Snake Defecation Inquiry

Hello Community

I am a first time reptile owner with a ball python that just short of 24". The temperature is constant, and the humidity is kept constantly between 50%-65%, and it has a couple hiding spots and a water bowl. I've had it for about seven months. It has shed probably two or three times since I've had it. I feed my ball python once a week on hoppers. Its defecation schedule was pretty routine (every three or four feedings), with the urates here and there between. Usually when it pooped, its tail end would get a little bigger, and there would be a poop in the cage a couple days later. After its last shed however (early December), the..."lump" (for lack of a better term) is taking longer to appear, and it has not urinated for a while. I'm starting to get concerned, and I admit I'm a little neurotic when it comes to a new pet, but I wanted to verify the validity of my concerns.

I appreciate your guidance. =]

Are You feeding Hopper Mice?

Make sure the size of the prey item you are feeding is sufficient.

It should be about the same thickness as the thickest point on the snakes body. Hopper mice would be much too small, and I would recommend weanling rats or rat pups for a snake that size.

Also, what are the temperatures you have in the cage exactly?

It should be a rat pup or even a small rat! My 6 month old is on small rats every 5 days!

Also, don't be worried if your snake hasn't pooped in a long time. It is fairly common for them to hold it well over a month. As long as the area around the vent isn't getting hard, you are good.

Why yes! I am feeding it hopper mice. Ironically, I posted this question a bit after I had fed my snake. The next day, it appeared to still be showing hunting behaviour (where it pokes its head out of its shelter.) So maybe I'm not, in fact, feeding it enough...

The temperature in the hottest spot in the hot part of the box is ~100deg, then gradiates to ~70 in the cool part of the box. Would adult mice still be acceptable?

Hi,

Your temps are WAY out if you are measuring them right. :(

Are you measuring with a digital thermometer inside the hides the animal spends most of its time in? Or are you using those stick on analogue dials half way up the enclosure walls?

Try and aim for 80-82f in the cool end hide and 90-94f in the warm end hide.


dr del

This is how I came up with the temperatures: The thermometer I use is a dial thermometer, the kind that uses a metal ring to determine temperature. I measured directly under the heat lamp; that was ~100. The temperature at the other end of the box was ~70. I didn't measure the inside of the hide shelter. Can I use an under-tank heater for the cool side if it is, in fact, too cold?

Those dial thermometers are no good. They are very well known for being wrong. Get yourslef some digital thermometers with probes.

If your temps are in fact 100* on the hot side, that is enough to burn your snake.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kaorte

If your temps are in fact 100* on the hot side, that is enough to burn your snake.

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I really dont know if that is true...given that is way hotter than I keep my snakes.....thats not unheard of to get that hot in Africa....LOL


It is right now.....7:45 in ghana....and already 81F out........be real.