Sick Red Tail

RedTailBoa21 · #1 (**permalink**) 01-07-2003, 02:46 AM

I have a red tail that is about 2 foot still a youngin i have it in the same cage as my ball which is larger that eats medium rats. The other night i droped a rat in and the red tail took it instead ate it up. Didnt seem to have a problem with it so i thought it would be okay. But on todays inspection it has been 2 days now my snake has become very large and bloated much larger is the lump in his stomach then the rat was it feels as tho there is a lot of air, or water in with the rat when i picked him up also a lot of water came out of his mouth PLEASE HELP WITH ADVICE also is there a way to force the snake to throw up to get that rat out i tried holding him moving him around a lot cause they say your not to hanlde after feeding becouse it will throw up but it hasnt trown up so please help me

thanks matt
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JuliusSqueezer · #2 (**permalink**) 01-07-2003, 02:55 AM

OHHHH where to start? First of all...Do Not make the snake puke. Avoid this at all costs. Second....please learn from your mistake and SEPERATE these snakes. NEVER EVER feed 2 snakes in the same enclosure. Boas and Ball Pythons should never be housed together for many reasons....not the least of which is their heat and humidity requirements are not the same...and the size difference in the 2 snakes is a tragedy looking to happen. PLEASE read the care sheets. If you can't provide a better home than this...please think about giving them up for adoption. You have violated way too many keeping errors here. Again....Please read the caresheets and make some changes. But for now...please stop trying to make the boa puke. You will only make matters worse.
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cb76 · #3 (**permalink**) 01-07-2003, 02:58 AM

jules said it!

seperate them immediatly!

the bloating you decsribed is gas, a byproduct of digestion. ask ritchie what happened to him when he saw his boas bloat!

dont handle the boa until he is better.
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morti · #4 (**permalink**) 01-07-2003, 03:01 AM

HI Matt!

I just answered this question from you at Practical-pet-care.com so I will repeat it here:

Please take your snake to a vet.

And, as Julius just said, please do not house 2 snakes of different species together. It is a very bad idea.

And last but not least, please do your research on the proper captive environment for both of these species. Click on both of these for links to two different care sheets:

Boa Constrictors

Ball Pythons

Oh, and welcome to Redtailboa.net.

-Your Sick Uncle Morti.
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RedTailBoa21 · #5 (**permalink**) 01-07-2003, 03:03 AM

Okay well its not like i am stickin my finger down the snakes neck. I was just handling him. Also the store i got both my snakes from told me that it would be fine to house them together in the tank that i got up untill the red tail got older. Both snakes are very calm they have never fought over food nor struck at anything other then food. I just went on what the store told me but back to the more important issure which is my snake do you think he will make it thru this or should i start searching for a vet the gettin another aquarium is not a problem it will be done in a couple of days ill try for it tomorrow thanks is advance
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morti · #6 (**permalink**) 01-07-2003, 03:06 AM

Seperate them as close to now as possible.

Please find the snake a good reptile vet sometime shortly after that.

And Read both of those care sheets to make sure your setup matches what is prescribed in them. Heat, humidity, and everything else is highly important.

-Your Sick Uncle Morti.
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JuliusSqueezer · #7 (**permalink**) 01-07-2003, 03:13 AM

Pet store employees are not known for being providers of great advice. I think that you have just provided a prime example of such. I suppose they also told you to feed live rodents. Please do not feed live to either snake. Frozen/thawed rodents will not kill or injure your snake...Live will...they will also transfer parasites. Did they sell you a heat rock? If so...please do not use it...return it and get either an under tank heat pad or a plain old human heat pad.....all of this and more about proper heating and day/night temps and lighting periods are in the care sheets. Don't just read them....follow them.
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MED04 · #8 (**permalink**) 01-07-2003, 03:25 AM

Hi Matt! First of all, like everyone has already said...seperate the snakes. It doesn't matter that the uninformed person you purchased them from told you incorrectly...the snakes need to be seperated. If tomorrow is as soon as you can find a tank, then fine, at least that will be done. You need to seperate them because they both require different temps and different humidity levels. What are the temps at in the cage currently? Humidity?

Secondly, you did ask how to make your snake throw up. No one said you were sticking your finger down its throat, but they just wanted you to be aware that is dangerous for the snake and is an avenue that is best not chosen.

Also, please start looking for a vet...yesterday. Your pet is in need of assistance which you may not be able to offer and instead of trying to make it vomit by handling it excessively (you never said excessively...but I can make that assumption because what else would make you think he would throw up with normal handling??) you need to find a qualified person to examine your pet.

In the mean time, please read the caresheets available at this site. Just click on the links that Morti posted for you.

On a side note...you said you purchased the snakes from the same store...did you also purchase the tank and set up? I am just curious if the sales person who sold you the animals was trying to make a sale without consideration of what is actually best for the animals.

-Megan
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