My cali king has regurged 3 times since I got her

I bought her at my local reptiday and I have allowed for 2 weeks after a regurge for her to recover. She has kept one mouse pinkie down, but this was 2 weeks ago. I offered a mouse pinkie 2 days ago and I checked on her this morning and found the pinkie slightly digested but out in the aspen. Her uth sits at 80 and the ambient temp in the room is 76. She has plenty of water, hides, and substrate to burrow in. I'm at a loss here. I don't know any local vets who know anything about reptiles, much less such a tiny snake like my girl. Please, if anyone has any theories, let me know. I don't want her to suffer. I feel like 3 regurgitations since the 4th of July is not normal.

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How are you measuring and regulating your UTH?
My first thought is you need more heat IF your temps are true.

Try to get the optimal temps stabilized in the enclosure first. Don't feed for a week or so bc depending on the cause the animal may refuse to feed anyway. Keep in mind that this repeated regurge may require veterinary help. Three regurges are a lot. Maybe its a parasitic infection or a obstruction in the digestive tract. Go with a much smaller meal if you are going to give it another try. Remember with every regurge the animal is moving closer to a dehydrated state.

I have a hydrofarm thermostat to regulate it and i check the hotspot with my temp gun. The care sheet i used when setting up for her said that 80 was a good warm side temp. Im wondering if cali kings can have congenital defects that predispose them to stuff like this...

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Well, that's great then we can rule out the temperature possibility. I can't really say that I have heard that it could be a predisposition of kingsnakes to regurge. Does he have any abdominal swellings or protrusions? Has he been injured in anyway? Any diarrhea or discharge from the cloaca (butt)? What type of food is he eating?

No abdominal swelling at all, and I didn't see any injuries. She's only feel fed mouse pinkies like when they're a day or two old, so nice and small. The only cloacal discharge has been poop and urates. There was a little poop this morning when I found the regurge, and it looked normal except the poop looked almost black.

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Originally Posted by ashleymarie

No abdominal swelling at all, and I didn't see any injuries. She's only feel fed mouse pinkies like when they're a day or two old, so nice and small. The only cloacal discharge has been poop and urates. There was a little poop this morning when I found the regurge, and it looked normal except the poop looked almost black.

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Did you ask the seller about her having any problems feeding when they had her? Try to reach out to them to see if they have any pertinent info or suggestions. How old is he?

The breeder brought him to the Reptiday having eaten the night before, which caused her to regurge there at the guys table. He said that the snake had eaten a few times with him, but I honestly don't know, since he would bring a baby cali king less than 24 hrs after feeding it. So I'm not sure... and as for the age, he said she was a hatching from the previous October which means that the day I got her, she would have been 9 months old... and that was july, so she is almost a year old now and her circumference is the same size as when I got her... I called the breeder right before posting here, and he didn't answer so I left a message...

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Originally Posted by ashleymarie

The breeder brought him to the Reptiday having eaten the night before, which caused her to regurge there at the guys table. He said that the snake had eaten a few times with him, but I honestly don't know, since he would bring a baby cali king less than 24 hrs after feeding it. So I'm not sure... and as for the age, he said she was a hatching from the previous October which means that the day I got her, she would have been 9 months old... and that was july, so she is almost a year old now and her circumference is the same size as when I got her... I called the breeder right before posting here, and he didn't answer so I left a message...

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OK. So lets wait and see what suggestions he has. In the meantime, I would double ziplock bag and put on ice, any stool or regurgitated material from the snake. Make a appointment with the exotic vet and take her in for testing. You will feel better and if the snake needs medication that can be addressed at the same time. ;) Regurgitating pinkies is very suspicious along with the minimal growth in 9 mos. since you bought her. Can you post pictures of her?

Thank you sir. I feel much more relaxed now. Phew!

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IMO, I would increase the uth hot spot to 85f up from 80f. The ambient temp can also be increased to 80f up from 76f.

YW. Keep us posted and put up some photos so we can check out the little guy. Haha. :D :D

I run my kings with an 85*F warm side, cool side is 76*F (room ambient).

I agree with keeping the regurge and any feces so that they can be tested for parasites and crypto by your vet.

I agree with the other members. I'd bump up the temps on your warm side a bit. I keep my kings at 86ish.

Stop holding it. Put that black aquarium paper on 3 sides minimum of the enclosure. Makes sure hides are appropriate and that no cats or dogs are bothering it these will all reduce stress. Check bedding to make sure its not poisonous. Make sure you clean the waterbowl real good leaving no soap or bleach residue (can make anyone sick).

Just some ideas.

Thank you, all. I got a hold of the breeder who advised that I take the uth out completely, as he said the cooler temps will aid in getting her metabolism back to normal. She is more responsive today, and she is active. The breeder told me to remove all of her aspen and feed her in her normal tank. After she ate the other day (in a separate tub) I scootched her into her normal tank that she lives in... he said that even the tiniest jostle may have caused her to regurge...

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I've owned kingsnakes and not a single regurge ever.
Something may or not be wrong with your snake but as a species they're almost bullet proof.