Poo size

[waldo]

I've had my ball for a little over a month now, she is eating every week and pooing usually 4 days after a feed. I'm wondering what the normal size poo would be for a 20 inch snake (I don't have a scale). At first her poo was fairly small, then last week it was much bigger and I noticed alot of millet bird seed in it, this is what the pet store kept her on.
I just had her outside for a photo shoot and she went to the bathroom as usual when I handle her, this time it was huge and packed full of bird seed. Could the large size be due to all the seed in her? was it a partial impaction that she finally passed?
She did look very "full" in her back end, now she is in proportion, she is also much more active. I assume she is feeling better.

[bearhart]

I'm guessing here but I think bird seed substrate is probably a big no-no for balls. At my pet store they only use it for certain lizards. Most snakes look like they are on fir/sphagnum, which is what I use. There is a recent poll on this and aspen shavings are most popular IIRC.

I've definately noticed that there is an increase in activity after a big movement. As my local snake guru said "I'm sure you can relate to that!"

My boy is about 25" and I keep him pretty well fed. His poos are about the same size as a kitten's. About three inches long and about the thickness of my pinky finger in the middle. They are a uniform dark brown color and occaisionally accompanied by a white ball of urates. He tends to pass one every 2-3 weeks. I'm fairly sure that what comes out of your snake is not from his feed 4 days ago. From what I've seen it takes at least 2 weeks off feed to get your snake all "cleaned" out.

[Ginevive]

I do not know why on earth that the store used bird seed as a substrate! I would get that out of there as soon as possible, and go with either newspaper (black and white pages, not the colorful ad sections.) I arrange mine so that the hide spots and water dish, weigh it down, so that the snakes are not forever going underneath it and defeating its purpose: to act as a cage liner and absorb any liquid urate matter or spiller water.
I am not angry with you, as you only did what that store said to do. but I am not happy that they are spreading incorrect advice like that. Bird seed hulls are not even eaten by the birds themselves that eat the seeds.. that should say something.

[waldo]

Her poo was bigger then that, about the size of my pointer finger and I have fat fingers LOL.

I know the bird seed isn't good. I don't know why they kept her on it, their other snakes are on carpet or cypress mulch. When I first brought her home I had to pick seeds out of her pits and mouth, I'm glad she is getting it passed.

Oh and for clarification, I have her on aspen. I don't listen to a thing pet stores say.

[Ginevive]

That is awesome that you have her on aspen instead of seed; great job
Their poo sizes can definately vary. Sometimes, mine will pass enough so that it looks larger than the rat they last ate; other times, a few little "nuggets" will be present. If your snake's poo is runny and oily, that would scare me; could mean parasites.

[moespeaking]

Couple weeks after feeding my bp a good size rat she passed what looked like came from my 45 lb american eskimo. It definitely varies on what they have eaten.

[Ginevive]

It is not a lot of poop though Considering, one "plop" from my horse is bigger than the poor snake's entire body mass.. lol!

[bearhart]

I would bet that things will get more "regular" as your snake gets healthier and on to a regular eating schedule.

[waldo]

Thanks for the reassurance. I was worried about a partial impaction from all the seed.