First Feeding Went Well!! Except... some substrate issues (of course)

[nev]

Wow. I just got my sand boa 4 days ago and I just went to feed him today. Hes 2months old. He was fed on live before I got him so I tried to switch him over thinking it was gonna be hard but he gobbled it up right away! Made me happy.
Thing is, I have him on walnut substrate and Ive heard cons and pros etc etc. but I also heard feed him in his enclosure. So I put the FT mouse in there and when he bit it, I played shakey mouse with it for a bit before he constricted it. When he did I put him on a paper towel in the cage thinking this would help reduce any or all walnut bits from being digested.
I noticed when he was taking it down, there were bits on some parts of the mouse. I wasnt sure if I should try to tweezer them off in case it would stress him, but I did anyways. Though I couldnt get it all off. Guess the mouse even though dry was sticky. So is that really bad for him? Can he digest a few of those? Should I feed him outside the cage next time? Should I pick him up and then show him the mouse on a paper towel in the cage so it doesnt get any bits on it?

[Lankyrob]

I feed in the enclosure but put a dinner sized plastic plate onto the substrate first, i then wiggle the prey over the plate so that the snake comes onto the plate to grab it, not 100% successful cos sometimes when they roll they go off the plate but there is only so much that you can do.

[infernalis]

That should digest OK....

Personally I feed most of my snakes outside, I use poly totes (we call them feed boxes)

[edens]

well i havent been an owner long... less than a month :-) and i have a python....but the tip i was given, is to push the substrate to the side.....its more trouble than the plate idea though.... i lift up the waterbowl, i have the largest so just doing that gives me quite a bit of space and i clear the area a little more. then i give the mouse. once she bites it if she is not over the spot i just pull her and the mouse ( i hold the mouse by the tail though, not with tweezers) on the spot and then i leave her alone. :-)

good luck! :-)

[NennaMeerkat]

Yay for a good first feeding! To me that is the most stressful part of being a new snake owner no matter how big or small or old the snake is. Glad to hear everything went okay.

[nev]

I think i might try getting him to follow the mouse onto a platform in the cage where he can eat. Like a piece of glass or tile. I think he might follow. If not, Ill pull while he bites like its putting up a fight. I just dont trust the walnut to digest well. If it passes it would be like shitting nails Im sure.

[Lankyrob]

When i use the plate i trail the mouse from teh snakes hide to the plate - they kinda stalk it along the scent trail (couple of times i moved to slowly the snake just struck out of the hide and stole the mouse but hey we live and learn!!)