Rock-hard Urates?

[slartibartfast]

My three-year old male has been feeding consistantly on p/k small rats weekly (except when shedding), with the occasional mouse when the store is out of rats. He had a four month fast last winter when I first got him, but I finally got him to eat in March of this year, and he has not missed a meal since. He's in an approriately sized tub, all his numbers are good, nothing's changed.

On Monday he refused his rat. Normally, he has it all wrapped up before I even get the lid back on, but this time he just poked his head out of his hide, inspected it briefly, and went back in.

On Wednesday, he passed a big hard nugget of urates(presumably). It looked a white rock, or a small hen's egg. It was probably slightly wider than his body at the vent. I can palpate another slightly smaller hard oblong mass about an inch cranial to his vent. This object does not show up on x-rays (I work at a dog & cat vet, so I took some yesterday out of curiosity and because snakes look so freaking cool on x-rays).

He is otherwise alert, active, inquisitive, etc. His normal self, except for the refusing food thing.

Is this something I should have him seen by a herp vet for, or does it happen from time to time? His previous urates have been soft, as have my other babies'.

[lillyorchid]

I know when any of my guys & gal kind of look a bit plump in that area and it's been a little longer then I like - I let them take a swim in the bathtub or in our basement sink. Normally they will let loose after a few minutes.

[Freakie_frog]

Can you show us a pic of it

[cassandra]

A urate freeesh from a snake, I've found, it the consistancy of thick sour cream, but if left for a while (couple hours or more, or you don't notice it right away), it dries pretty much rock hard.

[Freakie_frog]

A urate freeesh from a snake, I've found, it the consistancy of thick sour cream, .

Well I was craving nachos but now I think ckicken sandwitch

[slartibartfast]

Sorry Frog, I wasn't thinking and I threw it away.

Cassandra...I can't say for sure how long it had sat, but not more than an hour or two...I had checked on him earlier and then happened to see it later that morning.
It was not shaped like urates that come out soft and then conform to the ground they land on....it was a smooth hard oblong like an egg or a river rock. It very much reminded me of uroliths I've seen removed from dogs.

And I can feel another one in him...so that negates the "hardening after it comes out" theory. A pity, because I'd much rather that be the case.

I'll try the soaking idea, and see what comes out.

[Freakie_frog]

Dumb qustion your sure it a him ???

[cassandra]

Dumb qustion your sure it a him ???

I don't think that's the a dumb question...and how old/how much does the snake weigh?

Do you know if s/he's ever been housed with another snake?

[Freakie_frog]

I don't think that's the a dumb question...and how old/how much does the snake weigh?

Do you know if s/he's ever been housed with another snake?

See your thinking the same thing.... Slugs (unfertilized eggs normaly produced in an underweight or young female after a botched breeding atempt. they can also acompany a vialble cluch)

[slartibartfast]

I don't think that's the a dumb question...and how old/how much does the snake weigh?

Do you know if s/he's ever been housed with another snake?

Hehe...I would be so psyched if "he" was a "she".

However....I purchased him from Bob Clark one year ago, as a two year old CBB male for a pet. At the time, he was housed alone, and has been since I've had him. He's around 1200g right now.