Quote:
Originally Posted by VexalUntil
While the external morphological differences won't apply to this thread, the internal differences would be really interesting to try and determine. Why is it that BCCs seem to have "chronic regurg syndrome"? If Colombian BCIs are separated from Brazilian, Suri and Guyana BCCs by a relatively short distance (and in theory genetic difference) why is it that the two subspecies have different reactions to feedings? Anyone know of any papers analyzing the gasto-intestinal differences in BCC vs BCI??
I have very very limited experience feeding 100% known juvenile BCCs (a handful of baby Suris a work), but I have pretty good experience with "North Brazilian Redtails." (It's in quotes because the jury is still out whether or not they actually are pure N. Brazilians. For all intents and purposes let's assume they're pure.) I have noticed that from the litters of 5 females since 2005, roughly half to three quarters will regurg weaned mice when not supplied with heat. When supplied with heat (belly heat in a rack system reaching 90F), still a small portion (10%) will regurg when fed weaned mice. Now we typically just record that they regurg then feed again the next week or in two weeks depending on availability of mice. Usually we try and feed smaller prey to those that regurg, but sometimes they get fed the same size as previously offered. But either way 9 times out of 10 they all eat that next meal! Sometimes they regurg again, sometimes not. I wish I was more precise, but I'm trying to remember and generalize over 3 years of feedings. Yes a few die, but the vast majority survive even after regurging more than a few times.
Now the data from this year is a bit screwy because we made some BCI x N. Braz hybrids. We had two litters of BCCxBCI and three litters of BCC (with the crosses still out numbering the pures) for a total of approximately 70 snakes. This year they have been on heat since being setup on the rack, which happens right after their first shed. I've been the one feeding them all for the most part. Even the hybrids will regurg, but all seem to be famished and ready to eat anything the next week after regurging. Usually they'll eat great the first three or so meals (fat fuzzy mice to mice with their eyes barely open) and then start regurging when we start using weaned mice. Then they'll go a while without regurging, then have one or two regurgs, then eat without regurging, etc. They eat every time they are offered food, whether one or two weeks between offerings. Very very rarely do we have any that refuse a meal after they've started eating. Granted we had roughly 7 that refused for the first month after shedding, but they eventually started eating. And some of these that initially refused meals have gone on to be regurgers and others have never regurged. Of all the litters both crosses and pure, I think we had 2-3 that died and three that are pretty thin and weak, but still want to eat. Now I need to mention that not everyone regurges, there are still snakes that have never regurged a meal and are litter mates to those that have regurged. Additionally both the crosses and the pures have regurged.
I see what you're saying about increasing the time between feedings to decrease the stress to the system. I fully agree and in a perfect world I would have waited longer on the snakes I just mentioned. I just wanted to share my experience and show an example of crosses having the "regurgitation syndrome." Now the question I pose is why do some boas in a litter regurg when their littermates don't when they are all fed basically the same size meal? Or also, since BCIs don't have the "regurgitation syndrome" shouldn't crossing a BCC and BCI result in a decrease or extinction of the behavior?
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This is an interesting post, and I think it raises a lot of issues. First, as a general rule, BCC do not have "chronic" regurgitation problems. What they do have is less tolerance for keeper error. Keeper error may be as simple as applying BCI husbandry practices to young BCC. At least, that's what I did when I first started working with BCC and it led to horrible results. If you understand the unique needs of young BCC (i.e. correct temp range and gradient, privacy, limited handling, less frequent feedings, smaller size food items, etc.), then you should rarely experience regurgitation issues. Even the best of us make mistakes though. Because of that, I started this thread and basically revealed the methodology that we used last year to help some animals pull through regurgitation problems that we caused for them. Looking back on it now, our issues were temp related and had nothing to do with over-feeding, over-handling, improper caging and so on. We just had the temps too low in a couple of our tubs and we should have either raised the temps or fed less. That caused the problem, and we solved the problem by correcting our husbandry issues. Then the question became....what do we do now to bring these animals back around? The reduced feeding plan that I highlighted in my first post is how we handled their care and both animals are thriving today.
Here's what I think led to the regurgitation issues with your young BCC. First, your temps were off. Second, you were probably over-feeding them and some animals couldn't tolerate it. Third, you didn't tweak your game plan after they started having issues. If you corrected your temp and feeding issues, and slowed down the meal stream on the weaker animals, they probably would have pulled through for you.
It can take a while to get it right with young BCC. But once you do, it is very rewarding.
