I've got a sad BP on my hands... *warning some pics may be disturbing*

Hey guys, I need your help and advice please!!! :(

I'll give you a little back ground on my snake first.

I've had her since October 16th 2011. She was 3 months old then so now she's about 6 and some change. She's has a nice set up. Temps are right. (maybe a tad cooler on the cool side than it should be, but she's next to a window and it's winter...) She's only had one shed since she's been with me and it didn't come off all in one piece. I got it off later using the wet rag trick. (Works like a charm btw)

She's only missed two meals, one on the 30th of November, (she was going into shed) and one on the 21st of December, (I was out of town and got someone else to feed her. Maybe she didn't want it cause it wasn't me. IDK). I feed f/t btw. She was on live before but she changed over seamlessly.

Last Wednesday I fed her a 19g mouse. She weighed 212g when I weighted her last Wednesday. A little on the lighter side of a meal for her size. She is in blue (for a second time since I've had her) but I fed anyway.

After she eats, (Once every Wed) I leave her alone and don't bother her for a couple of days. Especially when she's in blue. I only opened her tank to mist the walls..

Today I noticed a smell in the room. After looking all over I noticed It was coming for her tank.....

I lifted the hide and saw a regurgitated mouse and a pile of poo. I cleaned it out right away. (She was in striking position the whole time not taking her eyes off of my movements.) She never has done that before.

I have some questions.

1.) Why did she puke up her food? (Stress from shedding)?
2.) That looks like a lot of poo. It that normal?
3.) Should I replace the substrate?
4.) Do I need to take her to the vet?
5.) Any general tip and advice PLEASE! I'm kinda freaked out on what to do.

I love her and just want the best for her. I feel like a bad parent. :(

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I got the bag of hoppers back in October too. Have they've gone bad???

I would not try to feed your snake for another two weeks now because the snake's stomach would not be able to handle food any sooner. The amount of poop is normal. What are your temperatures in the enclosure? How are you measuring them? If you just bought the mice in October, they should not be bad already, however, how do you have them packaged in the freezer?

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Originally Posted by ballpythonluvr

I would not try to feed your snake for another two weeks now because the snake's stomach would not be able to handle food any sooner. The amount of poop is normal. What are your temperatures in the enclosure? How are you measuring them? If you just bought the mice in October, they should not be bad already, however, how do you have them packaged in the freezer?

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The temps in the enclosure as of right this second is 77.8 cold side and warm side reads 89.7 on the one meter and 89.4 on the other. I use two digital thermometers with probs on each side under the substrate. And the thermostat I use to control the heating mat has it's own readout.

The mice I have are kept in the freeze on the shelf above the ice maker. They are kept in a zip block bag and are inside a brown bag. (The way I bought them).

Could of just been a bad mouse in the bag. Wait 2 weeks feed small meal, if kept down, wait 2 weeks feed small meal. If kept down increase size, wiat a week if kept down return to normal feeding.


Why I dont like buying frozen online, As you dont know When THEY gassed and froze them. Nor do you know if they thawed out and refroze them.

If it happens again, id not feed them mice anymore, go to vet get a few doses of Flagyl and try new stock

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Originally Posted by RichsBallPythons

Could of just been a bad mouse in the bag. Wait 2 weeks feed small meal, if kept down, wait 2 weeks feed small meal. If kept down increase size, wait a week if kept down return to normal feeding.


Why I dont like buying frozen online, As you dont know When THEY gassed and froze them. Nor do you know if they thawed out and refroze them.

If it happens again, id not feed them mice anymore, go to vet get a few doses of Flagyl and try new stock

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I don't have a bigger size. Just the hoppers. I bought them at a show. Never liked the idea of buying online.

Well right now, you need fuzzies, you want to cut the meal size form hoppers to Fuzzies.

If he continues to do it on the smaller meals, then flagyl will be your only step to calm his stomach down, and clean out any parasites possibly.

Also be sure the rodent is fully thawed with no cold center

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RichsBallPythons

Well right now, you need fuzzies, you want to cut the meal size form hoppers to Fuzzies.

If he continues to do it on the smaller meals, then flagyl will be your only step to calm his stomach down, and clean out any parasites possibly.

Also be sure the rodent is fully thawed with no cold center

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I always make sure to thaw out my rodents fully. I put them in a bowl and pour the hottest water my faucet will put out into it. Leave it about 5 minutes and dry off the mouse. Repticon is in town this week.. might go there and get a small pack of fuzzies if I can. If not, I think petsmart sells frozen mice....

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Originally Posted by HeadSetJones

I always make sure to thaw out my rodents fully. I put them in a bowl and pour the hottest water my faucet will put out into it. Leave it about 5 minutes and dry off the mouse. Repticon is in town this week.. might go there and get a small pack of fuzzies if I can. If not, I think petsmart sells frozen mice....

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This could be your problem as your cooking the rodent as its thawing.

You want the water Warm but not so hot you can leave your hand in. 100-110 Temp water is all you need. Anything beyond that will cook the rodent and cause regurges as well

I'd personally thaw them slower. I've had regurges as well using the hot water method. Now I just thaw to room temp by leaving them out for a few hours. Haven't had a problem since. I don't know if thats your problem or not, but it's just a small suggestion that may help:gj:

X2 I agree with everything Rich said! No super hot water. When I did ft I left them out the night before and then before feeding hit it with a hair dryer to get it up to temp. Works Like a charm and no cooking.


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Maybe I'll try to use that method dart... Guess in two weeks I'll fed her a fuzzy and thaw it out by putting it in a small baggy at room temp for a a couple hours then hair dry it for a little.

Hm. I've never had a problem with thawing them in a bowl of hot water. I just turn the hot water tap on, wait until it starts getting warm and then fill it up. Put the mouse in a baggy in the water and let it sit for about 15 mins, flipping it over to the other side at about the 6-7 min mark. I check to make sure the stomach is squishy and then warm up the head in front of a space heater.

I wouldn't start to get worried unless regurgitation becomes chronic. Yes, be vigilant and watchful for any other abnormal signs, and take care not to feed again for a couple of weeks. But regurgitation happens, sometimes because of a serious problem, but usually the problem has as easy fix, over/under thawed mouse, or often temps too low for digestion, a problem easy to fix once it is recognized.

Just keep an eye on her, and hopefully things will go better next time. :) If not, that's what vets are for: to help frantic, loving pet owners in their moment of need. ;)

How i do my thawing is as follows.

Figure out how many are eating that week, usually thawing 20-35 smalls at a time depending if females are on feed or not.

I use a 15 qt tub and toss them in, fill it with warm water. Let it sit for about 2 hours. Come back add warm water again. Let it sit and do again 3rd time and after 5 mins on 3rd time I Take one out at a time, Dry off then offer to each snake individually.

I never ever rush thawing, Its more a set it for get it till you remember again

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Originally Posted by Emily Hubbard

I wouldn't start to get worried unless regurgitation becomes chronic. Yes, be vigilant and watchful for any other abnormal signs, and take care not to feed again for a couple of weeks. But regurgitation happens, sometimes because of a serious problem, but usually the problem has as easy fix, over/under thawed mouse, or often temps too low for digestion, a problem easy to fix once it is recognized.

Just keep an eye on her, and hopefully things will go better next time. :) If not, that's what vets are for: to help frantic, loving pet owners in their moment of need. ;)

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She always takes forever to eat a mouse. Usually 15 minutes to finally start eating from head down. This time she was really trying hard to eat from the mid section. Took about 40 minutes for her to give up and start at the head right and get it down. Even took some pics of it (although blurry). Not home till Monday but I'll post em in this thread if anyone cares to see. I think next feed in two weeks I'll try defrosting it and then warming up the head a little extra to give off the heat so she'll get the head from the get-go....

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RichsBallPythons

This could be your problem as your cooking the rodent as its thawing.

You want the water Warm but not so hot you can leave your hand in. 100-110 Temp water is all you need. Anything beyond that will cook the rodent and cause regurges as well

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Agreed with the posibility of cooking. i accidently cooked one for mine once and i saw the same thing.

Fed her tonight. It was a little shaky but not due to the snake's fault. I made sure to not over heat the mouse. I couldn't get a smaller size mouse but I fed a small 11 gram mouse. Here's to her taking it good. Wish her luck.