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Kez
Hatchling

United Kingdom
378 Posts
Posted - 13/10/2011 :  14:05:25  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Hi everyone

I wonder if you could please put my mind at ease. I fed Maizie last night for the first time since her shed and she took the food aggressively, finally, which was great. However, in her haste, there was one small beech chip from her substrate which attached itself to the fluff and there was absolutely nothing I could do to stop her eating it. I daren't disturb her and try to remove it with tweezers for fear of her regurging

I know I'm possiby worrying unduly as it's literally just 1 chip about 5mm square and she swallowed it without any problem and it's usually only if the snake takes substrate in on a regular basis when feeding that it starts to cause a problem, but do you think she'll be ok on this occasion? I intend putting some kitchen towel in future to try and avoid the situation occurring again.

Thanks for your help
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Spreebok
Sub Adult

United Kingdom
1135 Posts
Posted - 13/10/2011 :  14:15:22  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
She should be okay, but I don't have to worry about substrate ingestion as I feed in tubs, so I can't say for sure.
I will say though, don't be afraid to pick it off with the tweezers, unless she is a very very finnicky eater. My lot get camera in their faces and all sort when feeding, but once it's in their gobs, they're pretty reluctant to let go lol!
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gingerpony
Queen Bee

United Kingdom
10455 Posts
Posted - 13/10/2011 :  14:47:41  Show Profile  Click to see gingerpony's MSN Messenger address  Reply with Quote
there's not a lot you can do really other than keep an eye on her, if it's gone down and not been brushed off the fuzzy as she was swallowing it then hopefully it'll pass through with no problems
as long as you learn from it
cornsnakes, ratsnakes, bullsnakes, boas and day geckos

Location:Leeds/York/Selby area
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Auld Baldy
Ikea's Pimp

United Kingdom
1619 Posts
Posted - 13/10/2011 :  14:49:26  Show Profile  Visit Auld Baldy's Homepage  Reply with Quote
You should really feed in a small tub with no substrate, maybe just a bit of kitchen roll for traction.
She might go in the huff and miss a meal but better to disturb her and remove the chip rather than fret about ingestion. Spitting out is different from regurgitation, but you would probably have difficulty making her let go anyway.

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Okeetee Mick
Fully Grown Corn

United Kingdom
2308 Posts
Posted - 13/10/2011 :  17:19:17  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Not wishing to alarm you but 5mm is actually quite large, how old is Maizie? I would certainly keep an eye on her until she has a poo. I really do not like beech chips in fact the guy I use for my supplies (Terry at Penfolds in Herne Bay) will not have the stuff on his shelves. Hope all goes well
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Kez
Hatchling

United Kingdom
378 Posts
Posted - 13/10/2011 :  18:32:49  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
She's 14 months old Mick, 2' 2" and around 70g. I've just checked on her and she seems quite happy curled up in her hide as she usually does after eating. I'm keeping everything crossed that it all works out ok. I'm going to be distraught if anything happens to her

Out of interest, does everyone on here feed their corns outside of the viv in a box? I thought that you shouldn't handle them when they've just eaten because of regurge which is why I've fed her in the viv since I got her three weeks ago. How do you go about getting them back in their viv once they've eaten and do you leave it until they've manipulated the food item down quite a long way or just after they've swallowed it? The Centre I bought her from said I could feed inside or outside the viv, but that if I feed outside of it, then there is the chance that she will expect food every time I put my hand in to take her out for handling, which I do four days out of seven.

Thanks for all your help and replies, from a relative newby in comparison to a lot of you
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paulie78
Fully Grown Corn

United Kingdom
2331 Posts
Posted - 13/10/2011 :  18:46:19  Show Profile  Visit paulie78's Homepage  Reply with Quote
In the event of me having to drop feed in one of the snakes rubs i always remove the substrate and line it with kitchen roll instead im a born worrier so its just for peace of mind lol

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Auld Baldy
Ikea's Pimp

United Kingdom
1619 Posts
Posted - 13/10/2011 :  18:53:00  Show Profile  Visit Auld Baldy's Homepage  Reply with Quote
Not handling after a feed means not having it out for and extended 'play' session. The easiest thing to do is feed in a small tub and when finished simply offer the box up to let the snake scuttle back into its favourite hide. It won't disturb her or cause a regurge. As for expecting food every time you put your hand in, she will just have to get used to the disappointment.

BTW, we were all hatchlings and had to ask the same questions at some time.

1.0.0: Miami Normal: Taggart
0.0.1: Carolina Normal: Wee Woody
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0.0.1: Amel Corn: Blaze
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0.0.1: Florida King Snake : Rattler (Rattle & Hum)
0.0.1. California King Snake: El Diablo Diego
0.2.0 Tarantulas : Ermintrude & Euphemia.
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Okeetee Mick
Fully Grown Corn

United Kingdom
2308 Posts
Posted - 13/10/2011 :  19:03:27  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I would have thought at 14 months she will be fine, I just had visions of a hatchling trying to digest a large beech chip. I say again ditch the beech chips and use Aspen. Having used them both I know what I prefer
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0.1.0 Thayers King (Lettie Mae) 0.1.0 Albino Blairs King (Lorena) 0.1.0 Russian Ratsnakes (Pam)
0.1.0 Korean Ratsnake (Katerina) 1.0.0 Russian Ratsnake (Lafayette)
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Kez
Hatchling

United Kingdom
378 Posts
Posted - 13/10/2011 :  19:05:53  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Thank you so much Auld Bauldy, I really appreciate your advice. I'm going to take that on board and buy her a new box at the weekend so I can start feeding her in it next week

The problem when you're new to something is that you do everything you're told to because you think it's what's best and you can't go wrong, so to try something different like feeding in a box outside of the viv caused me to feel really uncertain and unhappy that I might be upsetting Maizie. Now I know that she'll be fine and get used to it, I feel better and at least I wont have the worry of her ingesting any more beech chips.

Fingers crossed she's pooping and peeing on me as per usual after tomorrow; it'll be the only time I'll be happy to be soiled on mind!!!

EDIT: Just seen your message Mick. Thanks for the advice on the aspen; I'm not sure if the Centre I go to sell it, I've only ever seen the chips. I'll have a look at the weekend when I go to buy more food for Maizie. If they don't, do you buy yours online, or would somewhere like Pets at Home sell it? Thanks again
0.1.0 - CB10 Creamsicle - Maisie
0.1.0 - CB10 Ultramel Motley - Smudge
1.0.0 - Leopard Gecko - Ziggy
1.0.0 - Crested Gecko - Koji
0.0.1 - Chahoua - Chewie
0.1.0 - Rescue Greyhound - Becki
Edited by - Kez on 13/10/2011 19:10:46
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lotabob
Fully Grown Corn

United Kingdom
4334 Posts
Posted - 13/10/2011 :  19:23:55  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Chips are fine providing you dont feed directly on them. Its quite likely a chip that size was brushed off as it was passing through the jaws so you're not likely to get anything out the backend resembling a chip, what you want is just the normal poop passing out the back end, over the next few weeks you'll have to keep an eye on Maizie.
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Okeetee Mick
Fully Grown Corn

United Kingdom
2308 Posts
Posted - 13/10/2011 :  19:50:52  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Surrey Pet Suplies, 14.5kg bale @ £18.38 plus £3.99 post, a bargain. I don't think chips are fine, very little odour and liquid absorbancy but each to there own.
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gingerpony
Queen Bee

United Kingdom
10455 Posts
Posted - 13/10/2011 :  19:51:26  Show Profile  Click to see gingerpony's MSN Messenger address  Reply with Quote
i personally don't feed any of mine in seperate tubs, for 2 reasons:

1. having quite a few corns it would make feeding time a very long and complicated process
2. dealing with non-feeders and problem feeders they're best off fed in their own, familiar enclosure

with the boas there's a third reason - there's no way i'm sticking my hand in any of their vivs if they smell rats/rabbits defrosting, and there's no way i want to get tagged transferring them back into their vivs afterwards!!
cornsnakes, ratsnakes, bullsnakes, boas and day geckos

Location:Leeds/York/Selby area
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Auld Baldy
Ikea's Pimp

United Kingdom
1619 Posts
Posted - 13/10/2011 :  20:06:17  Show Profile  Visit Auld Baldy's Homepage  Reply with Quote
Go for it GP ... and show us woosies what a real tagging should look like.

I got Aspen & Chips from SPS as part of a largish order including a 3ft Vivexotic, carriage for the lot was under £9.00. Well worth it against local prices. (Doctor suggested I needed a high fibre diet!! )

1.0.0: Miami Normal: Taggart
0.0.1: Carolina Normal: Wee Woody
0.0.1: Grey Rat Snake: Mirkey
0.0.1: Amel Corn: Blaze
1.0.0: Carpet Python: Vambo
0.0.1: MBK: Fester
0.0.1: Florida King Snake : Rattler (Rattle & Hum)
0.0.1. California King Snake: El Diablo Diego
0.2.0 Tarantulas : Ermintrude & Euphemia.
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mikerichards
don't say the 'M' word!

United Kingdom
2901 Posts
Posted - 13/10/2011 :  22:53:09  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Agree with okeetee Mick, and am in the same boat as GP with number of animals!
I dont use beech chips, in fact i dont use any wood based substrate at all, i use megazorb which is a horse bedding, very absorbant, good odour killer, and is 9 quid for 20 kilos.

the problem with things like beech chips and bark is not that it will cause an impaction, which it may, but its more likely to actually tear the stomach or intestine. Seen it happen with bark, not a nice thing to happen, and that was one small piece of bark with a 6 or 700g royal.
Location : Worthing, West Sussex
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Diesel1994
Hatchling

United Kingdom
338 Posts
Posted - 13/10/2011 :  23:10:48  Show Profile  Visit Diesel1994's Homepage  Click to see Diesel1994's MSN Messenger address  Reply with Quote
I would agree, Aspen over chippings any day, but if you must use chippings take the advice and feed in a separate tub, doesn't have to be big. Plus aspen is cheaper and goes further, for me there's no contest. In regard to the beech chip swallowed, I would recommend that you leave the snake for a few weeks to digest the chipping and regain its stomach acid levels, after this the normal feeding should resume. although leaving it a few weeks may not be necessary I like to do this, I do the same with a regurge
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mikerichards
don't say the 'M' word!

United Kingdom
2901 Posts
Posted - 14/10/2011 :  09:42:42  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Diesel1994

I would agree, Aspen over chippings any day, but if you must use chippings take the advice and feed in a separate tub, doesn't have to be big. Plus aspen is cheaper and goes further, for me there's no contest. In regard to the beech chip swallowed, I would recommend that you leave the snake for a few weeks to digest the chipping and regain its stomach acid levels, after this the normal feeding should resume. although leaving it a few weeks may not be necessary I like to do this, I do the same with a regurge


Out of interest, where do you think the stomach acid levels are going???
i understand the regurge, thats a given, but the beech chip???

there is no need to wait a couple of weeks before feeding again, in theory the beech chip should pass with the meal, unless it gets stuck, which is a whole different ball game.
Location : Worthing, West Sussex
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gingerpony
Queen Bee

United Kingdom
10455 Posts
Posted - 14/10/2011 :  14:12:48  Show Profile  Click to see gingerpony's MSN Messenger address  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Auld Baldy

Go for it GP ... and show us woosies what a real tagging should look like.

second to last feed time my temperamental 7 foot boa (known as Hissy Missy for good reason!) came flying across from the other side of the viv and out of the door at me

i screamed and ran across the room then went back armed with a RUB lid to push her back into the viv (whilst still being struck at from behind the plastic!!)

reminder: DON'T mess with her at mealtimes!!!
cornsnakes, ratsnakes, bullsnakes, boas and day geckos

Location:Leeds/York/Selby area
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Auld Baldy
Ikea's Pimp

United Kingdom
1619 Posts
Posted - 14/10/2011 :  16:29:34  Show Profile  Visit Auld Baldy's Homepage  Reply with Quote
So that's where they got the idea for that scene in the Medical Centre in Aliens. Does that mean we should call you Ripley from now on.

1.0.0: Miami Normal: Taggart
0.0.1: Carolina Normal: Wee Woody
0.0.1: Grey Rat Snake: Mirkey
0.0.1: Amel Corn: Blaze
1.0.0: Carpet Python: Vambo
0.0.1: MBK: Fester
0.0.1: Florida King Snake : Rattler (Rattle & Hum)
0.0.1. California King Snake: El Diablo Diego
0.2.0 Tarantulas : Ermintrude & Euphemia.
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Mort13
Fully Grown Corn

United Kingdom
5599 Posts
Posted - 14/10/2011 :  17:33:10  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by gingerpony

quote:
Originally posted by Auld Baldy

Go for it GP ... and show us woosies what a real tagging should look like.

second to last feed time my temperamental 7 foot boa (known as Hissy Missy for good reason!) came flying across from the other side of the viv and out of the door at me

i screamed and ran across the room then went back armed with a RUB lid to push her back into the viv (whilst still being struck at from behind the plastic!!)#

reminder: DON'T mess with her at mealtimes!!!

Ha,ha ha I had to laugh at the thought of you screaming and running!
My MBK missed his first mouse on the first strike last night and ended up half out of the viv,was pooping myself a bit getting him back in. He then went on to drop the mouse in his water bowl,attack his plants,wreck his viv and hurl himself at the glass if I moved at all. I certainly won't be feeding him out of the viv lol!

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gingerpony
Queen Bee

United Kingdom
10455 Posts
Posted - 14/10/2011 :  19:54:19  Show Profile  Click to see gingerpony's MSN Messenger address  Reply with Quote
stupid thing is, it was a lapse of my concentration, i know exactly what she's like
i don't even heat the rabbit up anymore just 'serve at room temperature' as her feeding response is.........well........immense!!
cornsnakes, ratsnakes, bullsnakes, boas and day geckos

Location:Leeds/York/Selby area
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