White clumply waste?

I've noticed that ever since I've had my ball python (almost 3 months) I will find small white balls of waste or something. They break apart pretty easy into a power like substance if you roll it between your fingers. First when I got him they were very small now they are almost the three times the size, almost like one of those chocolate mini egg candy sizes, so still not very big.

Sometimes I find it mixed with the poop but most times it is by itself, I usually see it 1-2 times a week so I know this is some sort of waste, I'm just wondering what exactly it is?

They are called urates. You will see them when your snake urinates.

Snake pee

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Originally Posted by waltah!

They are called urates. You will see them when your snake urinates.

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That is what I though too, but does the snake pee liquid too? because it rarely is wet in that area.

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Originally Posted by N1GHTRA1N

That is what I though too, but does the snake pee liquid too? because it rarely is wet in that area.

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Their bodies are very efficient and can use almost all of the available water to meet its needs. When water is scarce, their "urine" comes out as that dried, chalky stuff. When they are well hydrated, you'll also see lots of liquid urine as well as some of the urates.

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Originally Posted by JLC

Their bodies are very efficient and can use almost all of the available water to meet its needs. When water is scarce, their "urine" comes out as that dried, chalky stuff. When they are well hydrated, you'll also see lots of liquid urine as well as some of the urates.

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Hmm... so does that me he may be dehydrated? I change his water and clean the bowl every 4-5 days and top it up with fresh water daily.

As long as he always has clean drinking water I wouldn't worry about it. Unless he's neglecting drinking for some reason.

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Originally Posted by BPboy

As long as he always has clean drinking water I wouldn't worry about it. Unless he's neglecting drinking for some reason.

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Thanks.. I've seen him drinking several times so I'm sure he must be drinking when I'm not around too. It actually fun to watch him drink. He dips his head into the water and you can see him sucking in the water when he rests his month just as the surface. He drinks funny.

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Originally Posted by N1GHTRA1N

Hmm... so does that me he may be dehydrated? I change his water and clean the bowl every 4-5 days and top it up with fresh water daily.

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As mentioned, so long as he has fresh water available daily, you shouldn't need to worry. His body is just working very efficiently. :)

The urates are created as a byproduct of the nitrogen metabolism (birds produce urates as well), and they'll produce urates even when well-hydrated. They just break down their pee further than mammals do before eliminating t. They will also produce quite a lot of liquid urine, but with heat sources, it dries very fast.