Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just bought an or.ghost pair.The female is fine & larger than the male.He gulped down 2 live hopper mice last nite.This morning they were regurgitated. How long should I wait to feed again.
I've never had this problem. I just got him on Tues. & fed on Sat. Was it too soon?
Any advice would help.
Thanks,
Beth

sounds like he was nervous i've been told if you hold them after they eat they puke or if they are in a enviroment that is threatening they will regurgitate their food back up

It is recommended that you wait 10 days to feed again. The snake has to re-establish the digestive stuff in its gut. When you feed the next meal, it needs to be a very small food item, something that would actually be considered small for the snake's size. This allows the gut to digest the item and continue building up its enzymes. Then wait another 7-10 days and feed another small item, then start to go back to a regular feeding schedule. This is, of course, if the snake has no other regurges. IF the snake should regurge again, then you will have to start all over again with waiting ten days and feeding very small prey items, but it may be best to have a vet check it out if this does happen to see if there may be something else causing it.

It is very possible that you overfed the snake for its first meal in its new home by giving it two prey items. It is usually best to start off any new snake on a smaller than normal prey item for its first meal(s) at its new home.

Best of luck.

I would also check your temps. If it's too hot they will regurge...

David

Many thanks to all, for the help! 2 hoppers was probably pushing it. I will wait a week & try a mouse fuzzie. The temp is 88 on the warm end. I put a hide in today so he'll feel secure, even though he's in a rack.
If it happens again, I'll take him to my vet.
Your input helped calm me down. I was really worried.
Thanx again,
Beth

Hey,

Try bumping temps up to 90-91 on the warm end. Babies usually need a little more heat.

Steve

Hey,

1. Has the baby had it's first shed yet? If not I wouldn't be feeding it yet

2. I would be VERY concerned about a regurge and try a pinky in about 10 days (if the baby has had it's first shed). If that goes well, try another pinky in 4-5 days and work your way up.

3. If a regurge happens again, bring the animal immediately to a good reptile vet. If you don't have one, ask around on here. I made the mistake of NOT going to my reptile vet once for a regurge and got pink children's liquid medicine...unbelievable

Why a vet? A regurge is a sign that the animal cannot digest the food item due to an internal parasite and needs treatment. Maybe it will cost you $150 to $200, but for a high end animal (or any, for that matter) it's worth it.

The baby may have been stressed or eaten too much, watch it's breathing for bubbles (RI) and make sure your temps are OK.

Good luck!

Steve Harrison
Jacksonville, FL

Hi Steve,
I don't know if he shed. Since i started payments 2 months ago, I assumed he had. He is alot smaller then the female.
I e-mailed the breeder this morning. I'm sure he'll have more answers then I do. It is a CH or. ghost. If the mother had parasites, do they transfer to the babies like in dogs?
I do have a great reptile vet & I'll pay whatever it takes to help this little guy.
I raised the temp a bit to hit 90. He's breathing fine & no sign of a RI.
I'm going to keep a close watch on him but not disturb him too much.
Thanks for your great suggestions Steve.
Beth

Hey,

A CH ghost is kind of rare- as far as parasite transfer, I'm not sure...I'm thinking I read somewhere that it doesn't occur but ask someone more knowledgeable on that than myself. If he's over 2 mo's old he's shed. What did the breeder say he was eating?

thanks,

Steve

I didn't ask what they were eating because mouse hoppers are what baby balls start with. I look at the widest part of their body & don't feed larger than that.I switch to F/T after a few live meals.
I should be getting a reply e-mail from the breeder soon. He's a great guy so I should be hearing from him shortly.
I'll re-post when he eats.
Thanks,
Beth

n/p

Wait a week and then only offer him one. Once he is eating them fine with no regurging up him to adult mice.
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Nita Hamilton
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Ball Pythons
ballpythonworld.com

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