My pythin ate a piece of substrate should i be concerned?

Question

I just fed my baby python and i guess a piece of reptile bark substrate got caught on the mouse and he swallowed it. it was caught in his mouth for a little but he swallowed it straight down. it was a fairly large piece of bark completely straight, maybe a half inch?

Should i be concerned? or will he just digest it and remove of it through his...waste?

Answer 1

you should contact a vet and find out what to do it could cause problems...also this is part of the reason why people should use feeding tubs to feed snakes.  

any plastic box big enough for the snake to fit in and move around a little bit will do.  drill several holes along the tops of the sides for airflow.  after the snake eats give him about 20 minutes to get the food down and then put him back in his house.

Answer 2

Hello! ;)

No, don't worry!! He will pass the bark/substrate a-ok.

My ball-python and Boa used to swallow a bit of substrate here and there. I remember the first time my ball-python did it, I was like you- I was worried!! ;)

But, he passed it, and whenever he swallowed it, he always passed it.

What do snakes do in the wild? They swallow substrate, no-one helps them remove it, they defecate it out!! ( They poo it  out as a part of their waste).

Snakes are quite tough... your snake will be fine.

Don't stress. ;)

Hope this helps! Good luck!!

;)

Answer 3

Contact your vet straight away.

Do not put bark in the bottom of a snake tank.

Your snake might have a big problem passing this piece of bark.

Answer 4

If you have the bag from the substrate, check it for any information concerning consumption. Watch your python carefully, while a half-inch isn't very large, just watch for unusual bulges in his skin. Many substrates are perfectly fine for snakes or lizards to accidentally consume, so more than likely, it's not a big deal.

Answer 5

It will pass. You have nothing to worry about. I had a small kingsnake grab and swallow a rubber tip off of my feeding tongs before I could get it back. And this was a big piece of rubber for such a small snake. I found the tip in the enclosure a week later after the snake pooped it out and was able to put it back on my tongs.