Snake Vomit?

[dr del]

Hi,

Those aren't normal bowel movements.

Have we asked how you are heating and how and where you measure in the temps?


dr del

[Twiz]

Hi,

Those aren't normal bowel movements.

Have we asked how you are heating and how and where you measure in the temps?


dr del

I know they aren't normal this is why I got worried in the first place, I am just glad to see that she isn't regurging. I haven't lowered my guard with the situation yet just a bit relieved to see it was a BM instead of regurge. I did pick up a nice digital scale to keep track of her weight. How often should I weigh her? Is once a week good?

I use a UTH on the warm side and a red light to bring up ambient air temp, both of these are on the plug in style dimmer switches. The temp in her warm hide is currently 92.7 and ambient temp in middle of the tank is currently 84.5. I use an Acu-rite indoor outdoor thermometer with the probe buried right over the UTH, and I mounted the unit on the back wall of the tank in the middle approx 1/2" above substrate using a few dabs of silicone on the back around the edges so I can cut it out for cleaning. The wire is buried under multiple inches of coco fiber so there is no chance of her 'digging' it up and the probe is secured with a built up dab of silicone as well with about 1"-1 1/2" packed coco fiber under that hide. The unit also has a hygrometer which is currently reading 58%

[RichsBallPythons]

Having bowel movements like that with half digested rodents is just as bad as a regurge.

Which is why you need a new vet. Any good vet would of given flagyl as its cheap and does wonders for snakes.

[dr del]

Hi,

I know they aren't normal this is why I got worried in the first place, I am just glad to see that she isn't regurging. I haven't lowered my guard with the situation yet just a bit relieved to see it was a BM instead of regurge. I did pick up a nice digital scale to keep track of her weight. How often should I weigh her? Is once a week good?

I use a UTH on the warm side and a red light to bring up ambient air temp, both of these are on the plug in style dimmer switches. The temp in her warm hide is currently 92.7 and ambient temp in middle of the tank is currently 84.5. I use an Acu-rite indoor outdoor thermometer with the probe buried right over the UTH, and I mounted the unit on the back wall of the tank in the middle approx 1/2" above substrate using a few dabs of silicone on the back around the edges so I can cut it out for cleaning. The wire is buried under multiple inches of coco fiber so there is no chance of her 'digging' it up and the probe is secured with a built up dab of silicone as well with about 1"-1 1/2" packed coco fiber under that hide. The unit also has a hygrometer which is currently reading 58%

We might be getting somewhere ( or not ) but can you take a temp reading on top of that packed down substrate inside the warm end hide?

Low temps would cause the snake to have problems digesting and that is a lot of substrate between the heater and the snake.

I know they can burrow down but packed down coco-fibre might be a little trickier.


dr del

[Twiz]

Hi,



We might be getting somewhere ( or not ) but can you take a temp reading on top of that packed down substrate inside the warm end hide?

Low temps would cause the snake to have problems digesting and that is a lot of substrate between the heater and the snake.

I know they can burrow down but packed down coco-fibre might be a little trickier.


dr del

I'd need to borrow my brothers temp gun for surface temp in the hide. The probe isn't directly on the tank bottom I 'stacked' silicone there it sits about 1/2" above the glass and is about half an inch below the substrate surface. So my guess would be that the temp in the burrow is gonna be a pretty close but not exact. In the mean time I think I have a digital medical thermometer I can probe it just below the surface to get a better idea of the temp loss through the substrate. Shes currently in there right now though so I'll wait till later when she comes out to explore or switch hides. She does seem to prefer her cool hide directly after her feeding but I haven't kept track of time spent in each one when she switches. When she feeds again I will try to clock time spent in each hide and see if maybe shes spending too much time on the cooler side

Snakes CANT digest fur period. But those pictures is not a bowel movement of just fur.

Flagyl is not a med that they build resistance to. Its a med used to kill internal parasites and helps snakes digest food better with the added bonus of better feeding response. Few dosings will help this snake over time.

Like i said get a better vet

I found 2 other 'exotic' vets in my area but found no one who deals exclusively with reptiles. I called both of the others and explained whats going on and neither of them where of much help either, I was told to "soak her and monitor her weight". So I called back the vet she saw and we had a little conversation about Flagyl and what I witnessed last night. She agrees that this isn't normal and that since it's persisting she will give me a prescription for the Flagyl. I am unable to go back there until Monday as I will be out of state tomorrow and they are closed on Sunday.

So before I just go and get these meds or have her give my snake meds I would like to know your experiences with this particular drug so I know that she is getting it right. Like what dosage would you expect to be given to a 210g BP? How often is the medication given? How many doses are usually required? Are there possible generics I may be given instead? Is it possible to to give the medication through a regular feeding by putting it in a mouse? What is the least stressful way to give this stuff to her? Are there possible side effects or reactions I should be aware of? How much should this cost? Sorry about all these questions but I have no experience with this drug and I'm not even big on medicating myself unless I'm in a hospital.

I will skip her feeding this Sunday as to not cause a possible regurge when medication is given. I will be asking these questions to the vet too and discuss what I hope to learn from your experiences with her as well if I feel something isn't right. My search continues for a reptile specific vet that is close enough within reason. If anyone knows a trusted vet north of Atlanta GA (Cumming, Buford, Gainesville, Lawrenceville areas preferred) referrals are welcome. I am willing to travel to Atlanta if the vet is highly recommended.

Thanks again

[RichsBallPythons]

I found 2 other 'exotic' vets in my area but found no one who deals exclusively with reptiles. I called both of the others and explained whats going on and neither of them where of much help either, I was told to "soak her and monitor her weight". So I called back the vet she saw and we had a little conversation about Flagyl and what I witnessed last night. She agrees that this isn't normal and that since it's persisting she will give me a prescription for the Flagyl. I am unable to go back there until Monday as I will be out of state tomorrow and they are closed on Sunday.

So before I just go and get these meds or have her give my snake meds I would like to know your experiences with this particular drug so I know that she is getting it right. Like what dosage would you expect to be given to a 210g BP? How often is the medication given? How many doses are usually required? Are there possible generics I may be given instead? Is it possible to to give the medication through a regular feeding by putting it in a mouse? What is the least stressful way to give this stuff to her? Are there possible side effects or reactions I should be aware of? How much should this cost? Sorry about all these questions but I have no experience with this drug and I'm not even big on medicating myself unless I'm in a hospital.

I will skip her feeding this Sunday as to not cause a possible regurge when medication is given. I will be asking these questions to the vet too and discuss what I hope to learn from your experiences with her as well if I feel something isn't right. My search continues for a reptile specific vet that is close enough within reason. If anyone knows a trusted vet north of Atlanta GA (Cumming, Buford, Gainesville, Lawrenceville areas preferred) referrals are welcome. I am willing to travel to Atlanta if the vet is highly recommended.

Thanks again

A good herp vet will answer ALL those questions for you while there. Ive used it many times when I worked fro BHB. When there the Flagyl was administered with each feeding for 3 feedings. Dosing it on the rodent enough to cover the rodents head and offer it. Of course if using frozen rodents. By doing just the head of the rodent, it gave the snake just enough to settle the digestion system down.

Other wise its given orally and dosages depend on the mixture the vet has on hand.