Three Questions - Bowel Movements, Shedding, & Swallowing Reptibark

[Homebody]

Well, I guess I laughed at my daughter too soon. I was holding her tonight and she climbed over my shoulder, head down my back, tail end down my chest. I was walking around with her, and she let go another very wet bowel movement/pee all over the front of me.

I may not have been a coincidence that she voided on both of you. Maybe, it's her way of asking you to dial back the handling a skosh. Voiding is a common defensive move for snakes.

[Bogertophis]

Well, that's entirely possible, & not only that but it helps to remember that a snake's body is a long tube, so handling them, especially when holding them vertically, is asking for trouble. Too much handling makes it hard for them to hold back, & they have no social prohibitions about letting go either.

The reason there was so much liquid is that the snake wasn't ready to defecate yet, but for the handling stimulation that forced the expulsion. Digestion takes a while, & some water is normally absorbed back into the body as waste travels thru the colon.

[Ian C]

Fair points, and I appreciate the insight.

I had simply assumed that if she didn't like the handling, there would be more signs of stress like coiling into a defensive ball or going into a strike position. So much to learn, which is why I'm so appreciative of finding this site.

[Homebody]

I'm not saying your bp is definitely voiding on you because you are definitely over stressing her. I'm just raising it as a possibility to consider.