Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi everyone. This is my first post on here and I'm sorry to say that it's not a pleasant one. I have a normal red tail that is about 7 months old. For the last month she has regurgitated everything she takes down. This last time I gave her a the smallest adult mouse I could get and waited 2 weeks to feed her. I fed her on Sunday and she regurgitated that one up today (Tuesday). I do have her in the same tank as my equal age ball python. They have been together since I purchased them in August. Should I try separating the two and give it another couple of weeks? I don't really know where to go from here, and I don't want to lose her. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

GET THOSE SNAKES SEPARATE CAGES! NOW!

Your boa is stressed by being in a cage with another species of snake. Some people successfully house BOAS together, but having two very different snakes like a boa and ball python in the same cage is just ASKING for problems.

They will never be "friends". One might eat the other. At the very least, it's obvious that your boa is stressed in this situation.

Put your snakes into separate cages FIRST.

After you do this and wait a couple of weeks, try feeding a hopper mouse. Not an adult. You need to feed a much smaller meal than normal to a regurging snake.
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Lauren Madar
www.ophidiagems.com
1.1 Hog Island Boas
1.1 Hypo BCI
0.1 Sorong-type GTP
1.0 Normal Ball Python
1.1 Surinam BCC

First off....

Welcome to the forums.

Now to your problem. The first thing you need to do is to seperate your snakes. Boas should never be kept with other snakes. Not even another boa, unless it's breeding season. Yeah, I know that some people do, but it's a health issue. If you have one snake that gets sick you'll have more than one sick snake if they're housed together.

Next you should check your temps. I like to keep ambient temps, air temps, at 82 degrees. I have a warm spot, floor temp, that stays between 87 and 92 degrees. The cool end of the cage, floor temp, is about 75 degrees. This does just fine for my boas. Some boas like it cooler and others like it hotter. You need to see what your boas like best.

Make sure you have proper humidity. For that all you really need to do is to mist your boa with water or simply have a water bowl large enough for it to soak in.

Now..... Why are you feeding "adult mice" to your boa??? If it's having a regurge problem you should give it something that's "easier to digest". A pinky or fuzzy rat would be better than an adult mouse.

What are your cage temps?? If the temp is too cool or too hot it could cause a regurge. Check your cage temps.

How soon after feeding do you handle your boa?? I like to give my boas 4 days to digest before handling them. Most people say 48 hours. In your boas case..... I'd say you can't hold it until it starts keeping food down regularly. OK, you can pick it up to clean the cage, but that's it.

Now I'm hoping your snake isn't sick, so...... Just give it a few weeks, 3. Then offer it a very small food item. Make sure the temps are good in the cage and don't handle it. If it regurges again..... TAKE IT TO THE VET.

Thanks for all of your help.
My cage temp is 88 on the hot side and about 75 on the cool. I do mist all of my snakes a couple of times a day with water. They all also have large water bowls to soak in if they wish. I haven't handled her at all except for cage cleaning for the last few weeks. I will separate her today and wait at least two weeks before I try to feed her again. I will only feed her a fuzzy and see how that goes. Thanks again.

Please let us know how she does! Regurging has got to be scary to deal with.
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Lauren Madar
www.ophidiagems.com
1.1 Hog Island Boas
1.1 Hypo BCI
0.1 Sorong-type GTP
1.0 Normal Ball Python
1.1 Surinam BCC

I definitely will. I have several reptiles and this is the only one that is has given me any issues. It is certainly scary for me with her. She is my baby.

and after .... (but Hopefully not)it pukes it up again
take it to the vet and get rid of the parasite load Im guessing to be in there. The issue of the two animals such as those housed together wouldnt be a primary concern IMO based on that many consecutive regurges.Granted its not advised or supported,but internet urban legends of extremely isolated cases have people freaked out.BTW did they come from a Pet Store or a Local Reptile Show ?

M/

>>Thanks for all of your help.
>>My cage temp is 88 on the hot side and about 75 on the cool. I do mist all of my snakes a couple of times a day with water. They all also have large water bowls to soak in if they wish. I haven't handled her at all except for cage cleaning for the last few weeks. I will separate her today and wait at least two weeks before I try to feed her again. I will only feed her a fuzzy and see how that goes. Thanks again.

I did buy both of these from a local pet store. They were both purchased at the same time and were housed together at the store aswell. All of my other animals were purchased at reptile expos or from a breeder. I did put my boa in her own enclosure earlier today (luckily I have some extra enclosures). Soon after I put her in there she drank for quite a while. She seems to be very calm as she always has. I'll keep everyone posted on how the next feeding attempt goes. Thanks again for everyone's help. It's greatly appreciated.

Jake

Everyone has pretty much covered what you should try as far as feeding...I did want to make sure you realized some of the potential problems of housing snakes together. Check this link...I think a picture is worth a thousand words

www.bobclark.com/bcforums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=20213&FORUM_ID=11&CAT_ID=1&Topic_Title=Can+I+house+my+Boa+and+my+Ball+Python+together%3F&Forum_Title=Picture+Forum

I hope that makes sense for you...good luck on getting your animal back on track
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Wow! That is incredible. I told my girlfriend that I separated the two of them and she was sad and thought that they would be lonely. I just explained to her that I would rather have two lonely healthy snakes than have stressed or possibly dead ones. I'm sure she will look at this thread and your post should certainly help ease her mind.

Thanks,
Jake

This is not what I would say is a "common" occourance, however, if it is a "possibility" why risk it...I am sure someone will argue that they have housed all of their animals together for many years and they are all feeding and doing well. Great for them...but just because it hasn't happened to them doesn't mean it won't. I would just be careful. I always keep mine separate. Just my opinion.
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I'm sure that's not common, but unbelievable to say the least. I have added a picture of my girl. Hopefully it works. My first attempt at adding a pic.

Good luck.
Also, I highly recommend the soaking thing. about 2 days after feeding a very small meal and within the 24 hours before you feed again. Also, pretty often in between as well. It's good for a lot of reasons. One is that if you can get them to urinate (or even defecate) in the water, it'll help them "hold the rest down.
Good luck!
Regurges suck!
Aaron