Regurgitation - Need Help

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Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

to check f/t feeders i always squeeze at the hips and the head to check for cold spots, as those are the last parts of the body to thaw out (they're the thickest). maybe next time try thawing in room-temperature water after the fridge stage.

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The chest of a rat needs to be included here bc the rib cage protrudes. So, ultimately this can be deceptive of the true internal temperature of the organs and tissues behind the ribs.

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Originally Posted by Albert Clark

The chest of a rat needs to be included here bc the rib cage protrudes. So, ultimately this can be deceptive of the true internal temperature of the organs and tissues behind the ribs.

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i appreciate your input. thank you! [emoji3]

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Originally Posted by Albert Clark

Hey, sorry you had to experience this regurge with the little guy. Sounds like the husbandry was and is on point but i am conflicted on the thawing procedure you use bc i think your freezer to fridge time and duration in the fridge may be inadequate. 3 or 4 hours i don't think is sufficient time to fully thaw out a rat. A mouse maybe, and that's taking into consideration that you still continue to thaw and warm with warm/hot water and the hair dryer. I think you should consider leaving the frozen prey in the fridge alot longer. Maybe even 6 to 8 hours bc usually it's a thawing from freezer to fridge of overnight and then all the other warming procedures. Some people thaw at room temperatures. So, before throwing out all the rats from Repticon try adjusting your thawing procedures first. :gj: Don't worry too much either bc these pythons recover from this sort of thing that is pretty much self limiting. Keep your husbandry on point and you and him will be fine. Lol.

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Sorry if my previous notes were unclear on the my thawing procedure but I've been taking the F/T out of the freezer in the mornings before work and thawing in theFridge until the early evening (10-12 hours). Then I'll lay it outside the cage (3 hours) and proceed to warm w/ a hairdryer. If I need to make some adjustments to this process, I'm all ears. I appreciate your response!!!!

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Originally Posted by ckuhn003

Sorry if my previous notes were unclear on the my thawing procedure but I've been taking the F/T out of the freezer in the mornings before work and thawing in theFridge until the early evening (10-12 hours). Then I'll lay it outside the cage (3 hours) and proceed to warm w/ a hairdryer. If I need to make some adjustments to this process, I'm all ears. I appreciate your response!!!!

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Oh ok. I saw "several hours " and translated it into 3 or 4 hours of fridge time. Then in that case, i would spend more time with the blowdryer on the target areas and maybe even consider the double ziplock bag and hot water prior to the blowdryer.

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Originally Posted by Albert Clark

Oh ok. I saw "several hours " and translated it into 3 or 4 hours of fridge time. Then in that case, i would spend more time with the blowdryer on the target areas and maybe even consider the double ziplock bag and hot water prior to the blowdryer.

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If it makes sense, I can thaw even longer in the fridge (i.e. put in the fridge the previous night). I just don't know if that's borderline a health concern for the BP.

As for the blow dryer, I usually only dry for 15-20 seconds because I don't want to experience any type of explosion. Not sure how likely this is or how long it takes for this to happen.

I've been trying to hold off involving water but if it's recommended, I'll certainly consider it.

Follow the same guidelines as for human meat.

Don't leave it out at room temperature for over 2 hours, no more than 2-3 days in the fridge, and not more than 6 months in the freezer. - https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal...asics/ct_index

You really should start getting in the habit of warming in a bag in a container of hot tap water. This warms much safer and faster than leaving at room temperature and prevents the possibility of rancid meat. If the rodent gets wet in a water bath you can always spot dry it in paper towels but a damp rodent won't harm anything ;) . Heating with a blow dryer won't cause any problems but leaving it to thaw out of a fridge for 3 hours could.

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Originally Posted by SDA

Follow the same guidelines as for human meat.

Don't leave it out at room temperature for over 2 hours, no more than 2-3 days in the fridge, and not more than 6 months in the freezer. - https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal...asics/ct_index

You really should start getting in the habit of warming in a bag in a container of hot tap water. This warms much safer and faster than leaving at room temperature and prevents the possibility of rancid meat. If the rodent gets wet in a water bath you can always spot dry it in paper towels but a damp rodent won't harm anything ;) . Heating with a blow dryer won't cause any problems but leaving it to thaw out of a fridge for 3 hours could.

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Thanks SDA. This is the type of information that I value from this site.

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Originally Posted by ckuhn003

If it makes sense, I can thaw even longer in the fridge (i.e. put in the fridge the previous night). I just don't know if that's borderline a health concern for the BP.

As for the blow dryer, I usually only dry for 15-20 seconds because I don't want to experience any type of explosion. Not sure how likely this is or how long it takes for this to happen.

I've been trying to hold off involving water but if it's recommended, I'll certainly consider it.

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That makes sense for sure but isn't really necessary as the "overnight" being a max of 8 hrs should suffice. Very minimal to no health concern as bp's have extremely strong gastric enzymes of digestion but inadequate tolerance of low, cold prey temperatures are more concerning. When using the blowdryer, it should be a waving type of motion to increase the temperature of prey items. Try increasing the time and surface area covered when using the blowdryer.

Regurgitation Update:

After 2 weeks, I prepared a small mouse (thawed in fridge over night, 30 minutes double zipped locked bag in warm water, dusted w/ Nutribac and finished off w/ hairdryer).

Interestingly enough, I think the sound of the hairdryer peaked my BPs interest and he poked his head out of his hide. I presented the mouse w. hemostats and he struck but missed like he's done so many times in the past. I ended up leaving the mouse in the cage and it was gone in the morning. I've checked several times since and no sign of it, unless it's in his hide which I doubt.

So my question is, should I wait another week and re-introduce a Rat Pup? After speaking w/ someone at PerfectPrey, they thought maybe the regurgitation happened because of the switch from mouse to rat. They also suggested I pick out the smallest Rat Pup in the bag or feed a Rat Fuzzy (which I don't think I can find in any pet stores).

Also wanted to get some clarification on the topic of disturbances, etc.... I know not to handle my BP until 48 hours after feeding but does that mean hands off any changes to the cage (i.e. changing water, small house keeping items). What about general traffic in the area where the enclosure is? We have the BP in our basement where we have young kids that will play. They have no interest in the enclosure / snake but I wasn't sure if the jumping around or noise associated w/ kids can be an issue.

One more thing, should I wait until another feeding to hold and/or remove him for a deep cleaning?

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Originally Posted by ckuhn003

Also wanted to get some clarification on the topic of disturbances, etc.... I know not to handle my BP until 48 hours after feeding but does that mean hands off any changes to the cage (i.e. changing water, small house keeping items). What about general traffic in the area where the enclosure is? We have the BP in our basement where we have young kids that will play. They have no interest in the enclosure / snake but I wasn't sure if the jumping around or noise associated w/ kids can be an issue.

One more thing, should I wait until another feeding to hold and/or remove him for a deep cleaning?

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congrats on the feed!!!

IMO i don't think those types of general disturbances interfere that much with the beeps digestion. feel free to do any changes or maintenance in the cage. and i don't think traffic is a problem, but jumping around might.

i think you can go ahead and clean the enclosure after 48hrs.