How soon after a regurgitation can I handle my snake?

[LivingwithBalls]

Didn't you say in another thread that you had handled him for 30 minutes prior to the regurge? (correct me if I'm wrong) That's a pretty long time and could be stressful. I'd personally recommend not handling for so long at once even after you start handling again, but that can really stress out a snake especially if it's prone to being a bit nervous or jumpy.
Like everyone else has said though, you can't tell what exactly caused the regurge, so you have to use the process of elimination (in this case, eliminating handling/husbandry stress) to figure out what caused it.

Oh and btw, yes it was 30 minutes. I know some are against handling for long amounts of time, but this is our usual handling session. He's an extremely relaxed snake. With lots of research I have concluded that as long as the snake does not seem stressed or agitated, I can handle him for as long and as much as I want. When I do handle him he usually explores a bit and then settles down for a nap either on my lap, my chest or wrapped around my arm.


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[DVirginiana]

Oh and btw, yes it was 30 minutes. I know some are against handling for long amounts of time, but this is our usual handling session. He's an extremely relaxed snake. With lots of research I have concluded that as long as the snake does not seem stressed or agitated, I can handle him for as long and as much as I want. When I do handle him he usually explores a bit and then settles down for a nap either on my lap, my chest or wrapped around my arm.


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What research? I would like to see the articles. Not trying to copy-cat or make fun of your earlier posts, but it seems like you're holding everyone else's information (most of which is borne from experience, not reading articles) to a different standard than your own...

Also... Regurging IS A STRESS BEHAVIOR.

[LivingwithBalls]

What research? I would like to see the articles. Not trying to copy-cat or make fun of your earlier posts, but it seems like you're holding everyone else's information (most of which is borne from experience, not reading articles) to a different standard than your own...

Also... Regurging IS A STRESS BEHAVIOR.

Ok, Here's a few knowledgeable websites I like to use and I will get more for you in a bit:
Strictlyballs.ca
Reptileknowledge.com
Anaspid.org


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[Skiploder]

Ok, Here's a few knowledgeable websites I like to use and I will get more for you in a bit:
Strictlyballs.ca
Reptileknowledge.com
Anaspid.org


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Anapsid?

No.

A couple of things:

Regurging is different than vomiting. Vomiting involves digestion, regurgitation does not. This is an important distinction when trying to diagnose what is wrong with your snake. A regurge is a less traumatic event.

Regurges are often caused by the snake reacting to a stressful situation....ie: a snake divesting itself of a recently consumed meal if a fight or flight instinct is triggered.

Vomiting happens when the prey is undergoing digestion...maybe a day or so into the process. The causes of this may be varied - from actual illness to improper husbandry practices. The biological imperatives of regurging and vomiting are vastly different. Regurges are of little physical consequence to the snake and provide an advantage when dealing with fight or flight situations. Vomiting is a physically traumatic event and is triggered by the inability to physically digest a meal... either because of reduced biological function or a physical issue with the animal.

As for the meal being too large....I don't think so. Balls can consume some very large prey with respect to the percentage of their body weight. It is a common misconception with a grain of truth that you can feed them too large a meal to digest. Balls can and sometimes do ingest meals that they cannot digest, but the meal you described was about 19% of his body weight...well within his wheel house.

What's wrong with your snake? I don't know. Add some Benebac to his water, wait at least two weeks and try feeding him a prey item that is about 8 to 10 percent of his body weight. Keep his stress levels low and make sure your husbandry parameters are spot on. If he cannot handle the next meal, then there are a whole host of issues that could cause it. A qualified reptile vet should be consulted at that point.

[bcr229]

Add some Benebac to his water, wait at least two weeks and try feeding him a prey item that is about 8 to 10 percent of his body weight. Keep his stress levels low and make sure your husbandry parameters are spot on. If he cannot handle the next meal, then there are a whole host of issues that could cause it. A qualified reptile vet should be consulted at that point.

BeneBAC/NutriBAC: http://beanfarm.com/product_info.php...oducts_id=5933

It's supposed to be added to the water but I'll dust a bit on a damp feeder as well. It's a probiotic that helps reptiles replenish their gut flora after a regurge.

[LivingwithBalls]

BeneBAC/NutriBAC: http://beanfarm.com/product_info.php...oducts_id=5933

It's supposed to be added to the water but I'll dust a bit on a damp feeder as well. It's a probiotic that helps reptiles replenish their gut flora after a regurge.

Thanks I will look into it.


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