mouse bite?

[rebel_logan_24]

my 3 1/2 ft 2011 ij x jag got bit by a mouse three days ago and i need some help.

she is eating two mice due to the fact my local stores dont have anything smaller than a small rat. she is starting the blueing stage but her eyes werent clouded yet. she ate the first one fine i waited a couple minutes and put the second one in and when she went to strike she got it on the rump above the tail base. well needless to say the mouse turned around and bit her about 3-4 inches down from her neck area and possibly once on the top of her head. she killed it and ate it but there was some blood on the cage floor. i cleaned her off in luke warm water and put her back into her enclosure. im worried about her though bc i dont want to bother her by getting her out and inspecting the wound bc one she just ate and two because she is in a full blueing stage. what should i do should i be worried.

[SnakeyJay]

I e never had my snakes wounded so this is just an opinion... But it all depends on how bad the wounds are. When you cleaned her off did you see any open wounds? Theres a thread somewhere on here about a snake first aid kit. I can't find the link but you can search for it with the search bar at the top of the screen. There is info on antiseptics and things that you can do to help... Goodluck :D maybe it's time to stop feeding live for the health of your pet.

[Gungirl]

Snakes are tough creatures and get hurt in nature all the time. I would simply let her rest and heal on her own. I also highly recommend that you stop feeding live and start feeding fresh killed or frozen thawed.

[Jay]

Let this be a lesson for all those who feed live, it happens quick.

[rebel_logan_24]

i have tried to switch to f/t after a couple feeds when i first got her but she absolutly wouldnt take them i tried fresh killed also and she still wouldnt. i tried for about 2 months and then went back to live bc i was worried about her not eating.
what should i do to switch her over to f/t or atleast fresh killed?
thanks

[Gungirl]

A snake as long as it is healthy can go a long time without food. If you offer live after only a few attempts at fresh killed your snake will always hold out for the live. My Royal went 5 months while I switched him over from live to frozen thawed. First thing is first, Offer only fresh killed every 10-14 days.To help make the switch you can brain the prey or even cut open the stomach to get the scent out strong. As long as she isn't loosing weight there is no issue. I would weight him now and then in 2 months Just to keep an eye on her. If she is not eating or loosing weight keep offering every 10-14 days. After you get her to take Fresh killed a few times start the process over again with Frozen thawed. While you are making the food switch it's hands off. No holding or taking out of the viv unless you need to clean it.

[alessia55]

i have tried to switch to f/t after a couple feeds when i first got her but she absolutly wouldnt take them i tried fresh killed also and she still wouldnt. i tried for about 2 months and then went back to live bc i was worried about her not eating.
what should i do to switch her over to f/t or atleast fresh killed?
thanks

2 months is not a long time for a snake to go without eating if he is healthy. I waited 5 months until one of mine switched over to f/t. Just keep offering once every 7-10 days, and eventually he will eat. Carpet pythons are good at eating, so when he's hungry enough, he'll eat that f/t rat for you. Good luck with helping him recovery from the mouse bite!!

[MoreliAddict]

I waited 5 months until one of mine switched over to f/t.
Must have taken so much patience. Was that kaybe?

[alessia55]

Must have taken so much patience. Was that kaybe?

Yup. He REALLY tested my patience :laugh: Love my big boy though ♥

[MoreliAddict]

Yup. He REALLY tested my patience :laugh: Love my big boy though ♥
Did he eventually snatch it right off tongs or did you keep leaving it in his cage until one day he decided to eat it?

[alessia55]

Did he eventually snatch it right off tongs or did you keep leaving it in his cage until one day he decided to eat it?

Left it with him, 1 hour later I checked and it was gone.

[MoreliAddict]

Left it with him, 1 hour later I checked and it was gone.
Awesome, congrats.

[jarich]

Its often a more difficult thing when you first get the snake too. Ive tried switching new snakes over and they wont switch for the first few months, until they get more comfortable with their new home. Now that you have had it in that cage for awhile I would bet it will prove easier.

[jaleely]

I'd check the wound tomorrow. See if there's any irritation or swelling, or if it's scabbed over.

I'd try to def move to frozen. I've had a full grown ball python not eat for almost a year, and a baby (15 inch) dumeril's boa that *just* ate his first meal last week....I got him 8/6/11. In his case, he was hibernating....but the point is, if they are inactive and healthy, they can last quite some time while you hold out and make them switch *lol*

Drove me crazy though. I'm so glad he's eating. lol

[GarterPython]

Try to switch to frozen and also try not to feed when a snake is shedding. It makes them focus more on digesting and less on shedding.

[rebel_logan_24]

i didnt know that about the eating while shedding. that is very helpful. thanks

im going to start trying to switch her over week after next but within the next month or so i am going to be putting her into her new enclosure i am finishing up now. it is much bigger than the tank she is out growing as we speak. do you think i should keep her in the small tank even when the new one is done until she will take a couple of F/T feedings?

[shaunyboy]

as long as you keep an eye on the wound and keep it clean,then it should be ok mate

i use an iodine solution to wash the wound,to try and avoid infection

posting pictures of the wound,after the snakes shed,would give us more information to use to help you mate

cheers shaun

[hellosugaree]

If it's small, clean it up and keep the enclosure sparking clean. Your biggest worry is infection. If it gets swollen, oozy, smelly, or discolored other than a scab then take the snake to a vet. Otherwise, it should be okay. The most important thing is keep the enclosure clean. Whatever substrate you're using, I would replace it completely with fresh substrate and clean out the tank so the wounds aren't sitting in bacteria from the last time the snake crapped. Even if it looks clean to the eye, remember that you can't see bacteria ;)

[Chu'Wuti]

There are lots of tricks that you can try for switching your snake to F/T. Be sure to heat the entire body and especially the head well. Usually this causes some blood to come from the mouth, which may help interest the snake. Cutting the brain case open may help. Some people have recommended dipping the F/T item in warm, salt-free chicken broth. The best trick I found for one especially stubborn ball python was rolling the F/T item in fresh rat poop. I simply asked the rat breeder for some rat poop and he willingly gave it to me--and it worked like a charm! Good luck!