Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a female Eastern King. She is 3 years old. I stopped feeding her in late October for hibernation. I kept her at room temp. She lost very little if any weight. In January she either passed or regurgitated a viscous very dark red (nearly black) substance into the water bowl and newspaper. The water turned red and there was a substance stuck on the bottom that looked like fat. I pitched the water bowl and changed the substrate. A week later she produced some more on the paper. It had the consistency of molasses. I cleaned that up and she has been fine ever since. Then last week I gave her a FT mouse. She ate it. She digested fine. I noticed a little bit of the dark red stuff on the paper yesterday. I offered another mouse today. She looks outstanding and has good muscle tone and weight.
My thoughts have been mostly digested food passed due to cool temps. Internal injury from mice claws. I am mostly clueless. Any ideas?

Thanks,
Dan

Sounds to me like she defacated in the water bowl. Did you allow a two week period between her last feeding and the beginning of her cool down? If not she may have still had food in her system. It doesn't sound like anything major to worry about.
-Phil

I don't know what it is. It looks like digestion is ok. There was urates produced. The black stuff may be liquid when it comes out but it looks like it jells. I did not provide a gradual cooldown. I just keep them at room temp which is a bit cooler and light levels are decreased and I don't feed them or mess with them other than observation and keeping the water bowl in good shape. It is a little on the cool side. I don't think it is anything to worry about but its hard not to worry. She refused the mouse today. The male was kept in another room which is cooler. He is doing and eating great.

Dan