why did mouse split?

bolt · 09-22-12, 02:00 PM

Just feed my corn and he split the mouse open y did this happen he still ate it but there was sum aspen stuck to it will it hurt him??he had sum of the mouses guts hanging out the side of his mouth which i removed will this hurt him

Lankyrob · 09-22-12, 02:01 PM

Should be ok, the majority of time any substrate will be broken down by the digestive system. However, to remove the risk of ingestion you could feed him on a plate or clear and area of the floor of aspen next time

bolt · 09-22-12, 02:43 PM

Have tried to do that but he drags it every where

Lankyrob · 09-22-12, 03:35 PM

Guess the choices are to either change the substrate or feed out of the viv.

Just a thought tho - do you feed your prey items wet or dry? I always feed prey dry and am yet to see any substrate stick to the prey at all.

rmfsnakes32 · 09-22-12, 09:20 PM

Wow never heard of a snake splitting a mouse thats so weird how did it manage to do that?

bolt · 09-23-12, 01:34 AM

It was dry but as he managed it split it open the aspen stuck to the blood from.the mouse??iv never had a problem with this before.he has never burst one before it was not pretty and i dont understand why it happend!!any one recomend a diffrent bedding???

mark24 · 09-23-12, 01:55 AM

You could try newspaper, paper towles, eco earth (I think is), cypress mulch it really depends on what you want. My snakes eat aspen every now and then they haven't had any problems. Your corn snakes will be ok, like Rob said any substrate will be broken down by the digestive system. As for the mouse I think some snakes just like the taste of mouse guts, but I no idea how he split it on his own. Thats the only way my snake would eat for the longest time, I still have to split the mouse a little some times haha.

shaunyboy · 09-23-12, 07:06 AM

i havwe found,that if you over heat prey it tends to burst

that said i have carpets that can constrict with that mych pressure parts of the prey bursts

i changed my substrate to newspaper,as its easy to spot clean or replace completely,and it costs nothing

cheers shaun

bolt · 09-23-12, 08:01 AM

Thank u guys i only warm the head so dont think it was over heated!mite change to paper

DavethePython · 09-23-12, 10:07 AM

I have tried many different substrates , the easiest if you are looking for something nice to look at is snake carpet . Just keep 2 or 3 so when it is time to clean you just put a fresh clean one in and wash the dirty one. I don't lime aspen personally as my snakes have ingested it . I have had no problems but I know in rare cases ingested aspen has killed snakes . The carpet works pretty good but the downside is it can catch on their belly scales . Now I have tried coco husk and jungle bark . Too big to be ingested and looks good as well , plus during shed it helps peel the skin as they have something to roll against .

bolt · 09-24-12, 09:55 AM

Well since the eaten aspen he hasnt pooped which is very strange for him as he always has gone to days after feeding?could it be taking longer becuz he ate the aspen?is there anything i can do or am i worrying for nothing??

Gungirl · 09-24-12, 02:10 PM

snakes don't poop on a scheduled. Stop stressing..

DavethePython · 09-24-12, 02:32 PM

After he digests for a few days if you are still worried and he has no pooped you can always give him a soak in warm water . May not work but it certainly won't harm him . But if everything is good he will go in his own time .

mykee · 09-24-12, 02:44 PM

The mouse split because you either over-warmed him or the rodent breeder left the rodent out of the freezer too long after killing it and let the tissue deteriorate.
If it's not your fault, find a new rodent supplier.

DavethePython · 09-24-12, 02:54 PM

Interesting info Mykee , never had that issue before but it is something to keep in mind in the future.