Help Herp newbie

Hi,
I just joined the forum yesterday.

I have a rescue ball python (she was found on the sidewalk down the street from my home), I've had her for over a year (Sept. 2010) she was wounded, undersize (18 inches), and underweight.

I played with garden snakes as a kid, but have never owned a snake or lizard before.

She started with Pinkies f/t, and as of last month was eating small rats and had been for 3 months. She is now 40 inches long approx.

The guys at the pet store I buy from were out of small rats, and said for her length, medium rats were the way to go.

With some trepidation, I thawed and fed my snake.

It took some time, but she got it down, and I thought all was well. That was Saturday.

I got home from work this morning, and there was barfed up rat in her tank.

Ew. I got rid of it, and then took her out of the tank to check her. She seemed alright, but the bedding was stinky, so I draped her on my shoulder like I do, and emptied out her tank, cleaning it.

When I was taking the bag downstairs, she barfed fluid down my shirt, and was very sluggish.

I hurriedly reset her tank with clean water, and put her back in..

She doesn't have any visible damage outside, and after I put her back in her tank with day light, and aluminum foil tent on one side, she seems a bit better, tongue sticking out like normal.

Will she be alright? I'm not going to listen to the guys at the pet store anymore, but as a total Herp newbie, I don't want my rescued baby to die.

thanks so much

I have not personally dealt with a regurgitation before from feeding too large of a prey item, but I think she will be okay if that was the cause. What I have seen recommended in these cases is waiting 2 weeks before feeding again and then when you do feed again feed a much smaller item than usually, so don't go right back to small rats go smaller. Then gently work them back up in prey size. You need to give them time to recover and not over stress their stomachs when you feed again.

So, go buy large mice, and hold off for a couple weeks.

she was round my shoulders when she vomited bile.. clear liquid that smelled like bile anyhow.

I never, ever in all my life, ever thought I would be washing snake vomit out of my hair.

thank you, I will keep posting, asking questions, and learning to become the very best snake mommy I can.

I had one of balls barf a rat once. Thought it might have been as little to big and sure enough up it came. Nasty. She should be fine. Don't feed for a while and keep a eye on her. Oh by the way I agree with you about pet stores while there are some really knowledgeable people in some most employ people that don't know anything about snakes.

[QUOTE=luvmyballs; Oh by the way I agree with you about pet stores while there are some really knowledgeable people in some most employ people that don't know anything about snakes.[/QUOTE]


I simply get very annoyed when people in such positions look at me, see that I am a female and just assume that makes me stupid. They didn't even ask me how much she weighed.

I will be reading up anything and everything I can now about my baby, and will post pics.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ang

I simply get very annoyed when people in such positions look at me, see that I am a female and just assume that makes me stupid. They didn't even ask me how much she weighed.

I will be reading up anything and everything I can now about my baby, and will post pics.

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It's pretty stupid when people assume and judge before know the facts. Some of the most intelligent snake keepers I know are women including my wife.