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Midoripickle View Profile |
Help! My mice keep exploding!
This is just getting ridiculous now and poor Edward must be starving. It’s day 13 already since his last feeding. Just about two weeks!! And I don’t understand. I took the little baggie, put it in the fridge over night to defrost... and when i took it out to get room temperature I suspected something, then held it up to the light and I can tell thats what happened.. So I’m not even gonna open it. |
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| 05/07/08 08:11pm |
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SatanicIntention View Profile |
Message To: Midoripickle In reference to Message Id: 1728573 Help! My mice keep exploding!
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| 05/07/08 08:13pm |
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Midoripickle View Profile |
Message To: SatanicIntention In reference to Message Id: 1728575 Help! My mice keep exploding!
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| 05/07/08 08:14pm |
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Midoripickle View Profile |
Message To: Midoripickle In reference to Message Id: 1728579 Help! My mice keep exploding!
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| 05/07/08 08:24pm |
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Midoripickle View Profile |
Message To: Midoripickle In reference to Message Id: 1728594 Help! My mice keep exploding!
I’ve just been so .... stressed out and that was the last thing I needed right now. I’m tired and cranky with loosing too much sleep over this stuff and I’m running out of options... |
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| 05/07/08 08:29pm |
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SatanicIntention View Profile |
Message To: Midoripickle In reference to Message Id: 1728594 Help! My mice keep exploding!
The blood isn’t from when they killed it, they don’t whack them upside the head. It’s just from the sensitive mucous membranes in the nasal passages, where the thin blood vessels burst. No big deal. As long as the mouse is chubby, clean and does NOT smell, you can use it. If it smells like it is rotting, then NO do not use it. I would definitely get some higher quality ones from a bigger supplier. They are very inexpensive and will keep for 6 months if they are vacuum sealed. Hopefully you’re not buying from Petsmart.. 3 tiny "adult" mice for $11 doesn’t sit too well with the wallet. |
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| 05/07/08 08:34pm |
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Conan View Profile |
Message To: Midoripickle In reference to Message Id: 1728603 Help! My mice keep exploding!
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| 05/07/08 08:36pm |
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ScyllaCharybdis View Profile |
Message To: SatanicIntention In reference to Message Id: 1728612 Help! My mice keep exploding!
I’ve been feeding live for a long, long, long time and have never had any issues! |
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| 05/07/08 08:44pm |
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Midoripickle View Profile |
Message To: ScyllaCharybdis In reference to Message Id: 1728636 Help! My mice keep exploding!
I do have to wiggle them a bit. but after a few seconds he strikes and it’s done. And I just worry he’s gonna get bit or something. He’s in the process of eatting it now so it’s all okay. And it’s a good sign that he’s still eatting. That’s one thing through all this worrying that I’m really thankful for. |
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| 05/07/08 08:49pm |
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ScyllaCharybdis View Profile |
Message To: Midoripickle In reference to Message Id: 1728647 Help! My mice keep exploding!
Quote: Yeah.. but.. being previous rat and mouse owner... I’m still a little too.... A little too...What?!
You didn’t finish so I don’t know what you getting at?! |
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| 05/07/08 08:56pm |
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LoftLizard View Profile |
Message To: ScyllaCharybdis In reference to Message Id: 1728665 Help! My mice keep exploding!
If Edward is eating that is what you want. I feed all my BPs live, but if he is taking FT and that is what you are comfortable then stick with it. You want to feed what works for you and your snake. An exloding mouse is gross... I have had it happen and it sucks on SO many levels. In my case I was defrosting for too long and feeding prey that were a bit small for my BP. Like GA has mentioned in a previous post, I defrost on the counter... I pull the rat when I get home, and feed before I go to bed. I hit it with a blow dryer, concentrate a bit extra on the head and nose to mimic a live prey and then feed. But if you have a bad "batch"... then toss them and get a new one. Ultimately you want to feed the best quality rodent to your snake and not all rodent suppliers are as ethical or take as good of care of their rodents as others. If you do not mind, remind us how big he is and how often he is eating? Bruce PS: Kudos on taking so much time to get answers to what is best for your snake. I know you are stressing a bit, and if you are feeling a bit overwhelmed with so much new info... keep in mind it is stuff that fortuneately you should only have to go through once, and it will ultimately benefit you, make you a better keeper, and keep your snake thriving. |
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| 05/07/08 09:09pm |
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LoftLizard View Profile |
Message To: LoftLizard In reference to Message Id: 1728683 Help! My mice keep exploding!
Quote: But if you have a bad "batch"... then toss them and get a new one.
And to qualify, as others have noted... if that snake is eating... then he is not starving. :) He can wait a day if you need to replace your feeders... a captive BP will recieve more food in captivity (or so we tend to estimate) than their wild family members in a year. Bruce |
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| 05/07/08 09:13pm |
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Midoripickle View Profile |
Message To: LoftLizard In reference to Message Id: 1728683 Help! My mice keep exploding!
But he ate it so it’s all good. I’m not sure about his weight. Haven’t figured out how to messure it yet. Tried my scale and I got 0.2 so I have no clue. But he’s about 20 1/2 inches long and he’s eatten all three meals. He eats adult mice (to my surprize lol) And the pet store said that they fed them frozen. So I figured just stick to what he’s used to and it’s easier for me. And what I meant Scylla is I guess I’m still abit... screamish at the idea. And I don’t want him getting hurt either. The first mouse gave me alittle trouble. He would go around it, smelling it, but every time i peeked he caught me and backed off. So i figured after an hour of that, FINE... I’ll go watch a damn movie or something. Came back two hours later. Still didn’t eat it. By that time I thought that thing had to be going bad. So I had a long dowel thing and tried to get it away enough so I could grab it. Well as soon as it started to move, he struck. lol scared the crap out of me. So then I figured out what the trick was!! So now I just wiggle it a bit and he eats it. (wow that was long, lol) |
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| 05/07/08 09:23pm |
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GA_Ball_Pythons View Profile |
Message To: Midoripickle In reference to Message Id: 1728702 Help! My mice keep exploding!
In the future just do not to leave them out too long causing them to thaw by accident. If you do the simple action of thawing and re-freezing will cause them to explode. And as for your BP do not worry he will not starve they can go quite a while without eating. And remember when feeding F/T it is important to warm up the prey properly (which can be done with a hairdryer), and also to dangle the prey using tongs. |
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| 05/07/08 09:35pm |
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Midoripickle View Profile |
Message To: GA_Ball_Pythons In reference to Message Id: 1728711 Help! My mice keep exploding!
lol it was funny. I guess it was too close to his water dish. Becuase as he was wriggling around while he was swallowing he kept slopping it into the water. I figured it was okay that he was getting it wet. But it was funny to watch. Then Edward was fixing his jaw.... awww so cute <3 |
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| 05/07/08 09:41pm |
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ScyllaCharybdis View Profile |
Message To: GA_Ball_Pythons In reference to Message Id: 1728711 Help! My mice keep exploding!
Since it didn’t seem like the whole mouse explosion situation wasn’t working so well...I mentioned another viable option! I wasn’t trying to convert anyone. If F/T works for you...by all means...stick to it. but I also wanted you to know that there is nothing wrong with live food either. Quote: And what I meant Scylla is I guess I’m still abit... screamish at the idea. And I don’t want him getting hurt either. LOL!
It’s doubtful that would happen as long as the mouse isn’t left overnight (Rats are a different story!). Can Lions get hurt by Wildebeest? Yes they "can"...but it isn’t very likely!  |
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| 05/07/08 09:46pm |
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Midoripickle View Profile |
Message To: ScyllaCharybdis In reference to Message Id: 1728726 Help! My mice keep exploding!
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| 05/07/08 09:58pm |
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LoftLizard View Profile |
Message To: Midoripickle In reference to Message Id: 1728742 Help! My mice keep exploding!
I have breeder rats and pets, I also breed my own FT rats and euthanize them. Part of the artichoke that is having a snake(s). When you get up to 5 snakes, let me know I will help you set up your rat colony... (much to mom’s dismay!). :) You’re doing great Shana. Snakes are a whole different experience and an amazingly rewarding one. I cherish all of mine and they have taught me so much. As have the keepers on this site. Bruce |
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| 05/07/08 11:22pm |
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Midoripickle View Profile |
Message To: LoftLizard In reference to Message Id: 1728840 Help! My mice keep exploding!
But it’s not the same thing as a pet I guess. I think it just grosses me out that it’s dead. I don’t like dead things. They creep me out lol But it’s better than it being alive and having to hear it squeaking and stuff, ugh >< |
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| 05/07/08 11:31pm |
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Marg View Profile |
Message To: Midoripickle In reference to Message Id: 1728573 Help! My mice keep exploding!
Sounds like you got a bad batch, as mentioned. Personally, if I got a Bunch from a pet store, and they are All exploding like this, I would be bagging them up and returning them to the store... and purchase else where :o) |
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| 05/08/08 06:52am |
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SatanicIntention View Profile |
Message To: Marg In reference to Message Id: 1728992 Help! My mice keep exploding!
I have pet rats too so I’m not about to bring unquarantined rats into my group. But I also breed mice and once the mice bite you, you’ll get over it very quickly :) |
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| 05/08/08 09:40am |
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LoftLizard View Profile |
Message To: SatanicIntention In reference to Message Id: 1729100 Help! My mice keep exploding!
Quote: So it won’t be all that easy when I have to feed him rats.
Becky makes a good point... My bad as I say rats when referring to feeders, as everyone in this house that has no legs gets fed rats. So in posts I tend to use it as the catch all for rodents, and as noted there is not need to ever switch him if he eats consistently and you can provide the food he needs. |
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| 05/08/08 10:21am |
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Frankykeno View Profile |
Message To: LoftLizard In reference to Message Id: 1729149 Help! My mice keep exploding!
Just a few suggestions and comments. As Chuck said, there’s absolutely no "must" about feeding rats to ball pythons. You can just as easily feed mice or african soft furred rats. The important thing is they receive an overall total volume of prey that month that allows for steady growth/health maintenance, that the prey is of top quality and that the snake takes it with a strong feeding response. Rats, mice, ASF’s - live, f/t, p/k - it’s all about what decisions to do with what works for you and works for your particular snake. With f/t feeding you do need to get that prey up to "live" temps. Room temp is not live temp so either warming a bit further in a waterproof ziploc bag in some hot water (do not cook the prey of course) or a quick blast with a hot hairdryer can do the trick. Your snake needs to read that temp to be stimulated to hunt. BP’s are not natural scavengers so f/t feeding is a learned response for them. Along with that is the wiggle thing (often referred to as the "mouse zombie dance" or the "dead rat boogie" lol). Again this simulates a live prey item. A pair of hemostats, long tweezers, etc. work just fine to wiggle the prey and incite a strike without getting your hands (and your bigger heat signature) anywhere near your snake. You’ll do fine and so will your snake. Just don’t panic, learn from here, use it as a springboard to do your own research (make Google your friend), validate EVERYTHING you read from at least two other independent sources, rely on a good bit of common sense and patience and in the end, learn to develop and be proud of your own learning curve - never, ever stop that learning. It’s one of the best parts of this obsession with snakes. :) |
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| 05/08/08 10:34am |
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SatanicIntention View Profile |
Message To: Frankykeno In reference to Message Id: 1729167 Help! My mice keep exploding!
BRAIINNNNSSS!!! Rawwrrr oh.. Hm. :D |
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| 05/08/08 12:40pm |
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Midoripickle View Profile |
Message To: SatanicIntention In reference to Message Id: 1729248 Help! My mice keep exploding!
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| 05/09/08 10:12pm |
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Marg View Profile |
Message To: Midoripickle In reference to Message Id: 1730755 Help! My mice keep exploding!
and could poke a hole in your snake’s face! Not to mention if it misses and gets You instead of the prey :o) I just use a set of rounded end kitchen tongs, like these
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| 05/10/08 07:27am |
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Midoripickle View Profile |
Message To: Marg In reference to Message Id: 1730915 Help! My mice keep exploding!
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| 05/10/08 10:31am |
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