feeding in seperate enclosure?

[stratus_020202]

Yeah, that's what i was saying, or meant to say. Was trying to make the point of they poop 10 min after eating, it probably wasn't the meal they just ate. And if it was, it wasn't a big enough meal.

[Kaorte]

Yeah, that's what i was saying, or meant to say. Was trying to make the point of they poop 10 min after eating, it probably wasn't the meal they just ate. And if it was, it wasn't a big enough meal.

Maybe I am confused. What would make the meal inadequate?

[stratus_020202]

Snakes can be handled right after feeding, I've had snakes poo within 10 minutes after eating, then cleaned out their tub with the snake around my neck.

If it is only taking your snake 10 min to digest his meal, I don't think it was big enough.

[Kaorte]

If it is only taking your snake 10 min to digest his meal, I don't think it was big enough.

aaah I see. I think he was just saying that some of his snakes poo previous meals after eating and he picks them up anyway to clean it up.

Obviously it isn't digested in 10 minutes. That is impossible no matter how small the prey item.

[stratus_020202]

Lol. Yeah, I got it after I re-read it. I was trying to figure out how his snake digested in 10 min. Light Bulb!

That's a tough one though. Let the snake digest, or clean him. It would probably be better to clean. Ugh. It would get nasty sitting in there for 2 days. I had a hatchling flip her hide over once, I just let her be. I didn't want to get bit, and she was still in feed mode.

I wouldn't worry about substrate though. As long as they can get it down, they shouldn't have any trouble digesting it. They can digest bones. That's why it's better to use paper/paper towles.

[Pip]

A couple of questions (if you don't mind):

(1) How many times have you fed him outside his enclosure?
(2) Prior to this feeding, when was the last time he ate?
(3) What is the temperature at the cool end of his enclosure?

Absolutely! Thanks for asking

1.) I have fed him outside his enclosure twice, and once inside. I believe the reptile shop I got him feeds in a separate enclosure.

2.) The last time he ate prior to this was last Monday, 5 days before his feeding this Saturday (The regurgitated meal)

3.) Cool side is low 80s, hot side is low 90s.


I got to thinking, and after reading more threads, I think it may also be due to the mouse being bigger than he's used to. I haven't weighed any of his previous meals, but this mouse was about 12 grams, and visibly larger than his last couple of meals.

He seems alright now (I always feel better after throwing up... Do snakes feel better too? )
He's in his hot side hide right now, but has been poking his head out and smelling around too.

I'm guessing it would be best to wait a few days before handling him?

So, because I know I've partially derailed this thread, I will relate my issue back to the topic. I'm not entirely sure if my little guy's regurg was related to handling right after feeding, or to a larger than normal meal... Or maybe it was a combination of both?

Thanks all for your responses and considerations! The help is immensely appreciated!

[Oxylepy]

If it is only taking your snake 10 min to digest his meal, I don't think it was big enough.

But I thought I was supposed to feed them in the pointy end

[Skiploder]

Absolutely! Thanks for asking

1.) I have fed him outside his enclosure twice, and once inside. I believe the reptile shop I got him feeds in a separate enclosure.

2.) The last time he ate prior to this was last Monday, 5 days before his feeding this Saturday (The regurgitated meal)

3.) Cool side is low 80s, hot side is low 90s.


I got to thinking, and after reading more threads, I think it may also be due to the mouse being bigger than he's used to. I haven't weighed any of his previous meals, but this mouse was about 12 grams, and visibly larger than his last couple of meals.

He seems alright now (I always feel better after throwing up... Do snakes feel better too? )
He's in his hot side hide right now, but has been poking his head out and smelling around too.

I'm guessing it would be best to wait a few days before handling him?

So, because I know I've partially derailed this thread, I will relate my issue back to the topic. I'm not entirely sure if my little guy's regurg was related to handling right after feeding, or to a larger than normal meal... Or maybe it was a combination of both?

Thanks all for your responses and considerations! The help is immensely appreciated!

I'm with you on the probable cause. Like I said, I used to feed some animals in separate encloures and never had an issue with regurges.

While I don't consider snakes intelligent, they do condition fairly easily, and an animal conditioned to being fed in a separate bin would not likely suddenly begin regurging meals.

On the other hand, almost every regurge I've had in healthy snakes was due to prey size.

Keep in mind there is a difference between regurgitation and vomiting in snakes.

If the mouse came up ten minutes after he was fed, then it is indeed a regurgitation.

On the other hand if the mouse was wholly ingested or you can visibly see that it was partially digested - that's vomit.

A regurge is an entirely different event that happens in a relatively short period of time after feeding.

When people talk about the trauma of regurgitation on a snakes system they are mistaken. A regurge imparts relatively little trauma on the digestive tract and flora in a snake.

Vomiting on the other hand is an entirely different event. The protocols for reintroduction of food items differ from regurgitation.

If your snake vomits, waiting two weeks for a reintroduction of food is recommended. I would also dip the head of the prey in Benebac or something similar at the first feeding after a vomiting episode.

If your snake does a true regurge, in which no digestion takes place - there is nothing wrong with waiting a week or so and reintroducing a smaller, more manageable prey item.

Unfortunately, the term regurgitation is used when most people are describing a vomiting incident, so you are going to get a flood of recommendations to wait two weeks even through no digestion took place. If it helps with your peace of mind - wait the two weeks and feed again.

[Pip]

I did have a quick thought on regurgitation vs vomiting today. I'm glad you addressed it.

After reading your post, I have to say I think he vomited, because it certainly wasn't soon after he swallowed. He had the mouse in his belly for almost 24 hours before throwing up. The mouse looked pretty undigested, as in quite whole, although I don't know much about the digestive process in detail, so I'm not sure what it should look like that early in the stages of digestion.

So you're saying that if it indeed was a vomit, and he had started to digest, an entire two weeks is necessary, as opposed to a regurg? Just out of curiosity (or if you still think this could be to considered a regurg, again not sure how to tell if it had been digested or not) - say wait 5 days or a week to try to feed again?

Hope that all made sense - I'm tired and about to go to bed.

Thank you very much for your time and responses!!

[Skiploder]

If he had it in for 24 hours - wait the full two weeks.

It also wouldn't hurt to pick up some of this:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...22&pcatid=6422

Petco carries it. Get the powdered version and sprinkle some on the prey item right before you feed it.

I can't tell you it works - but I can tell you that I've never had an issue with a secondary regurge while using it.