Long story made short - I sold a hatchling to someone who returned it a month later, saying he wouldn't eat for him. During that month, the snake shed and was force/assist fed (couldn't get a clear answer on which). I explained to him that with the shed cycle and the changing homes, I wouldn't have expected him to have eaten more than once in that time span. As a side note - he housed the hatchling with two or more other snakes (can only assume balls) until I explained to him that this was not the proper practice. Oh, and the baby had three meals of rat fuzzies prior to delivery, with no hesitation. Unfortunately, since he is back in my care, he has eaten readily, but regurgitated his meal three days later. I am waiting two weeks, have double-checked my temps, etc., and am leaving him alone.

Now to my question - I attempted to take a fecal sample to a local vet today on the chance that the regurge is a result of internal parasites that might have been transmitted in the month in his temporary home. The veterinarian (via the receptionist) told me that they did not have the proper instruments to check snakes feces because the chemical would react differently that with cat/dog feces. Now, it's been a while since I worked at a vet clinic, but we used saline for fecal floats. Has anyone heard of this before? I understand that a standard float wouldn't catch bacteria, but why not nematodes and protozoa?

The kicker was that they recommended me to an exotics vet...TWO HOURS AWAY. It would be cheaper for me to buy my own microscope, with today's gas prices.