Is this a poop or regurg?

Hey guys, first ever post here. Getting to the point: is this poop or regurgitation? It didn't really break apart at all, and it reeked to high heaven so I am leaning towards regurg, but this little dude has made some rancid poops before so I'm not sure.
Apologies if this isn't the right place to post this, but I am beyond upset. Temps are good, 80 cool side 90 hot side and he ate 4 days (around 96) hours ago, so I don't know what to make of this.
[IMG]https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...ized_thumb.jpg[/IMG]

That's definitely regurgitation. From what you've said it's probably due to the fact that he just ate 4 days ago. That is way to close together for a bp even a baby. Put him on paper towels and no touching or feeding for minimum 2 weeks. When you do offer food again it needs to be a smaller than normal meal.

I am not understanding. By four days I meant he ate 4 days ago; his last meal before that was 9 days. He's not over fed so I'm wondering what caused this.

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Originally Posted by moonman1488

I am not understanding. By four days I meant he ate 4 days ago; his last meal before that was 9 days. He's not over fed so I'm wondering what caused this.

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For clarification, you're feeding him every 4 days?

Oh gods no, every 7-9; I meant that he has had this meal in his tummy for 4 days.

I agree, it's a regurgitation (the smell + appearance are the giveaways...). If he happened to have been slow to digest & staying on the cool side, then yes, it still might have been too close to the previous meal, even at 9 days ago...but it shouldn't have been. Are you sure about the actual temps. in his enclosure, how did you read them? or are you relying on the setting of a t-stat?

You also mentioned he's had some "rancid poops before..." so you really should have his stool checked by a vet, & perhaps the snake too.

Okay that makes more sense. When is the last time he pooped? How often are you checking your temperatures? Are they controlled by a thermostat?

I have a heat mat on a thermostat and two thermometers with probes in each of his hides, and one in the center measuring ambient. I'm almost certain temps are good.

Every day and yes they are controlled. I have a thermostat for the heat source and two thermometers measuring hot and cool sides and one measuring ambient.

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Originally Posted by moonman1488

I have a heat mat on a thermostat and two thermometers with probes in each of his hides, and one in the center measuring ambient. I'm almost certain temps are good.

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You really need to be "certain", so you know if this is a "husbandry" issue or perhaps he is ill? Better (& cheaper) for you to narrow it down than the vet...

Then there's a deeper issue. Snakes won't regurge without having a damn good reason to. If he ate that rodent four days ago and just now regurged it with no temperature issues, it sounds to me like something was stopping him from digesting? When did he last poop?

He's been to the vet and given a clean bill of health; I mean snake poop stinks lol.

- - - Updated - - -

About a week ago was slay poop.

If he's pooped recently then he probably doesn't have a blockage. I would say it has to be a husbandry issue. Make sure to check temps a few times a day for the next week to try and keep track.

Okay I will do that, thank you. I just don't get it; temps are always 80-90 (cool to hot) with 1 to 2 degrees variation. I have each probe nested a little bit under the substrate cause he burrows. I have a ir thermometer handheld and it confirms the probes temps. What could be going on here? Humidity is sitting pretty at 72%.

The heat mat could've shorted, your temps could be wrong, anything could've happened honestly. But there's definitely a reason so like I said no feeding for 2 weeks and continue to check temps. If the temps hold the same after a few days to a week I would say it's something else. Maybe internal? Idk I'm not a vet! But if nobody on here can offer any other scenarios it might be worth a vet check.

Guys I just thought of something. Yesterday I had him out for some handling (usually he doesn't mind so long after a feeding.) It was only for about 20 minutes but would that be long enough to upset him if he wasn't "in the mood" so to speak? He was behaving normally; steady tongue flicks, not flighty or jerky, so I didn't think anything was wrong. Did I do this?

When was he at the vet (how long ago?) & why? I mean, what were they checking for? There ARE things that can cause regurgitation & they're not always easy to diagnose. Hopefully it's an issue with his temperatures though.

If you handled him yesterday that would be 72 hours after feeding so he should've already been digesting it. That picture looked like he only had it in him for a day or so since it still looked like a rodent. Are you the only one feeding him?

It was just a general wellness check after I purchased him. That was about two months ago. Think he needs another one?

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Originally Posted by moonman1488

Guys I just thought of something. Yesterday I had him out for some handling (usually he doesn't mind so long after a feeding.) It was only for about 20 minutes but would that be long enough to upset him if he wasn't "in the mood" so to speak? He was behaving normally; steady tongue flicks, not flighty or jerky, so I didn't think anything was wrong. Did I do this?

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That long after a feeding shouldn't have been a problem. Something's going on- needs your investigation & maybe a vet.

Only one, yeah.

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Originally Posted by moonman1488

It was just a general wellness check after I purchased him. That was about two months ago. Think he needs another one?

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My point is that a general check up won't reveal very much, if anything. If you're a fairly new keeper, I can understand why you'd do this with a new snake for reassurance, but honestly, it was probably a waste of money unless lab work was done, & something was specifically looked for. Snakes are very stoic patients, & vets can't tell much by looking at them- when you keep one for a while & pay close attention, you can often tell something is wrong, but a vet will still "see" nothing. It's often up to us to take good notes, to help a vet figure out how & what to treat. A "team effort".

Did he come from a private party (breeder?) or a pet store? You haven't had him very long...re-homing is stressful (so are pet-stores, & they often expose healthy animals to sick ones) so the best thing to do with a new snake (FYI) is to let them settle in for several+ weeks, just eating & sleeping, to keep their immune system functioning at it's best, & minimize the chance that something they've been previously exposed to will affect them (ie. make them sick). Not much different from humans, btw.

The vet you took him to...was a specialist with snakes & other exotics, I hope?

Right now though, I'd make SURE all his temps. are where they should be.

Wait at least 3 weeks before you offer him any food again, & only give a smaller meal than his previous one. You might also try getting it from a different source, as sometimes there are issues with the quality of the rodents themselves, but from the looks of that regurge, there was barely any digestion going on...so I don't think it's likely to be a rodent issue...UNLESS it was too big for him, & you haven't shared that information either- his size (weight & approx. length) compared to size (weight) of prey.

Let him rest in the meantime- minimize handling- don't schedule a vet visit until you find out what happens after his next meal. IF he digests & keeps it down, fine...go easy on his meals for a while, no vet needed unless he regurges again, or has other symptoms. You REALLY need to avoid repeated regurgitation in a snake, as it can actually kill them. They can aspirate, or become dehydrated.

And speaking of meal size vs. size of snake:

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...%2F98qfzDH.png

Thanks so much for all the help. I'll keep an eye on him and do as you've said.

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Originally Posted by moonman1488

Thanks so much for all the help. I'll keep an eye on him and do as you've said.

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:gj: I hope everything will be alright after he rests his tummy for a while. Remember, wait 3 weeks & smaller meal next time (check the chart), & no handling for a couple days at least after he eats.

Questions not asked.
1) What did the prey weigh?
2) Snakes weight?
3) Are you sure the prey was totally thawed?

I’ve had late regurgitation before from oversized meals years ago. Wait three or four weeks an feed a small meal.

Good luck!

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Originally Posted by 303_enfield

Questions not asked.
1) What did the prey weigh?
2) Snakes weight?
3) Are you sure the prey was totally thawed?

...

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Question was asked but perhaps not as directly as I might have, in my response (post #23): "... I don't think it's likely to be a rodent issue...UNLESS it was too big for him, & you haven't shared that information either- his size (weight & approx. length) compared to size (weight) of prey." and my inclusion of the feeding chart was for that reason especially.

But it does bear repeating! :gj: Sometimes it "takes a village..." ;)