Couple of Care Questions

I have had Nagaina for 4 weeks. She eats great and seems comfortable. I have fed her about every 10 days (one pinkie) -- she is about 5 months old. She has only had one small calcium poop - this past weekend. Should I be worried? I am soaking her for about 15 mins each day for the past 3 days. Silly question - but do they poop after each meal or do they sometimes take a while. What is the digestive cycle like for snakes - timewise?

Also she has a strange spot on her back -- kind of looks like a scab that is healing -- it is a little rough and dark. She has had it since I got her but I thought it was just left over shed. I think it is shrinking so guessing it is a hurt place that is just healing. She is not sensitive to touching it -- she does not act any different then if I touch her somewhere else on her back so I do not think it hurts.

I tried to load a picture but could not figure out how so put one in the members gallery -- you can find it under nagaina -- she is on my hand and it is up close.

Appreciate any feedback on this. I did notice one other place one her side where 3 scales have what looks like old shed but then it kind of looks like the color of her scale not sure so just wondering if may be she had an accident before I got her. She seems very healthy! Waiting on the poop to drop off at the vet just to ensure she is healthy. He did see her and I forgot to show him the two places -- he looked her over so thinking it is fine and I am just paranoid after reading "What is wrong with my snake".

First, I would say, at 5 months, she should be eating a bigger meal than what you are feeding, unless they are big rat pinkies. To judge the size of the meal thats appropriate, look for the thickest part of your snakes body and keep in mind you can feed prey thats 1.5 times the girth at the thickest part. If her meals have been rather small, she wont be going to the bathroom as much cause she is digesting what you feed rather than have much waste.

Sorry, from the pics I cant really tell the type of injury you are referring to, however, what you describe reminds me of a bite mark thats healing potentially. What was she eating before you got her?

I am not sure. I am feeding what the pet store told me to when I bought her -- so I may not be referring to the correct name (that is very likely). They are small white mice -- they do have fur so would that be a pinkie? I am not good at sizes but she is about 23 inches long and the mouse is probably about 2.5 inches long not including the tail. I am trying to learn all the terms. The pet store told me to feed her one every 7 to 10 days. This pet store is creditable so I am thinking they gave me the right size but I may call.


I do feel that the wound is may be an old bite mark -- it seems like a scar would be healing on us. I just wanted to be sure! Honestly that book has made me paranoid too.

Still learning here -- and just want to ensure her comfort.

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Originally Posted by phoenix-dancing

I am not sure. I am feeding what the pet store told me to when I bought her -- so I may not be referring to the correct name (that is very likely). They are small white mice -- they do have fur so would that be a pinkie? I am not good at sizes but she is about 23 inches long and the mouse is probably about 2.5 inches long not including the tail. I am trying to learn all the terms. The pet store told me to feed her one every 7 to 10 days. This pet store is creditable so I am thinking they gave me the right size but I may call.


I do feel that the wound is may be an old bite mark -- it seems like a scar would be healing on us. I just wanted to be sure! Honestly that book has made me paranoid too.

Still learning here -- and just want to ensure her comfort.

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Here is a link to show you how to refer to the sizes available, though it is not the only one you will find, but it will give you good info. What you are feeding sounds like small young mice or young adults. Pinkies have no fur at all.
http://www.rodentpro.com/catalog.asp...el=frozen_mice

They do have fur so it is not a pinkie -- I do think it is the right size mainly because it is what they told me to get for prekill. I do trust this store when it comes to general maintenance.


So knowing that - do you think I should be concerned with the poop? Or I guess it taking a while? What is their digestion cycle like - I cannot find information on this really.


I think they are either the hoppers or weanlings --- their face is more like the weanlings but not sure they are quite that big. May be just a little bit smaller but I think that is what they are. The face is not rounded like the hopper. Good size you think???

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Originally Posted by phoenix-dancing

So knowing that - do you think I should be concerned with the poop? Or I guess it taking a while? What is their digestion cycle like - I cannot find information on this really.

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I would not just yet, sometimes the save it up to make a HUGE present for you. As far as digestion, I really think it varies alot and is dependant on alot of factors.

Thanks -- I just edited my post to tell you that I think the feed is the weanlings -- not sure but looking at the photos think that is what they are....may not be quite tht big.


I did tell her that she could give me my xmas present early and I would be even happier -- so hopefully she will! Kept a 16 year old guy for a bit and so I do know what I am in for on a small scale! But he did poop within 2 weeks so that is why I was starting to get concerned - he is all I have for comparison.

Just sit back and wait for it, I got all nervous and worried when my snake didn't poo for the first two months I had her, then one day I found her giant cat sized present for me, and it's been almost weekly ever since. You just have to wait for it to completely relax and feel safe in it's environment before you get a #2. :P

I must say that they do teach patience! She is great but since she is not vocal like my cats -- I am having to learn her reactions. She seems comfortable - she does actually come out and move around the cage from time to time. Also watches from her hide -- sticks her head out and just watches from time to time.

Some snakes like to leave presents inside of their hide too. Mine doesn't, though. He tends to leave it on top of the hide!

LOL I have one that will defecate in her hide then immediately book for the other hide and absolutely refuse to re-enter the "dirty" hide till I clean up after her. It's hilarious to see what I'm sure if a half-asleep snake go scooting across her tub in the middle of the day cuz she just stunk herself out! LOL Another one of ours always poops in the exact same corner of her tub, I've no idea why but it is never anywhere else but her self-designated "toilet" corner.


~~Jo~~

This isn't poop related but typical nonetheless. Mondays are designated clean the cage and feed days. So last night we did our thing and after cleaning the cage he took two rat pups no sweat. This morning I wake up and check on him and not only did he pee (clean cage!) but he shed as well (btw it's his first shed with me!!!!:D :D ). So I had to clean his cage at 6:00 in the morning disturbing him as little as possible. At least he left me a treat for my efforts (the shed!).

In response to Frankykeno --- my girl is doing that. I found another calcium pooh (just a really small one) this morning. Both times it is in her hot house where she does not hang out too much. But I am learning that she goes in there and if she stays for more than 30 mins -- CHECK IT!!!


She likes her cool hut most of the time and only goes in her hot hut when I first put her back in the cage -- I think she likes to warm up in there and then move to her favorite place. Her temps in both huts are good -- I have meters sitting right inside to check -- so think she just likes it cooler. But the past two night after a little soak (that I am doing not so much her choice) -- she is sitting in there and I find calcium pooh the next morning. So I think she may be using it as a toilet. Funny. Good to know she is not the only one. At least I now know where she burries it....kind of like my cats and litter box.

I did notice a jelly like substance -- kind of looks like mucus -- in the small calcium pooh this morning -- I remember seeing a post on this so want to go see what people said because it is kind of concerning me.

Still no pooh with hair and such.....I am still waiting on the big one -- thinking the vet wants that to inspect rather than a little piece the size of broken chalk.

Okay so I found the one on the jelly but this is not the same. This was a little bit of what looks like mucus with the calcium pooh...anyone seen this? Should I be worried? I will be glad when she gives me a good one to take to the vet for a general examination.

those aren't calcium poos. those are urates(the snakes pee). poos will be brown and much larger (and smellier) then urates.

do you know what the jelly stuff is?

i think jelly like stuff might be a sign of parasites.(dont quote me on that one) i would get it looked at.

Okay -- I just called to see if just the jelly and urate was enough to study. It is not much....like may be 1/4 teaspoon of it.


What do they give her? Should I have her with me or will there be something I have to treat her with?

Also - do I need to change the bedding to something else? Can they hide in the bedding or when they come out do they die?

New to this so the questions may be stupid but as you can see -- my pets are my children and I freak out when they are not well.

I would wait until an actual fecal sample is produced. You can't study urine under a microscope for parasites(well, one parasite, but that is species-specific for dogs/cats/cattle? Capillaria sp.). When you get feces, take a small amount of it(teaspoon sized amount) and put it in a plastic ziploc baggy and put it in the fridge until you can take it to the vet.

Also, there is no need to take the snake with you when you deliver the feces to the vet. They will call you with the results of the fecal float and will discuss treatment options if there are any. That is when you would either go pick up the medication from the vet and administer it at home, or take the snake up to the vet and have them deworm the snake for you.

Switching to paper towels or newspaper will help you keep an eye out for anything abnormal such as mites, abnormal looking feces(consistency, actual worms in the stool, color) and anything else. At least for the first month or two and then you an switch to your bedding or choice(aspen, cypress, newspaper, etc). Just makes it easier on you :)

Okay -- I tried paper towels at first and had trouble with the heat pad until I did get a rheostat so I can go back to it now. The first week was murder and lots oh money spent learning .. haha. Oh well -- she is now comfy and that is what mattered to me.

I will wait for the real pooh to take to him. He is a great vet - actually I think he is on the animal planet. I am wondering what I will pay for the lab -- yikes -- but he was super cool when he saw her and since he just looked at her, he did not charge me that day. I do really wish she would hurry up! I see her drink and am soaking her for just 10 mins each day to see if it helps. The air here is soooo dry, I could not imagine that is too bad for her in general anyway.

The vet saw her and did not see mites but I guess they do not show up on her always -- or may be not until they are too bad. From the outside - he said she looked really healthy and responded nicely (inspecting him and gripping and such). He told me to drop off a fecal sample -- so I will keep checking for a present for him (not me ha ha).

I must say that your subtitle - poop scene inspector (PSI) made me laugh out loud here at work ...so I am sure that they wonder what I am up to now!!!

I would stop with the soaking. It will dry her skin out more than moisturize. You know how if we're in the tub too long and we get wrinkly and dried out? Same thing with them. They don't soak normally in the wild, so it's not necessary to soak them in captivity(other than the bad shed times).


You can always get a plastic gladware or disposable rubbermaid container used for storing food and make one into a humid hide. Get some paper towels or sphagnum moss and make it slightly damp, then cut a hole in the side and put the lid on. Place the whole container on the warm side of the enclosure and you're set. The snake will go there when it needs to.

If you haven't switched to a plastic tub enclosure, you may want to. I know you said you're getting an AP cage soon, but you may want to switch to a tub in the meantime. It will help your heat and humidity considerably and will also help with the stress level of your snake. The humid hide though, will help a bit with your ambient humidity, and will keep your substrate drier. You'll have to change out the paper towels fairly often, as they can get icky. Try to change them out every 2-3 days.

LoL, Poop Scene Investigator designates my love for parasitology. I'm a Vet Tech so we love poop! :)

Explains the subtitled -- love it! You can tell I love the CSI show...that is why it made me laugh.


Okay -- well I will change out the bedding tomorrow night. So take like a sandwhich size tuperware -- is that what you mean to make the humid hide? Just confirming -- should I replace my little wood hut with that? Things dry out really fast here...I will try to get by and get the moss tomorrow -- paper towels will dry out here fast.

When you say switch to a plastic tub -- do you mean like a storage one with holes in it? I actually just got my notice that I should get my AP cage friday! So I may just wait since I can work to put it together Saturday morning and move her in once I get the temps right-- very excited!!!

Really stupid question -- is there a way to know that a snake is stressed? I know they do not really like humans but will find the comfort zones with us -- she seems really comfortable with me -- for instance rightnow she could try to move away and is just settling into my shirt (well and sticking her head out to see what all the tapping is on the keyboard). She does not ball up but actually stretches out as soon as I get her out of the cage too.

Should I be extremely concerned about the jelly like or mucus like substance? I must admit that I am very worried and wish she would go ahead and leave that poop for drop off. My cats are soooo babied and well this one will be as a much as a snake will tolerate...haha. Just that way with animals.

Yep, just use a smallish, low-to-the ground container w/lid(that the snake can fit in of course, LoL).

Wood hides harbor bacteria like nobody's business. If you want hides that are easily cleaned, look fairly nice and your BP will LOVE them, go to WalMart and get some of the plastic pot saucers(sits underneath the planter pot to catch water). Cut a hole in the top or side of two of them and place one on each side of the enclosure. I would think for a baby ball the 5-6" size would be ok. I know I used the 4" ones when I first got Amani, she was teensy. They cost maybe $0.80 apiece, but I bet you could go to a garden store and get them for cheaper. The clay ones are nice because you can soak them in water for awhile, and then they act as a second humid hide until they dry out. They are also fairly heavy and my ball really enjoyed them when she was younger(now too fat to fit in anything but the 10" plastic ones, haha).

That's wonderful you are getting your AP cage so quick! I hope you like it as much as your ball does :)

Signs of stress would include not eating, "running" away constantly, balling up, constantly cruising the cage daytime or night, etc. If she is hiding during the day and coming out some at night, eating well, and not balling up, then I would venture to say she isn't stressed much.

I COMPLETELY understand the anal retentiveness about our animals' care. With 17 rats, there is always someone that has SOMETHING wrong... LoL. Whether it's my allergy girl having a flare-up, or one of my other 11 girls has an abscess, you just never know what's going to pop up that day. Already had to do 3 surgeries, bleh... Good thing they are my favorite price, LoL. FREE!

About the jelly-like substance, what was the color? Was it opaque or translucent? It may have been urates that weren't fully dehydrated before she expelled them, but you can never know for sure. The fecal will be able to discern what is going on, so I would just wait until you can get a fecal sample in.

But anywho, I've written a novel now. 'Night!

Thanks for all the info -- I SOOOOOO appreciate it!!!


She does not come out in the day -- cruises at night especially when I put her back in after having her out....I think I get her active and then may be she is just inspecting to ensure all is there or something. She will stop and drink sometimes or just watch me from the branch or go under it and watch. Sometimes I come back in and she is out again but is moving to the other hide -- but checking everything on the way. Last night put her back and left for about 3 hours -- when I went by the cage -- she was out on top of the branch - "checking to make sure the screen was closed good" - ha ha. I think at least....when she is out, she just looks like she is exploring or moving to the other hide. OH she is a mover too when out -- she likes to get up under the edge of my shirt and then stick her head out to see what is up -- I know it is warm and she feels hidden (I try to stay still). She does not stay still though -- she will go back under and circle me in my shirt then come back out and do the same watch....I think she is sooo cute - cracks me up!

Humm may change out the wooden one now. I probably have a ton of the clay saucers you are speaking of. Idea for you -- they make the garlic roasters in various sizes and out of the same material...not sure how big your babe is but they make some big ones if you wanted something of the same material as the clay pot bottom and the lid would form a dome for more room. I had never thought of the pot saucers but they do hold moisture nicely so I think I want to do that! Not sure how expensive the bigger roasters are but the small ones are about $5....

The jelly - best description I can state is that it looks like a sneeze (from us) - not bright yellow and not completely clear but in between - it is not with me right now but I think it was whitish/yellow but not a solid color - I hope that make sense. It was with the urates.

The "jelly-like" substance really is sounding like non-dehydrated urate. Did you think to smell it? LoL, I always smell things, I guess it's just the vet tech in me. If it smelled like urine, then it probably was. Sometimes they will have a liquid urine, so don't be worried, it just means she is well-hydrated and has no need for the extra water.

Where do you find the garlic roasters? Walmart maybe? I'll google a bit and see if I can find a picture and will confirm it with you :) Thanks for the idea! Amani is about 45" now and she is turtling the 10"(I think) plastic saucers. I use the tiny(4") saucers for my Rosy Boa, and he fits perfectly, right now anyway, LoL.

Actually yes -- I did sniff it. No real smell - but the urate does not really have a scent to me either. I have not checked her hides tonight to see if she left me anything.


The garlic roasters -- you can find them at Target and I would think Walmart. Some stores may only carry the small ones but I know that I saw a big one in Target once a while back -- it was designed to roast other stuff. Check out the kitchen gadget isle at either place. Could probably find online too. They are the Terra Cotta (spelling) -- dome and little dish. I saw one that the dome was about 4 inches tall and the diameter was pretty big --- I remember thinking -- wow that would be a lot of garlic!!!

I think I found one here...look at this site about halfway down. It is 17.95:
http://www.garlicworld.com/shopsite_...ml/page14.html

http://www.cooking.com/products/shpr...26ei%3Dutf%2D8
Second one is cheaper...

Even the garlic keepers may work to break out a hole and use -- some are clay. Luckily I can use the little tiny ones for her right now...I have one that is chipped but it is probably too smelly so I think I will hit Target tomorrow.

I really like the idea of using the clay pot to humidify -- I worry so much about belly rot and such......I am not sure that I would really need to be worried here though -- it is SOOOOO dry!!