Reptile & Amphibian Forums

well... as you most know, my ball python wouldnt eat for 4 months. I now feed her at night and she is eating rats. I havent actually seen her eat it because I leave the room and come back and its gone... there is no possible way the rat could get out... NO WAY! so... I was wondering ... the only way to fully know is for my snake to deficate. But because it didnt eat for 4 months... and it has now eaten 2 mice and 2 rats... how long should it take for it to deficate... It has "gone pee" if you want to call it.. the white and yellow stuff. but not an actual poo. How long will it take for her to shed as well?

Typically the snake will poop about 3-4 days after it is fed again. Ball pythons can fast for long periods of time if they are healthy.

How often they shed really depends on how old the ball is. A full grown adult won't shed as much as a growing hatchling. Young ball pythons fed once a week on appropriately sized prey items (prey item should have the same girth size as the thickest part of the ball python) or two smaller sized items. While growing (espeically in the first 2 - 3 years of life) a shed once a month or once every other month is about normal. The fact yours fasted for a month, it may not shed for another month, depending on how consistant it eats from now on.

Hey phaldy. well my snake hasnt pooed yet and he has eaten 4 times.. I'm going to soak her in some warm water so see if she is constipated or not. It has been about 2 weeks. She's lookin a little duller than usual so I think she might shed in a couple weeks. Hopefully ! then I can get her back on a regular schedule! Thanks for all you help and knowledge!

You should be able to feel the feces near the vent area of the body, if really hard, she may be impacted but I will wait till after her shed before rushing her to a vet, unless she is showing signs of distress, stops eaten etc. Snakes often will 'vent' when they shed as well.