Constipation - how long before I soak him?

[Neumann]

Greetings,

My yearling has never been regular ever since I switched him to rats. He's gone through a bunch of pups and yearling but never poo'd properly since the switch from mice. He drops urates fine, but I have yet to see a log in months. I've had fecals done and my husbandry is okay- He's in a Vision cage, temps are 80-83/90-93 basking of about 95. He eats fine, sheds fine, and has a great disposition in spite of the fact that he's only handled a couple times a week.

Last time I soaked him after two months and he cut loose fine. Well... It's been two months again and no log. Yesterday he dropped a large pile of urates and bit of clear liquid that smelled like cat pee. I've never seen that before, but I've been told it's not entirely uncommon. It's nasty though!

So... should I soak him again or wait this out until he drops a bomb? Ideas...suggestions... ???

[Adam_Wysocki]

Is he drinking? If you have to soak him to get him to move his bowels maybe he is not hydrated enough? Dehydration and constipation go hand in hand. What's your humidity inside of the enclosure? Does he have a full water bowl every day? Do you ever let it (the water bowl) get completely dry or too low for him to drink out of?

When was the last time he shed? Ball pythons will frequently deficate either during there sheds or shortly after. I would at least wait for 48 hours after his next shed if it has indeed been "months".

What's your feeding schedule? Too large and too frequent feedings can also cause blockages.

-adam

[Neumann]

Is he drinking? If you have to soak him to get him to move his bowels maybe he is not hydrated enough? Dehydration and constipation go hand in hand. What's your humidity inside of the enclosure? Does he have a full water bowl every day? Do you ever let it (the water bowl) get completely dry or too low for him to drink out of?

When was the last time he shed? Ball pythons will frequently deficate either during there sheds or shortly after. I would at least wait for 48 hours after his next shed if it has indeed been "months".

What's your feeding schedule? Too large and too frequent feedings can also cause blockages.

-adam

Thanks for the reply Adam,

Here's the stats for this guy:

He's 500g (err full)
Fed every 7-14 days one weaned rat (never refused food)
Last shed 5/6 (he's never had a poor shed and is growing)
He always has a clean, full water bowl- I've only seen him drink one time.
I mist daily to keep the humidity at 50-60%
He has two terracotta hides (thermoregulates between them frequently)
I use a Herpstat thermostat and Accurite Indoor/outddor themometer
I use a UTH on the warm end and ceramic heat bulb for cool.

He spends all his time in his hide(s) unless he's hungry, then he sticks his head and neck out, lurking for prey. He's pretty much a do-nothing kinda guy.

Regarding dehydration... The only thing I can think of is that his water bowl is not large enough for him to soak himself in very well. The water is only an inch or so deep and I've never seen him in there. Should I get him something he can submerge himself in?

This is driving me crazy...

-Jason

[Adam_Wysocki]

Ball pythons do not need to soak. I have 4 and 5 foot girls that only have a 4 inch diameter water dish and they shed and defecate just fine.

I would go with a water bowl that is deeper than 1 inch. Deeper water is much easier for a ball python to drink from than shallow. I like to use water bowls that are 4 inches in diameter and about as tall.

Is the humidity at 50-60% right before you mist or does it drop down very low in between mistings?

-adam

[Neumann]

Is the humidity at 50-60% right before you mist or does it drop down very low in between mistings?

Thanks again Adam,

I'll put a bigger dish in the cage ASAP.

The humidity drops some (to 48-50%), then I mist the cage and it and goes up to 65-70% for awhile before it stabalizes back down at around 55-60%.

He sheds about every six weeks so he should start his next shed cycle in another week or so. Shall I wait and see if he dificates with that shed or shall I soak him?

-Jason

[Adam_Wysocki]

You can soak him if you'd like, but if it were me, I'd wait a couple of days after his shed and see whats doin.

In 25 years, I've never had the need to soak a ball python for constipation.

-adam

[Neumann]

You can soak him if you'd like, but if it were me, I'd wait a couple of days after his shed and see whats doin.

In 25 years, I've never had the need to soak a ball python for constipation.

-adam

Thanks.

As per your experience, I'll just let him take care of his own buisiness. I'm guessing that he's fermenting a bomb in there, so I'm just waiting for the explosion... (Ack!!!)

Jason