You want an opinion?Take it to the vet!!

it will be going to the vet for probing and health check calm down!

I'm absolutely calm,no problem.I just suggested something;didn't mean to annoy you,all right?!
If you allow me another suggestion;I would wait with the probing until you know if the snake is really healthy.Probing can be stressful to the snake.

exclamation points indicated otherwise how I read it, anyway point taken.

Diggy415,

Great pic of the feeding!!!!

Steve

I think there are some "human-projected myths" about probing... IF done properly on a snake that is old/big enough, it is NOT AT ALL stressful for the snake. I've had 3 of my snakes probed and they didn't react at all to it. (They didn't even seem to notice that it was being done.)
It has to be done carefully and gently but it does not cause any extra stress than handling -- IF done properly by someone experienced! (IMO)

As far as feeding hamsters: some people do it because their snakes are finicky and refused mice or rats. You might have to do some work if you want to convert him! Hamsters are also a lot more expensive than mice or rats.
No matter what you feed, you should make sure it's dead first! Your feeding pic shows why: if the BP has grabbed the hamster by the butt, that leaves a chance for the hamster to bite before it suffocates. (Those marks along it's back could be bite marks) Also any live or fresh killed rodent can pass internal parasites onto your snakes... mine got tapeworms from live mice before I converted him to F/T.

Good luck with your new "kids"

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Andrea

this hamster was mean and therefore thumped before being introdced. I also then fed it a large rat afterwards FT, with a little wiggeling it launched from the other side of the container to get at it, im just glad it took to FT thats two BP with unknow back grounds, sweet as can be and taking to FT who could get any luckier. Anyone recommend a good spray for the snake to help with the wounds althhough the vet will have his own, i go with majority rules unless given a specific treatment by them.

I would put a little Neosporin or Polysporin ointment on them. I don't like sprays because fine mist stays in the air and it's not always healthy for people and animals to breathe.

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Andrea

Firstly congrats on your new addition. Lovely royal.

Ok, erm where do I start? The marks on the back to me look like they could be burn marks or injury marks, although they are not overly clear because they on the black scales. There's a possibility they could be bite marks, but I don't understand how you think they would appear from dehydration? It is also likely that the marks could be from the poor shedding.. the snake looks healthy apart from that, which should get better in a few sheds if you keep the humidity up and soak during sheds.

Next thing.. i am with you Jacky, i think it is usually unnecessary to feed hamsters and such to snakes, although as someone mentioned, some can be fussy feeders and other things have to be tried for the snake to eat.
HOWEVER, diggy, obviously the snake will accept f/t and also rats so no need to feed live hamsters after all. And I do personally find it offensive that you describe what you did to the hamster, and also the pic is disturbing - i take it the hamster is awake there since it's eyes are wide open? - not only is this, IMO, cruel, it was unneccessary to feed it in the first place and is very dangerous to the snake - in this shot the hamster's head is in perfect position to bite the snake in its defence.

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"If you know everything you may as well blow your brains out because the reason for existence is to learn more everyday." - Mark O'Shea, 2004

Ok people step back and take a deep, DEEP, breath!

Diggy stated in the first post that the snake had been previously fed on hamsters! In trying to get the snake to feed she used what was known to be the snake's normal prey item then introduced a FT to it! This is not cruel or unusual! Her statement was and was in response to comments about the hamster being able to bite the snake. She was explaining that she took that precaution. No matter what type of feeder we use to feed our snakes, someone, somewhere, keeps it as a pet and finds what we do, on a day to day basis, offensive.

Lets not go at ourselves!

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!