GTP Fecal Matter

[Angelique]

I received my first GTP last week, the day after it arrived it pooped, peed and segregated urates. I have had Garter snakes and BP, and was shocked by the odor of the GTP's fecal matter. All my other snakes excretions are minimal to nul odor. Is this normal in GTP's? Could the strong odor be caused by shipping stress? Or could there be some other underling condition?

Thanks.

[bloodpython19]

that is more than likely shipping stress.i had one and the same thing happened.i took it to the vet and he said it was shipping stress.so its ok.

[Angelique]

Thanks. I hope next poop is better, we will see what happens afterwards. If it doesn't clear up in about two weeks, I will probably take him to the vet, unless anyone has a better idea.

[DavidG]

My guys vary from drop to the next. Some are quite bad and others are unnoticeable.

[Angelique]

Well since my first (panicked) post, my GTP has pooped twice more, both with almost unnoticeable odor. I want to believe that the pungent smell was just due to the stress of being shipped.

Thanks everyone.

[DavidG]

Chondros can musk. Not the amount of colubrids, but still the same icky white matter. Thy do it under stress. Sure it was all poo? Good to hear its defecating normally again.

[Angelique]

Actualy, now that you mention it...
That could be a possibility. (I wasn't aware boids musked)

Urates are usually white-yellow and solid. What i cleaned out of the cage a few days ago seemed cottage-cheeseesque. I didn't think anything about it at the time, i just guessed that that was what happened when left in a humid environment. (And yes, it reeked more than it's usual feces).

Do they just musk or would could it also be accompanied by feces?

Is there something that it's musking is pointing at? (I know animals musk when scared, but this was done after i left for work and before i got home. The snake-room door is keept shut all day, and i have no other pets).

I have it in a tub setup (40x20x30, lxwxh), 80-88°F. The humidity is on a 48hr cycle...With a late afternoon misting that dries to about 35% before the next mist. I have two perches. Some artificial plants. I use paper towels as substrate.

[DavidG]

I'm not sure if it is technically musk or not, but seems like some pretty similar stuff to me. I have one chondro who's done it since I got her over a year ago and it usually happens when I try to do something like get her out but sometimes it's in with fecal matter. Nothing I've ever worried about. Could you post a picture of your animal in its enclosure? I don't think Indo ever gets to 35% humidity. I would bump it up if it was me. I'm in Alabama and our yearly humidity averages 55% and I still mist almost nightly. You want it to dry out, but I keep a few drops on the tub walls or visible in the substrate.

[Warocker's Wife]

out of about 80 snakes that I have I dont notice my Gtp being worse - I would bet its stress...now my 14ft burm...man my girl can clear a room...