Aussie Pythons and Snakes

bigguy · #1 30-Jul-04, 10:22 AM

Hi,

Apart from getting everywhere, including door tracts, I have just found a second problem with using breeders choice as a substrate.

This morning I noticed one of my male Bredli moving around in an uncomfortable manner. When examined he appeared slightly swollen in the area of his hemipenes.

Both hemipenes were poped out to find some discharge. This was washed away to reveal the source of the irratation. A piece of breeders choise was lodged INSIDE both hemipenes.

It appears he may have been mating and while retracting his equipment he has picked up a piece. He must have then tried to use his second one and it happened again.

It is a good idea before mating to always check for sperm plugs and remove them when found. Now, I may have to check for breeders choise plugs while mating. Was he just horribly unlucky, or has anyone else ever witnessed anything like this??

peterescue · #2 30-Jul-04, 10:54 AM

Funny thing is, while always being a champion of the product, since the last discussion on BC I have gone off it a bit. I notice a few problems. the main one being humidity levels being to low and yes, sticking to things.

sxereturn · #3 30-Jul-04, 11:00 AM

My Brown Tree Snakes have been mating like crazy for about 3 weeks now...every morning I wake up to this...

Bryony · #4 30-Jul-04, 11:16 AM

does it float your boat sxe?
lol
kidding

the other problem with BC is the particals left if the air when putting it in or taking it out....these arn't as harmful to reptiles....but can cause lung irritations, conjunctivitis, and i have heard about it going up nasal passage ways and causing problems with asthmatics......

Fuscus · #5 30-Jul-04, 04:35 PM

At least with BC you don't get a wet spot

ether · #6 30-Jul-04, 04:43 PM

Hey Bigguy,

Just wondering if you are going to continue to use breeders choice as ur substrate? Could it have harmed the bredli, did it?

Regards Ether

hugsta · #7 30-Jul-04, 05:13 PM

Just another reason to add to my list of why not to use it.

I used to use it all the time but just had too many hassles with feeding my animals and the worry of it being consumed ny them. I just use butchers paper now. As soon as they poop, you just replace it.

sxereturn · #8 30-Jul-04, 07:02 PM

Hugsta - I feed all my snakes on it. It's newspaper - quite easily digestable if they do swallow it.

Springherp · #9 30-Jul-04, 07:08 PM

I've stopped using BC for a few reasons.
1. Because a few times I've found small peices of metal imbedded in it
and 2. It encourages me to be lazy with enclosure cleaning.

Magpie · #10 30-Jul-04, 08:23 PM

How does one check for and remove sperm plugs?

africancichlidau · #11 30-Jul-04, 10:18 PM

What is B.C?
And:

Quote:

while retracting his equipment he has picked up a piece.

What good is picking up a piece with his equipment retracted?

bigguy · #12 31-Jul-04, 08:37 PM

Ether, yes I will keep using breeders choice. The benifits still far outweigh the problems as far as I am concerned. I will just keep an eye open for problems with the males in breeding season.

peterescue · #13 31-Jul-04, 09:26 PM

I'll use BC for stuff in the house but I just had to pick about 20 peices i=out of the mouth of a diamond in care. It was pathetic but sort of funny. It opened its mouth to bite me before it had started to strike and scopped up a mouthful of pellets then compacted them into its mouth using the side of my hand. I have a lot of shredded paper that Im using which is ok but you have to change it regularly. I have also found that if you want to assist in a shed you can place BC in a plastic box, spray it with water then put the lid on with the animal inside of course.

bigguy · #14 31-Jul-04, 09:32 PM

Peter, I have never thought of this use. Very clever. It would work well when you think about it. Create humidity, as well a supplying purchase point to help remove the skin.

As for your Diamond. Serves it right for trying to bite. That will teach it to get some manners.

hugsta · #15 31-Jul-04, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Hugsta - I feed all my snakes on it. It's newspaper - quite easily digestable if they do swallow it.

Not if they are hatchies or juvies though sxe. Adults will pass it through but it can cause impaction in young animals in their digestive tracts.

It is also sometimes hard to to see if the animal has had a poop as well as it can be absorbed in the paper. It also seems to have a lot of airborn particles when putting it in enclosures or cleaning them out. I don't mind it, I just prefer to use paper at the moment.