Substrate ingestion

[Carl Spackler]

Hey guys

So I recently brought home my new ATB. I literally had just fed him his first frozen/thawed hopper. However after he strikes it and was in the process of eating the mouse a large piece of moss substrate was going down with it.

I was worried it would cause some sort of impaction so I gently pulled it out of the side of his mouth with tweezers.

He let go of the mouse and is now guarding it. Should I attempt to refeed it?
Will substrate really cause a big issue?

[franks]

I would give him some time to pick it back up and eat it. You disturbed him after "a kill" he may just be on high alert to defend himself. For future reference I feed my arboreal snakes on a plastic dish. It's great- besides protecting from substrate it conditions the snake to know it doesn't get fed until the dish is in its home. This actually solved an over food aggressive carpet python I have.

[Carl Spackler]

Thanks for the reply. I will do that next time.

I fed him with tongs holding the tail and he brought it down to the floor where he was already and got a piece of moss with it. I really didn't want to disturb him but I was thinking he may choke or something lol

Edit:
He has since taken it again and ate it.

[franks]

Ok great. Snakes eat particles of substrate in the wild, I don't think it presents a huge problem. However, you cannot predict what the piece that impacts your snake is so my philosophy is better safe than sorry.

[SSSSnakes]

Snake eat substrate all the time. It to shall pass.

[shaunyboy]

Originally Posted by Carl Spackler

Thanks for the reply. I will do that next time.

I fed him with tongs holding the tail and he brought it down to the floor where he was already and got a piece of moss with it. I really didn't want to disturb him but I was thinking he may choke or something lol

Edit:
He has since taken it again and ate it.

that's an amazing looking snake,the head shape,head pattern and eyes are great

if he feeds off of tongs,then i would pick it back up re heat it,then offer it to him

the substrate imo would have done it no harm,it may be different if it was a sharp twiggy piece like you can find in aspen substrate


if one of my carpets lets go after the strike,i immediatly re heat and offer right away


cheers shaun

[SnoopySnake]

Nice looking ATB. With proper temps and humidity, ingesting a bit of substrate should be fine.

[millertime89]

Gorgeous ATB, like the others said, in the proper setup a little substrate won't harm them. One of mine usually gets some sani-chips with each meal.