Ball Python Vomit

[dsbarnet]

Hello I know this has been done before and I have read multiple threads but wanted to post my own situation as I am a new bp owner and I am freaking out.

Some background info. I bought my ball python two weeks ago from this coming Wednesday. I don't know her exact date of hatching but the breeder told me she is approximately 5 to 6 weeks old. Last time I weighed her after she had a bowel movement she was around 112g but I don't know her length. Temperatures in her environment change throughout the day in tiny amounts due to my house temperature fluctuating. Her hotspot goes from around 89F to 92F/93F and her cool spot is usually around 75F to 78F/79F. Humidity fluctuates a lot since shes in a glass cage with a screen top but I have been able to keep it in the 50-60% range the majority of the time. She has three different hides in a 20 gallon tank one on each side and one in the middle as well as a good sized water bowl which I change every day or every other day.

But back to what I am really here for. After letting her settle in she was ready to feed. I fed her two small adult mouse that equaled to the 10%-15% of her body weight that I have read about on here. She ate them perfectly fine no problems. I waited about 5 days and fed her two more also equaling 10%-15% of her body weight. However, about 2 to 3 days after the second feeding I came home from work and noticed that she had vomited what I believe was only one of the two mice. It was hard to tell. There was definitely one mouse, but there was also a large dark mass attached to the mouse (was it the second mouse? I have no idea). She had also had her first bowel movement since she was with me as well expelling urates and urine as she should be.

As far as behavior or health changes go that I can see on the outside, everything seems fine. She hasn't really changed at all. She usually hides away and stays inactive all day, she may move around a little but I try to stay out of my room as much as possible so that she doesn't become stressed. During the night she is somewhat active, she will roam around her cage for a short period of time before going back into her hide and poking her head out at the end of the hide as if she is waiting for food.

So does this seem like she vomited due to internal health problems? Could it have been overfeeding? I am curious as to what you guys have to say. I have looked up a veterinarian that is supposed to be good with reptiles about an hour from where I go to school in case it comes to that. I have a picture of the expelled mouse if anyone wishes to see.

I apologize for the long post. I love my ball python already and I only recently got her so this whole situation has raised my levels of stress tremendously.

[ckuhn003]

From a new owners perspective, that seems a like a lot to feed a young snake. To feed every 5 days as well as two small mice seems pretty aggressive. I have a 200 gram BP and plan to feed him one med F/T mouse every 7 days.

[dsbarnet]

It may be. I was curious if it could have been an overfeeding issue. I have read so many different feeding strategies while doing research.

[tttaylorrr]

place a towel or tape down saran wrap/tinfoil to the outside of the mesh top to trap humidity.

a regurgitation usually happens from temps being too cold or something spooking the snake, making them lose their meal to "get away." there's a possibility of something internal going on, but if she ate previously with no issues then my guess is her husbandry.

my newest addition is 90g and only eats one small mouse and it leaves a nice lump. why are you feeding two?

75° is almost too cool for the enclosure; i never let my ambient temps drop below 77° and i usually keep it at 80°. where/what side of the enclosure did you find the regurge?

for the time being: give the snake a week (minimum) to relax and feel better. no handling, no food, and only enter the enclosure for necessary maintenance (poop/pee, water changes).

[StillBP]

Well I would recommend putting the picture up. And the vet trip if needed.. It's never good when a snake regurges. Also I would recommend feeding one prey item over two. If she's eating two adult mice feed her one smaller rat

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[dsbarnet]

place a towel or tape down saran wrap/tinfoil to the outside of the mesh top to trap humidity.

a regurgitation usually happens from temps being too cold or something spooking the snake, making them lose their meal to "get away." there's a possibility of something internal going on, but if she ate previously with no issues then my guess is her husbandry.

my newest addition is 90g and only eats one small mouse and it leaves a nice lump. why are you feeding two?

75° is almost too cool for the enclosure; i never let my ambient temps drop below 77° and i usually keep it at 80°. where/what side of the enclosure did you find the regurge?

for the time being: give the snake a week (minimum) to relax and feel better. no handling, no food, and only enter the enclosure for necessary maintenance (poop/pee, water changes).

I found it in the middle of the cage in her water bowl. I think she had done it somewhere around 5 to 6 pm shortly after I left for work. The cool side temp I spoke of was belly temp according to the infrared temp gun I use. The ambient temp is usually around 80. From other situations I have read about leaving her for a while before eating is what I figured I should do along with only feeding her one mouse. After that if she vomited again I figured it would be time for a trip to the vet

[Stewart_Reptiles]

First and foremost since your BP regurgitated do not feed again for 2 weeks, it's very important.

Second possible causes.

Temps too low not allowing digestion
Stress
Internal parasites

If the animal regurgitate again in two weeks take the animal to a vet and have a fecal done.

[tttaylorrr]

I found it in the middle of the cage in her water bowl. I think she had done it somewhere around 5 to 6 pm shortly after I left for work. The cool side temp I spoke of was belly temp according to the infrared temp gun I use. The ambient temp is usually around 80. From other situations I have read about leaving her for a while before eating is what I figured I should do along with only feeding her one mouse. After that if she vomited again I figured it would be time for a trip to the vet

IMO 75° anywhere in the enclosure is too cool. i'd recommend bumping that up to about 80°.

i've had a regurge before due to husbandry issues, but i've never had one since. i'd wait her out for a week (Deborah says 2 weeks, so that's what you do), offer only ONE prey item and see how it goes. keep an eye on her; if you see anything out of the ordinary i'd get her to a vet.

[dsbarnet]

IMO 75° anywhere in the enclosure is too cool. i'd recommend bumping that up to about 80°.

i've had a regurge before due to husbandry issues, but i've never had one since. i'd wait her out for a week, offer only ONE prey item and see how it goes. keep an eye on her; if you see anything out of the ordinary i'd get her to a vet.

Is the wait time until her next feeding the time from the regurg or the time from the last feeding?

[tttaylorrr]

Is the wait time until her next feeding the time from the regurg or the time from the last feeding?

from the regurge. also wait two weeks, not one. Deborah has waaaay more experience than me, so take her advice.