Baby Texas Rat Snake regurgitated...

DiamondCreek · #1 (**permalink**) 09-06-2010, 05:15 PM

I know, in general, you should let snakes have some time off feed after a regurgitation. What about baby snakes, though? I fed my Leucistic Texas Rat snake on Saturday and when I went to check it on Sunday, I found that it had regurgitated the two pinkies it had eaten

How long should I wait before I try to feed him again? I don't want to set up regurgitation syndrome, but he is quite small and I don't want to harm him by withholding feedings either.

Thanks in advance.

HERPHAPPY · #2 (**permalink**) 09-06-2010, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiamondCreek

I know, in general, you should let snakes have some time off feed after a regurgitation. What about baby snakes, though? I fed my Leucistic Texas Rat snake on Saturday and when I went to check it on Sunday, I found that it had regurgitated the two pinkies it had eaten
How long should I wait before I try to feed him again? I don't want to set up regurgitation syndrome, but he is quite small and I don't want to harm him by withholding feedings either.
Thanks in advance.

How big & how old is this snake?
Is this his first feeding with you?
Did you handle him afterwards? Stressing baby snakes (too much handling) can do this! You should not handle baby snakes like pets until they are feeding WELL for you...that is "job one", and then gradually increase 'social' time.
What are his conditions...cage temps...hiding places (both cool & warm)?

It may be that you just fed him too much? You say he is a baby...his stomach may have been too full for 2 pinkies? (Ever eat too much?) I hope that's all it is?
I'd wait not less than a week to try again....see how he looks at that point...if he is really cruising the cage (looking for food) I might try one...but if not wait longer (10-14 days) & make sure he has fresh water.

DiamondCreek · #3 (**permalink**) 09-06-2010, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HERPHAPPY

How big & how old is this snake?
Is this his first feeding with you?

Nope. Second. I've had him just over a week. He had been fed 6 days before I purchased him. I fed him the next day and then another 6 days after that. He is about 5-5.5 months old, the best I can figure and about 14 or so inches long.

Quote:

Originally Posted by HERPHAPPY

Did you handle him afterwards? Stressing baby snakes (too much handling) can do this! You should not handle baby snakes like pets until they are feeding WELL for you...that is "job one", and then gradually increase 'social' time.

I only handled him to the extent necessary to move him back to his tub in my breeder rack. He fed heartily both times and had been eating well in the store, though they fed him every 7 days.

Quote:

Originally Posted by HERPHAPPY

What are his conditions...cage temps...hiding places (both cool & warm)?
It may be that you just fed him too much? You say he is a baby...his stomach may have been too full for 2 pinkies? (Ever eat too much?) I hope that's all it is?

He is presently housed in a 32qt tub in a BoaMaster rack. Temps are 86 on the warm end with heat tape set to 88.5. I'm using paper towel substrate, which he likes to hid under. He also has a double half log setup (larger log over a smaller one...he likes to lounge in the gap between them, set up on cool end). He was eating 2-3 pinkies in the store, so I don't think I fed him too much. He had also defecated since the last feeding. My guess is that he possibly got a little too cool while I was moving the rack to another room. I had his tub sitting on the table while I moved the rack. It takes a bit for the heat tape to come up to full speed again. In retrospect, I should have waited a day or two to move the rack.

Quote:

Originally Posted by HERPHAPPY

I'd wait not less than a week to try again....see how he looks at that point...if he is really cruising the cage (looking for food) I might try one...but if not wait longer (10-14 days) & make sure he has fresh water.

He does have fresh water. He looks well and has been moving around the tub this morning. He is presently lounging in a corner on the cool end...lounging but alert. I'll see how he's looking/acting next weekend and try again.

Thanks.

HERPHAPPY · #4 (**permalink**) 09-06-2010, 07:54 PM

Doesn't sound like 2 pinks were too big to me!
It is preferable to feed a snake where they live so you don't have to pick them up at all...the more nervous snakes may gurg after the tiniest bit of stress like that. (if they feed from tongs, great! If not, leave their dinner on a "plate"...like a jar lid or margarine tub lid)
Your 'too cool' theory also has merit...hope he gets back on track for you!
At his age/size I'd wait longer than a week to offer food again...he is in no danger of starvation! And you don't want to risk a second gurg!

DiamondCreek · #5 (**permalink**) 09-06-2010, 11:54 PM

Thanks, HerpHappy.

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