How soon after a regurgitation can I handle my snake?

[LivingwithBalls]

Should I wait a couple days or a few weeks?


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[Eric Alan]

Regurgitation is usually stress, husbandry, or illness related. Once you're completely sure you've eliminated improper husbandry from the equation, you can go on trying to identify the cause.

I wouldn't handle at all for at least a couple of weeks. At that time, you can feed again and then not handle for at least another week (to ensure regurgitation is not a repeat occurrence). If there is another regurgitation, then you've likely removed husbandry and stress (at least from handling) from the equation and it's time to see a qualified snake vet.

[200xth]

Two weeks.

Put him in his enclosure, make sure the temps and humidity are right, close it up and leave him alone for two weeks. Change the water as required, but otherwise, don't mess with him for the entire two weeks.

After two weeks, try feeding him a smaller than normal meal, and leave him alone again for a while after that.

[Eric Alan]

Two weeks.

Put him in his enclosure, make sure the temps and humidity are right, close it up and leave him alone for two weeks. Change the water as required, but otherwise, don't mess with him for the entire two weeks.

After two weeks, try feeding him a smaller than normal meal, and leave him alone again for a while after that.

Echo... Echo... Echo...

[grcforce327]

Hold it with your eyes only,that will cut down on regurging tremendously.

[LivingwithBalls]

Can I ask why I can't handle him? I mean I know he needs at least a few days to a week to recover, but I after that I don't see why I couldn't. I know the cause, it was just too big and the mouse was also in an awkward position so that may have caused a bit of an issue too.


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[Eric Alan]

Of course you can ask questions!

Did he tell you the reason for the regurgitation? If not, then you cannot be certain of the reason and it's best to take every precaution you can to stop it from happening again. Personally, I doubt that the 2 grams made any difference at all.

Snakes should not regurgitate their food. If they do, something isn't right and it's your job to figure out what - especially with a hatchling that's already fragile and prone to stress enough as it is. Again, I wouldn't handle him until after he's proven he can eat again (in a couple of weeks after his system recovers) without this happening again.

[Borgpython]

I agree with Eric. We simply do not know the cause for the regurgitation at this point so we must take every precaution to stop it from happening a second time, because if your snake regurgitates again a second time it might be fatal. Regurgitation has very negative effects on snakes, it makes them really ill and very stressed, so much that they will be too weak to eat the next time in some cases which is why its fatal sometimes. But right now I can imagine your snake is very stressed out, so handling before he/she calms down is not recommended at all, it will only do more damage. Leave the snake alone for 2 weeks and then offer food , if all precautions are taken everything should go well. Just make sure husbandry is spot on. Next time when feeding as well like I said, minimize ANY stress the snake might have before and after eating, so handling a day before eating is a not recommended and leave the snake to properly digest for 2 days after that , because if you fiddle around with it before then, it gets stressed and will regurgitate. Also if you are feeding frozen/thawed, make sure you completely defrost and warm up that prey item, if there are any ice particles left within the prey, this could also cause regurgitation, I usually blow dry the prey item before hand.

But the size of the prey shouldn't cause this really. If the snake was able to swallow it down, then its the size was no problem. Snake's will know if the prey item is too big and wont even attempt swallowing if they know they will only regurgitate it. Though I must admit in some cases some snakes are dumb enough to try it and they actually "rip" open, its pretty gruesome. But I dont think the size of the prey item was the cause.

[LivingwithBalls]

Of course you can ask questions!

Did he tell you the reason for the regurgitation? If not, then you cannot be certain of the reason and it's best to take every precaution you can to stop it from happening again. Personally, I doubt that the 2 grams made any difference at all.

Snakes should not regurgitate their food. If they do, something isn't right and it's your job to figure out what - especially with a hatchling that's already fragile and prone to stress enough as it is. Again, I wouldn't handle him until after he's proven he can eat again (in a couple of weeks after his system recovers) without this happening again.

Well, I've ruled out every other reason.
Temps: perfect.
Humidity: perfect.
Stress: I don't see any reason why he would be.
Handled too soon: nope, I waited 50 hours.
Illness: it's always a possibility.
Prey size: it was bigger than usual. It was really fat and weirdly shaped too.

The difference wasn't 2 grams, it was 7 grams bigger than the usual. Why would handling make it happen again?



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[LivingwithBalls]

I agree with Eric. We simply do not know the cause for the regurgitation at this point so we must take every precaution to stop it from happening a second time, because if your snake regurgitates again a second time it might be fatal. Regurgitation has very negative effects on snakes, it makes them really ill and very stressed, so much that they will be too weak to eat the next time in some cases which is why its fatal sometimes. But right now I can imagine your snake is very stressed out, so handling before he/she calms down is not recommended at all, it will only do more damage. Leave the snake alone for 2 weeks and then offer food , if all precautions are taken everything should go well. Just make sure husbandry is spot on. Next time when feeding as well like I said, minimize ANY stress the snake might have before and after eating, so handling a day before eating is a not recommended and leave the snake to properly digest for 2 days after that , because if you fiddle around with it before then, it gets stressed and will regurgitate. Also if you are feeding frozen/thawed, make sure you completely defrost and warm up that prey item, if there are any ice particles left within the prey, this could also cause regurgitation, I usually blow dry the prey item before hand.

But the size of the prey shouldn't cause this really. If the snake was able to swallow it down, then its the size was no problem. Snake's will know if the prey item is too big and wont even attempt swallowing if they know they will only regurgitate it. Though I must admit in some cases some snakes are dumb enough to try it and they actually "rip" open, its pretty gruesome. But I dont think the size of the prey item was the cause.

If the size wasn't the problem than what is?


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