My snake got bit

MyKuLoO · 08-08-14, 05:48 PM

So I was feeding my snake his usual meal of 1-2 live mice, the first one went down with no issues. The second one was a bit feisty and my snake caught it wrong so the mouse bit my snake about and inch and a half behind the head. I immediately poked the mouse so he let go, my snake ended up killing the mouse. I noticed a bit of blood in the mouses mouth but that may have been his own from the constriction.

I noticed a small bite mark on my snake, no blood at all just a few disturbed scales. I applied triple antibiotic to the area (similar to neosporin) and 2 small scales came off. Still no bleeding but he seems to have a bit of pain when i was applying the cream.

What should I do now? He didn't eat the 2nd mouse just killed it. He is now basking in the heat lamp. Does not appear to be in pain.

GUITARZAN509 · 08-08-14, 06:07 PM

Neosporin is good, but thats why you feed frozen thawed only, all it takes is 1 bite to a snakes spine from a rat or a mouse and its over

Cmwells90 · 08-08-14, 06:17 PM

I wouldn't say you NEED to feed frozen, but it does help to avoid this, and it's never too late to switch. Otherwise I'm sure he'll be fine, a bite doesn't cause much problem but keep an eye on it for swelling and infection and you should be fine.

SnoopySnake · 08-08-14, 06:22 PM

Keep an eye on it, and if you do apply triple antibiotic, make sure it isn't the kind with pain relief.

BIGT FROM F.B. · 08-08-14, 07:30 PM

I may get thrown under the bus here, but how about stun-gunning the food first? One of my small snakes had the same thing happen last week and I think I will start doing that this feeding.

metalcopper · 08-08-14, 09:05 PM

I like frozen/thawed, not only for the safety of my snakes, but I hate going to the pet store every week to buy food. I go once every 6 weeks or so and stock up on frozens.

Hyokenseisou · 08-08-14, 10:19 PM

If ever I have picky eaters that aren't about the f/t life, I do a f/k instead. Live IMO is not with the risk, yet they like "fresh meat". I don't donk them til their dead stiff, just a donk enough to have them still twitching (and likely a little alive...ish) and let them finish it off.
Just my babies are being picky ATM. After next prey size increase I'll be switching to f/t (too costly for live ��)

Teal · 08-09-14, 02:41 AM

As others said, it should be fine. They are slightly hardier than we give them credit for... after all, there is no such thing as f/t in the wild (;

If you do need to continue feeding live, I would suggest tong feeding so the snake cannot grab the prey wrong or at least stun the prey first.