Regurge!

DarthBoa · #1 (**permalink**) 11-15-2003, 10:36 AM

Pet store suggested trying to feed adult mouse,so i took them home and gave it a shot. it was only about an 1/8" larger in diameter than my snake,and it ate it ,but shortly after it came back up.How long should i wait to feed again and should i go back to small mice even thogh they are a little smaller than she is?

Koviack · #2 (**permalink**) 11-15-2003, 10:54 AM

i'm still a newb but i'm pretty sure snakes regurge for a few reasons,

temperature too hot/cold,
stress,
mites?,
food too big,
food still frozen..
diseases etc

you shouldn't feed for 1-2 weeks, not sure how long, have to do a search, i'm pretty sure its 2 weeks though, have to let their "gut flora" come back or some such like that,

Koviack · #3 (**permalink**) 11-15-2003, 10:57 AM

Ahh, here we go

Quote:

Originally Posted by BoaMan

2 weeks is standard for any age boas. If you have an adult that regurges you should wait possibly longer. 2 weeks of not eating will not starve a baby boa. On the other hand it's time to figure out why your boa has regurged. Recheck temps and get a fecal done asap. Regurge should not be taken lightly. Please don't offer a meal any sooner than two weeks from the regurge this is so necessary gut flora can regrow. Hydration is also key now.

DarthBoa · #4 (**permalink**) 11-15-2003, 11:15 AM

she didnt get it all the way down and very little fluid came out if this makes a difference.

LdyDrgn · #5 (**permalink**) 11-15-2003, 11:39 AM

Are able to get any rat pinks? Rats are healthier than mice. Was it live, pre-killed or frozen/thawed? At what temps do you keep her (ambient and surface)?

DarthBoa · #6 (**permalink**) 11-15-2003, 11:48 AM

i'll check on the rat pinks today. are they pretty close to small mice?
frozen/thawed, 80-85 ambient. 90-95 surface.60-70% humidity.

peruvianfanatic · #7 (**permalink**) 11-15-2003, 02:41 PM

Yes, they are about the same size.Do what Boaman says,that would be the method I would use.Good luck!

Koviack · #8 (**permalink**) 11-15-2003, 03:02 PM

Boaman, at least I think it was boaman said that feeding a snake a pinky has no nutrional value for the snake... was he only talking about mice pinkys? or does it hold true for rat pinks too?

LdyDrgn · #9 (**permalink**) 11-15-2003, 03:15 PM

He was speaking of mouse pinks. A boa should never have to see a mouse in its life unless it happens to be a runt. They can easily start off on rat pinks.

louise · #10 (**permalink**) 11-15-2003, 03:20 PM

im very new at this snake thing but i can still give you the best advice....do exactly as ldy drgn tells you. she saved my snakes life

eddie · #11 (**permalink**) 11-15-2003, 03:45 PM

Quote:

she didnt get it all the way down and very little fluid came out if this makes a difference.

Yes, it makes al the difference in the world!
That isn't a regurge, it merely spit it out.

The fluids were salivas, so no need to worry about the stomach flora at this point BUT wait til the next normal feeding day to offer food in order for any stressed throat tissues to repair.

Food being a tad too big can do this, and each snake will have its quirks about whether to keep it or spit it.

Now about mice vs rats in comparison to same size foods.. I believe that mice actually have more calcium than rats do, but it is better to get the boa eating rats so that swapping from mice will not be an issue later.

Besides, do you really want to feed a boa of any size enough mice to fill it up?
Not really, too much fur and skin in multiple food items as well as all the energy expended in the repetitive swalllowing process and the costs per multiple mice vs one rat...

Here's an example of one that I recently had spit a rat out.
A ball python, close to 3 feet long, was offered a rat that was very close to the same girth as the snake.
The ball took to it immediately yet after an hour decided that it really didn't want to work on getting the rats hips down and spat it out.

No problem. Gave it a week, offered a rat just a hair smaller than the other one and although the ball ignored it at first - did eat it after being in a tote with the food all night.

End result - the snake ate, digested the food well and has not regurged due to feeding too soon.
Why?
Because it was a spit out not a regurge.

DarthBoa · #12 (**permalink**) 11-15-2003, 03:50 PM

It may have been a space issue as well, because today she dropped quite a load off!looked like 2well digested mice and some urates. first time she's went since i got her.she seems quite a bit more active now.

eddie · #13 (**permalink**) 11-15-2003, 03:54 PM

I reread this post after I posted and one thing that I missed is that Darthboa didn't say WHAT kind of snake it is.

I am assuming a boa but.....

Quote:

80-85 ambient. 90-95 surface.60-70% humidity.

And if it is a boa, these temps are too high for it.
Ok for a python, but a little low on the humidity for a python.

What kind of snake are we trying to help here?

DarthBoa · #14 (**permalink**) 11-15-2003, 03:56 PM

colombian bci

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