Reptile & Amphibian Forums

What do you guys make of this messy poop from an adult Black Milk, female? She has been in brumation for 2.5 months and was taken out last week - refused food then and refused food yesterday, then did this messy poop. As a side note, she was gravid last fall, laid one slug and retained a small "mass" which has since gone away.

I would not be alarmed.. I have many snakes that are a bit wacky out of brumation.. Heat her up and try a small mouse or even a hopper as her first meal just to get her going.. then move up to nornal sized meals. Good luck and keep us posted on how it turns out. ~ Mike

First off good going as far as paying attention to somehting like this. I always pay attention to the first few poops after brumation, and sometimes the first one or two do not look or smell normal....or should I say they smell worse then they're supposed too. This as Mike mentioned...is not somehting to panic over quite yet, netiher is the snake not wanting to eat yet. My advice is keep the snake on newspaper so you can see what is going on easier, and be patient. Do not overheat the snake as a Black Milk won't appreciate it. My only concern is the remaining mass from last season. Have you ran your thumb down the snakes belly to check for any signs of remaining eggs or anything that feels solid in her? That is very important. If I had found something solid.,...I'd soak the snake for a long while in luke warm....barely warm at all really....water. Then if the snake defecates....keeping checking the snakes belly and see if what you felt earlier is no longer there. Hope this helps Tom Stevens