How often do they poop?

[chz]

My BP hasn't poo'd in over a month, and he has regurgitated a few times (very small piles of white stuff.. im assuming is regurgitation). Is this normal? He's going to the vet tomorrow for his first check-up.

For those that don't know the history of Thor, he had a bad mite problem and some shedding issues when I got him, but he has been slowly nursed back into great physical shape.

It seems odd that he wouldn't poop once a week, being as he eats a nice sized mouse every week.

Someone give me the scoop on zee poop.

Thanks, Nick

[Snape]

Those "piles of white stuff" may very likely just be urates, which is the way snakes pee, if you can take a picture of it, it'd help determine for sure, but that's what I'd assume it is. If you've felt the texture and it's chalky, that is not regurge, just urates.

I feed my BP a small rat every week and he poops once every 3-4 weeks, it is not a rare case that it takes a month or so to poop. In my opinion I'd assume he's ok, but I'd need to see pictures to make sure.

[tweets_4611]

It's not unusual for them to go a month or so with out pooping. If my girl hasn't gone in a while, I know she will go when she sheds next if nothing else.

As for the piles of white stuff, it does just sound like urates. Ball pythons are able to reprocess the water from their urine, since they are from Africa and may not always get a much water as they need in the wild. They reuse the water from the urine, then all that is left is the urates, a chalky, white-ish/yellowish kinda solid.

It may be a good idea to put up a picture of some of the "white piles" or at least take some to the vet. Regurgatating is very bad for a snake and can really screw with their systems. Usually if they regurge, it is the whole meal, and with in a day or so of them eating. I've never had my girl regurge, but I'm pretty sure you would be able to tell what it is. From what I understand it stinks horribly as well. If your snake has regurged a couple of times, you have a very sick snake.

I would just take some of the white piles with you to the vet when you go, but it does seem to me at least, like it's just urates, which in that case is perfectly normal.

[Sunny1]

Yeah, the white stuff is more than likely urates, I think regurge would probably be alot more gross (never seen regurge so I really don't know). But pics would help to definately identify it. And my girl doesn't always poop everyweek either, even though she has not missed a meal for me. Although when you do spot checks on your BP's enclosure, make sure that you check everywhere.... in hides and around any "cage furniture". My girl likes to try to hide her poo sometimes it seems. Silly thing. Although if you are that concerned, I have read on other threads here that sometimes soaking your BP in warm water will help them go poo as well, so that might be a thought for you. Anyway good luck with the check up!!

[chz]

Awesome, I've been worried about the white piles, but I was a little skeptical about it being regurgitation simply for the fact that it's so small. You guys just made me feel a whole lot better

I was worried he had internal parasites that were causing him to regurg and not poop (similar to tapeworms or something). I guess that's just me being paranoid.. or caring for the well being of muh pets

Thanks again.. and power to the poopy!

[chz]

Those "piles of white stuff" may very likely just be urates, which is the way snakes pee, if you can take a picture of it, it'd help determine for sure, but that's what I'd assume it is. If you've felt the texture and it's chalky, that is not regurge, just urates.

I feed my BP a small rat every week and he poops once every 3-4 weeks, it is not a rare case that it takes a month or so to poop. In my opinion I'd assume he's ok, but I'd need to see pictures to make sure.

Yes they are definately urates then.. thanks for clearing it up. They are whitish-yellow and chalky whenever I clean them out of the cage.

What surprises me the most is that I read 2 books on BP's and niether of them mentioned these so-called urates..

[West Coast Jungle]

How big is your snake and what size mice are you feeding? It is not uncommon for BP"s to go long periods without pooping but you do want to make sure she is putting on weight and growing. They will pee(urates) much more than they poo(usually). I had like 10 of them all decide to poop on the same day(yesterday) after going weeks! WOW talk about stank! :eek: Mostly adults too! Monday no less

[Jenn]

Yes they are definately urates then.. thanks for clearing it up. They are whitish-yellow and chalky whenever I clean them out of the cage.

What surprises me the most is that I read 2 books on BP's and niether of them mentioned these so-called urates..

I have found that most everything I read in books about pythons was incorrect. Very frustrating!!! The people on these forums have set me on the right path though.

[littleindiangirl]

I can usually depend on my boys and girls going poo the next shed.