POOP!!! corn snakes vs ball pythons

[SquamishSerpents]

So as some of you know I keep corns as well as ball pythons. among rainbow boas and a dumerils, even.

What I often wonder (mostly when i find a steamy pile) is WHY is corn snake poop so runny? And it always has those "ropes" among the brown.

Ball Pythons package it up so neatly, with a little rock of urates, and then an easy to clean log.

Do you think the ball pythons actually use more of what's going in, creating less waste in relation to their meal? Because it seems like corns poop a lot more of their meal out than a ball python does.

Is there any scientific explanation for this?

Just a random thing I wonder

[Scubaf250]

I would have to say that I have no scientific evidence to back up what im about to say but my rat snake I use to have went #2 a lot more often then my ball so im thinking that rats and corns are from the swampy South so there's probably more food running around for them to eat than the balls have access to in africa.

The rats don't need to use as much energy completely digesting their food because there's plenty but the balls might go a while between so they stretch it by digesting as much as they can? Lol

[SquamishSerpents]

you know, that could very well be it!

i'm interested to see what other theories people can come up with, but that does make sense indeed.

[bsavage]

I'm thinking maybe the fact that colubrids can often exist in temperately cooler areas and possibly as a result, the whole digestion process just works out differently. they would naturally have less access to heat then an equatorial snake like the ball python.

i know its not much of an answer, but it is something to think about

[Alexandra V]

Everyone else brought up some great points. It could also be that because corns are from the swampy areas they have a lot more water usually available to them in prey and in the environment than a ball python would, so corns maintain themselves at a much higher hydration level (if that makes sense) so they therefore poop with more water too.

[vettech1990]

Scubaf250 is on the right track, Colubrids are a very active snake and therefore have a higher metabolic rate than ball pythons, as balls are more of a reclusive snake and have plenty of time to digest their meals in the comfort of their termite mound or their rodent burrows. So basically corns burn off their meal alot faster than balls in comparison Track Star and Couch Potatoe , not apples to apples I know but its the best I can do . I hope this helps. All of you are basically right on as all of the above play a part in the reason.

[3skulls]

I would say it's a number of things.

They don't need as much humidity, I would think that is inside and out. So they don't retain as much liquid.

Food might be at a more steady rate and/or they are more on the move for food.

Temps are not as steady so the Kings, Rats, Corns would not want food in their gut as long.

All the above is just a guess.

[Andrew21]

Zombie thread!!!

I've always wanted to be the first to say that...

[SquamishSerpents]

Indeed it was a zombie thread, but I was entertained that it was resurrected again! Just so I could have a giggle at this line...

Ball Pythons package it up so neatly, with a little rock of urates, and then an easy to clean log.

[vettech1990]

I did a little more research and Colubrids do in fact have a more rapid metabolism , as to why it doesn't say . I think Zombie hit the nail on the head , I know he said it was just a guess but it seems like a very nice guess as it all makes plenty of sense . Nothing better than starting of the morning a little on the crappy side .