly worth mentioning.

Snakes are designed specifically to eat other animals. They're incredibly tough and can withstand tremendous pressure on every part of their bodies, so I think you can chalk the idea that a pinky caused a tear or puncture up to pure fiction :)

[mykee]

Lol!!! What Todd said.
That said, I'm starting a new business in where I provide manicures and pedicures for all soon-to-be feeders. $3 per feeder.
These things have been eating prey items for millions of years without anyones help. The human ego is just magnificent, isn't it!

[shaunyboy]

as has been said.....

theres no need to cut claws,beaks,etc

cheers shaun

[jaleely]

I remember that incident.
And I did notice those claws in the pic, actually *lol*
I'm a super protective mama...I might have clipped off those toes...but I've never fed a snake a bird either. I suppose the beak would be just as pointy as the claws.
I haven't done it for any mice, rats, rabbits though. Also i feed frozen/thawed so i know the keratin in the nails soften in the length of time they are in the water thawing.

Everyone here is correct, but I can't say that with a large prey item the thought would not cross my mind for my wee widdle wons!!!

I once believed a snake I got from the pound had suffered an esophagus tear, because it had so much trouble eating....but after further research, and getting it healthy, I realized it had just been so malnourished it was just too weak to eat.
Anyway, what they said : )

[Reptilegal]

Ok cool, inwas just terrified about what those nails might do but now that I know that they won't cause proplems I'm very relieved :)