Regurge...

[k0rneliuz]

What are some of the factors that can cause a snake to regurge..?

fed on 8/16
fed on 8/28
puked on 8/31

no handling.
no mites
temps are good.

snake dob : 7/29/06

	Mites Mites, close relatives of fleas and ticks

[ChristopherD]

Three days later? Hmm... I would do a fecal before I fed him again if that was possible. Seems like parasites.

[RioBravoReptiles]

In the most simple terms one thing mostly causes regurgitation in Boas...
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Overfeeding...
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Before you fly off the handle consider this; depending upon their condition, how much they are handled, the environment, whether or not they are fully hydrated (and the list goes on) then it is not always Ok to feed a boa as much or as often as other times.. So regurgitation is the result of Overfeeding..
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Point two: very little is gained and many Boas are severely stressed by random medication, parasiticides and prophilactic application of antibiotics and more.. What the majority of boas need when they regurgitate is a better thermal gradient, privacy and time. Time for their systems to stabilise.
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Of course very thin and ill-appearing boa may well need the attention of a vet.. but IN MY EXPERIENCE AND OPINION very many Boa are over-treated and over-medicated and that is not a substitute for proper husbandry and patience.
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Gus/Rio Bravo Reptiles.

[Rust316]

Very well put, Gus. I would only add the related detail that the size of the food item may have been too large. Here is a proven recovery plan I recently posted on another thread:

My advice is based on personal experience.

First, wait two weeks, not one before feeding it again. If your young boa pukes a second time, it will likely die. Why risk it? It's better to be safe than sorry.

Second, feed it a pink mouse, not rat. Again, why take any chances? The pink mouse will not provide much, if any nutrition, but it will help rebuild the gut flora.

Third, rehydrate your boa by letting it soak in room temp water (lukewarm water) once a day for about 30 mins at a time the first week after the regurgitation. Then, after the first week, do not handle it at all. Feed it for the first time no sooner than 14 days after the regurge. I actually wait 3 weeks.

Fourth, wait a minimum of 10 days before your second feeding attempt (14 days would be even better) and feed another pink mouse. After the second feeding, you can gradually step up the size by feeding fuzzies and then the girth rule after that.

Fifth, keep handling to an absolute minimum for a few months until your boa has recovered.

A regurge is very serious and potentially life-threatening for a young boa if not handled properly. I've lost young BCCs by following less conservative advice. I'm not saying that the other advice you received won't work, but it has more risk.

	Boa Constrictor Constrictor Red Tail Boa Constrictor (Boa constictor constrictor). Refers to "true" red tail boas such as the Guyana and Suriname locales.

[Rust316]

Oh... another thing. My young BCC's treated with meds by our locale reptile vet, 0-3 (i.e. all dead). Others treated by me under this type of plan, 2-0 (both alive and well). So, I have personal proof that Gus is right.

	Boa Constrictor Constrictor Red Tail Boa Constrictor (Boa constictor constrictor). Refers to "true" red tail boas such as the Guyana and Suriname locales.

[danktat]

My male surinam has been known to regurge if I feed a larger than normal prey item. This was very quickly remedied by waiting a couple of weeks to feed and then trying him on the next size smaller rat (or two small ones). He responded well to that and I have not had a problem since. Try perhaps a size smaller on the prey item or not feeding every week if the prey size remains the same. Just my 2cents.

[Rust316]

danktat, with all due respect, I just can't agree with that approach. While it may have worked for you (and I'm not questioning that), I think it comes with more risk of a 2nd regurge and then you have a serious problem because that 3rd one is the killer.

	regurgitate Throw up. Reptiles will regurge when they feel they are in danger or if they have some sort of health issue. If your reptile has regurgitated his/her food please seek help!

[danktat]

Originally Posted by Rust316

danktat, with all due respect, I just can't agree with that approach. While it may have worked for you (and I'm not questioning that), I think it comes with more risk of a 2nd regurge and then you have a serious problem because that 3rd one is the killer.

I really didn't see anywhere in the post where there was a mention of age for this particular case. My male is an adult (a little over 5 feet) and has been feeding regularly before the regurge. I had just stepped up the food size when it happened as well. Not to get into a pi$$ing match here but I don't see where your approach differs too much from my own other than instead of going smaller after two weeks (you said you go three) you feed even smaller than that. Allowing for proper hydration is part of any legitimate husbandry practice in the first place. Looks like he was on the (I am assumimg from the dates posted for feedings) week to 10 day schedule, which seemed to have been stepped up just before the regurge (hence the not feed every week comment). If the snake was feeding well before and it happened as soon as the frequency was stepped up then it perhaps was not the meal size but frequency ie: the first meal wasn't digested before giving a new one. Perhaps I am not Gus but I have been keeping snakes for 20 years or so. It is amazing how he got a "Very well put, Gus." with the addition to what he said and I get a "I just can't agree with that approach". When what I picked up from his post was to stop overfeeding and don't medicate unless it is absolutely nessessary. Once agin this is not meant to start any sort of argument or heated debated because to be perfectly honest with you, the three of our posts have more in common than they have differences (ie: smaller meals and longer in between them). Just wanted to point out the difference in your response to the two posts that had only slight variations from your own.

[Rust316]

danktat,

The dob on the snake is 7/29/06. It's in the post.

I do not disagree with your advice as applied to an adult boa. Here, however, the snake is just a baby and there is no margin for error.

We do not need to debate this because I think we will be on the same page when the snake's age is taken into consideration.