Bloating

I fed her an adult mouse last Sunday. I picked up 2 smaller mice because the pet store did not have any larger, so I fed her again on Thursday and the second smaller mouse on Friday. I figured because of the size difference, the two would be equivalent to one. I usually feed one large mouse every 7 days. She is about 22 inches long, my temps are 92, 82 and my humidity is 50-60 %. I checked her last night and she is extremely bloated, almost like she is filled with air. I was wondering if this was normal or if I should be concerned. I soaked her in warm water for 35 min today and nothin happened. She seems fine when handled, it just feels weird in her stomach. Is this normal or is it possible the 2 smaller mice were a bit much? Thanks in advance for the input.

In my opinion, two mice was a bit much, but she got them down so I think she should be ok. How does she look today?

She looks a little bit better, and the gasses in her stomach seem to be going away. I was just worried because I fed 2 days early, but she ate both of them without a problem. I feed live and both of the small mice lasted about 10 seconds in the tub with her, so I think this was just me over reacting. I am still new to this, and I don't want to inadvertantly harm her. Thanks for putting up with me and all of my little questions.

Kyle

I had one really bloat on me. (but this one wouldnt eat and she wasnt able to come here to GA with me.) she looked and felt like she swallowed a really long baloon. she was this way for weeks. (didnt have a herp vet where I lived, closest one was 70 miles away) one night i woke to the sound of a long loud fart noise... it keept happening, I lookin her tank and my snake was in fact passing gas. she never bloated again. it scared me though... i didnt know snakes could pass gas untill then.

If your snake keeps bloating I would take em to the vet.

LOL

I'm sorry I just couldn't help but laugh, thinking of your snake letting out this long fart in the middle of the night.

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Originally Posted by darkangel

LOL

I'm sorry I just couldn't help but laugh, thinking of your snake letting out this long fart in the middle of the night.

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I've heard my mammals fart, but I never thought about a snake fart! :eek:

I can't wait to hear my snake passing gas :rolleye2:

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Originally Posted by UWStoutNinja

I can't wait to hear my snake passing gas :rolleye2:

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hehe not me!
It's like losing the magic of a new relationship when you hear the other person pass gas. LOL.

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Originally Posted by UWStoutNinja

I fed her an adult mouse last Sunday. I picked up 2 smaller mice because the pet store did not have any larger, so I fed her again on Thursday and the second smaller mouse on Friday. I figured because of the size difference, the two would be equivalent to one. I usually feed one large mouse every 7 days. She is about 22 inches long, my temps are 92, 82 and my humidity is 50-60 %. I checked her last night and she is extremely bloated, almost like she is filled with air. I was wondering if this was normal or if I should be concerned. I soaked her in warm water for 35 min today and nothin happened. She seems fine when handled, it just feels weird in her stomach. Is this normal or is it possible the 2 smaller mice were a bit much? Thanks in advance for the input.

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They can become bloated after eating a large meal or, in your case, after two meals that were close together. Its really nothing to worry about, just make sure that you wait at least 5-7 days in between feedings. Its really not a great thing for their system to constantly be digesting food they take in every 3-4 days.

Remember, ball pythons that eat large, frequent meals have the tendency to fast or take time off from feeding, which drives many keepers insane - when in fact, it is the keeper's fault for this behavior.

Ball pythons that eat small meals tend to eat more consistently, and in the long run, take in more food and grow bigger than snakes that eat large meals and then go for long periods of time fasting.

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Originally Posted by darkangel

hehe not me!
It's like losing the magic of a new relationship when you hear the other person pass gas. LOL.

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That adds extra magic for me :D LOL

That adds extra magic for me LOL


I think if a girl did that really early on in a relationship, it might send me running. Either that or I would just say screw it and beat her with my own :D

LOL snake farts. My BP does that sometimes when he's pooping. :8: I always seem to be around to enjoy the magic. :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by Sausage

LOL snake farts. My BP does that sometimes when he's pooping. :8: I always seem to be around to enjoy the magic. :rolleyes:

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I got to watch mine shed yesterday, but I missed the "magic" that happened shortly after :P

HAHAHA this thread is hilarious.... Im gonna check on my snakes to see if they fart at night.... :carrot:

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Originally Posted by UWStoutNinja

I fed her an adult mouse last Sunday. I picked up 2 smaller mice because the pet store did not have any larger, so I fed her again on Thursday and the second smaller mouse on Friday. I figured because of the size difference, the two would be equivalent to one. I usually feed one large mouse every 7 days. She is about 22 inches long, my temps are 92, 82 and my humidity is 50-60 %. I checked her last night and she is extremely bloated, almost like she is filled with air. I was wondering if this was normal or if I should be concerned. I soaked her in warm water for 35 min today and nothin happened. She seems fine when handled, it just feels weird in her stomach. Is this normal or is it possible the 2 smaller mice were a bit much? Thanks in advance for the input.

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Okay so the snake ate on Sunday, then on Thursday, then again on Friday...is that correct? Basically the process of digestion in a snake has to beat the natural decomposition of that whole prey item in their belly so feeding the snake 1 prey then 4 days then 1 prey then 1 day then 1 prey is likely what's caused this. Lucky you didn't get a regurge. It's probably not the 2 small mice rather than 1 large mouse issue but the lack of time to properly digest between feedings or having 1 prey partially digested when the snake was fed again that caused the problem. Remember also that the act of digestion in pythons is strenuous. I read recently that their hearts for instance temporarily grow during digestion, so it's important that they have the downtime they need between feedings.

Fact is though if your snake isn't okay and the bloated look gone the only person who can diagnose a problem is your herp vet. All anyone online can do is guess at what's caused this and what might happen.

thanks frankykeno. She seems to be doing ok, I am going to give her 10-14 days to digest everything, maybe longer if she still looks too fat. I fed that way so I could work the feeding into my schedule and did not take my snakes health into consideration. It was a stupid mistake that I will never make again. Once she starts eating again I will keep her on a strict eating schedule of an appropriate sized meal every 7 days.

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

~snipped to address~ Remember also that the act of digestion in pythons is strenuous. I read recently that their hearts for instance temporarily grow during digestion, so it's important that they have the downtime they need between feedings.

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Wow I'm glad it's not that hard for me to digest! Of course I may cut back on all the crap I eat! :D Is this fact part of the reason that Nag tends to hide for about a day after being fed??

Wow, this is a little off topic, but I'm from Eau Claire. Didn't know anyone close to me on here. Hello!

Hey Casperca, glad to see somebody else from wisconsin around here. Got any pastel babies on the way :D

An update on my bloated snake. She passed a huge urate last night. It was probably five normal sized for her stuck together. The bedding was completely soaked on the entire cool side of her tub, so I cleaned the tub and changed the bedding last night at about 12:30. She wasn't too happy with me, and she struck at me for the first time. Good news is she is back to normal size with no bloating at all. I am still going to wait a week before feeding to let her digest anything else that might still be in there. :carrot:

Sounds like she's coming along and waiting that week won't hurt her at all. If your week is nuts I always figure it's better they miss a meal than have them too close together.

Saddly not this season. I'm planning my first breeding for the 07-08 season. Then, if all goes well, I should have a couple. :)
Glad your snake is better though!