Defecation

My new bp is eating very well but he is not defecating a lot. The first week he had a large BM and two small ones. Then the second week he had three small ones. The third week, he had one large BM and one small. This last week he has only had one small BM. He is due for feeding tomorrow and I'm not sure if I should feed again or wait until he defecates again. Any suggestions? (He is currently 440g and is eating f/t small rats once a week, I was going to move up to med rats in two weeks)

That sounds like quite a lot of poop. My BPs rarely go more than once in a week. Also sounds like it could be quite a lot of food to be going that much.

Ive read that ball pythons will retain there poo and use it as a counter weight for when they strike

You may want to consider reevaluating his diet.

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Originally Posted by M.P.C

Ive read that ball pythons will retain there poo and use it as a counter weight for when they strike

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WHAT?!? How can a 20 gram turd counter balance a striking snake? Google

Certainly don't wait until he goes - they all go at their own rates. Just keep feeding him on the schedule you have set up and let him do his own thing. :)

As far as rat size is concerned, keep him on small rats for quite a bit longer. If you are confident that he's a male, then he could stay on a small rat weekly for his entire life (and even then he'll likely skip a few meals every now and again). Personally, I don't even start feeding my animals small rats until they're in the 500g range - which could be the reason that you're seeing a decent amount of poo right now.

Heres an article all about snake poop


http://snakesarelong.blogspot.com/20...llast.html?m=1

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Originally Posted by M.P.C

Heres an article all about snake poop


http://snakesarelong.blogspot.com/20...llast.html?m=1

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I thought you were joking with your first post.

Then I went to the blog/article with a very doubting mindset. It was a good, plausible case.

Thanks for the good information! :)

My pleasure

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Originally Posted by Eric Alan

Certainly don't wait until he goes - they all go at their own rates. Just keep feeding him on the schedule you have set up and let him do his own thing. :)

As far as rat size is concerned, keep him on small rats for quite a bit longer. If you are confident that he's a male, then he could stay on a small rat weekly for his entire life (and even then he'll likely skip a few meals every now and again). Personally, I don't even start feeding my animals small rats until they're in the 500g range - which could be the reason that you're seeing a decent amount of poo right now.

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The breeder I got him from was already feeding him small rats when I got him a month ago. The breeder is the one who told me that he's male. He is 440g right now. He started his shed last night so I'll feed him again when he is done. Thanks so much for your advice!

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Originally Posted by M.P.C

Heres an article all about snake poop


http://snakesarelong.blogspot.com/20...llast.html?m=1

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Thank you so much for the link. It was pretty damn informative!

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Originally Posted by M.P.C

Ive read that ball pythons will retain there poo and use it as a counter weight for when they strike

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Wow! That was a great article! Thank you. :gj:

Glad everyones finding it as interesting as i did

Speaking of poo, my snake has also not pooped for about 3 feedings and she's due to eat in 2 days...mom doesn't want me to feed until she goes. She also takes less and less food with each meal. First was 3, second was 2, and she almost refused the second mouse the third time

1.2 Normal
1.1 Red-tail
0.1 Albino corn

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Originally Posted by SCWood

Speaking of poo, my snake has also not pooped for about 3 feedings and she's due to eat in 2 days...mom doesn't want me to feed until she goes.

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I just looked back through my records (yes, I record everything) and I've had some go upwards of 4 months without defecating (mostly when they're off feed). Usually they're at around once/month though. This is with me offering weekly appropriately-sized meals. There's absolutely no reason to wait until she poops to feed her again. You could seriously be waiting for a long time if you did that.

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Originally Posted by Eric Alan

I just looked back through my records (yes, I record everything) and I've had some go upwards of 4 months without defecating (mostly when they're off feed). Usually they're at around once/month though. This is with me offering weekly appropriately-sized meals. There's absolutely no reason to wait until she poops to feed her again. You could seriously be waiting for a long time if you did that.

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She poo'ed! After shedding, of course! http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/04...352e0d74a7.jpg

1.2 Normal
1.1 Red-tail
0.1 Albino corn

Wow!

At least that's an easy one to clean.

Mine snake is toilet trained- right into the water bowl every time! :mad:

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Originally Posted by SCWood

Speaking of poo, my snake has also not pooped for about 3 feedings and she's due to eat in 2 days...mom doesn't want me to feed until she goes. She also takes less and less food with each meal. First was 3, second was 2, and she almost refused the second mouse the third time

1.2 Normal
1.1 Red-tail
0.1 Albino corn

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I would try to get him on rats asap! :gj:

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Originally Posted by Albert Clark

I would try to get him on rats asap! :gj:

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Yes ^^

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Originally Posted by Reinz

Wow!

At least that's an easy one to clean.

Mine snake is toilet trained- right into the water bowl every time! :mad:

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Oh no!

1.2 Normal
1.1 Red-tail
0.1 Albino corn