Eats and regurgitates= problem.

[Skiploder]

Background: I have several ball pythons in a rack, of various ages, that I have had for some time and all eat well. I also have a variety of other snakes and reptiles that all feed properly, and have kept reptiles for 20+ years.

Problem: I recently purchased a ball python that was supposed to be "09", but on arrival the python is small enough that I have to wonder if its this years early hatch maybe- much smaller that a couple other '09 hatch bp's I have. It shed shortly after I received it a few weeks ago, and I have since tried to feed it twice, where it snapped up a warm f/t mouse fuzzy (slightly smaller prey item than I might offer ordinarily) and swallowed it down quickly. The prey was ingested 12-18 hours and then regurgitated both times. Caging, temps, hides, humidity, etc., all could not be better- dark and cozy. I have dealt with reluctant eaters in the past that eventually came around and thrived, but this one agressively snaps up food and then regurgitates- twice in as many weeks.

Anyone have some thoughts or input as to how to get (her) to keep her food down?

Given that your husbandry is correct I would guess one of two things - (1) that the animal could have some sort of internal defect or disease or (2) you need to drop the prey size down again.

If he's keeping the food down 12 to 18 hours, I would wait two weeks before feeding him again. After two weeks, feed him a prey item slightly down on the size chart and sprinkle it with a dose of Benebac.

The problem with vomiting is that once they do it, if you feed them too soon afterwards they will often vomit again, but for a different reason.

For example, you feed him, he vomits and then a week goes by and you feed him again. He vomits a second time due to a lack of recovery time necessary to get his digestive system back in order.

Eliminate this as a possibility and wait a full two weeks. Then offer the smaller item and add some Benebac to help replenish his flora. During the recovery period you can also add Benebac to his water to speed up the process.

If he continues to vomit after 12 to 18 hours, I would suspect an internal abnormality first and a pathogen second.

Questions:

Is he thermo-regulating properly after eating? Is he hydrating himself?

Lastly how well do you trust the person you received the animal from? Is there any chance it was kept under conditions that could have led to a bacterial or internal parasite problem?