What are the symptoms of substrate impaction?

I've been reassured not to worry about when my snake decides to poop, but I'm a little paranoid. The first time we got him to eat, he MAY have eaten some substrate (I no longer feed in his home with aspen).

Anyway, I just want to know what to look out for if this continues. He's eaten 3 times since I've owned him, and I haven't found a poop yet.

Could he have just been fasting so long that he's now retaining practically all the meals?

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Originally Posted by Azaria

I've been reassured not to worry about when my snake decides to poop, but I'm a little paranoid. The first time we got him to eat, he MAY have eaten some substrate (I no longer feed in his home with aspen).

Anyway, I just want to know what to look out for if this continues. He's eaten 3 times since I've owned him, and I haven't found a poop yet.

Could he have just been fasting so long that he's now retaining practically all the meals?

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He will poo when he needs to :gj:.I only find the white clump(bone stuff) in my 09 normal females enclosure because she absorbs the whole meal

I have not found any of those, either. :o

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Originally Posted by Azaria

I have not found any of those, either. :o

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How old is your snake? If its a hatchling it more then likely is absorbing the whole meal.You will see stuff when it needs to release it :P

I don't know his year, and I do not have a scale, but he is a little guy. I have guessed between 6-12 months, but I don't have any experience to compare that to.

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Originally Posted by Azaria

I don't know his year, and I do not have a scale, but he is a little guy. I have guessed between 6-12 months, but I don't have any experience to compare that to.

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Thats ok :gj:.He should be fine

He is really fattening up this month though, I must say! This is the best picture I have
for scale:

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._6319194_n.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Azaria

He is really fattening up this month though, I must say! This is the best picture I have
for scale:

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._6319194_n.jpg

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Looks to be about the same size as my 09 female.What are you feeding it?

I have fed him for 3 of the last 4 fridays. After the first, we thought he must be supposed to poop between feedings, so we skipped the 2nd friday. He gets average sized live mice from the pet store.

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Originally Posted by Azaria

I have fed him for 3 of the last 4 fridays. After the first, we thought he must be supposed to poop between feedings, so we skipped the 2nd friday. He gets average sized live mice from the pet store.

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Ahh mice only have a little meat on them :P.So he is going to absorb the whole thing for his needs.So it might be a little while until you see any poo or bone mass put out.I feed my snakes rats so they get some meat in there bellies ;).I know some will not eat rats