Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a 20 in BP since the middle of Nov. Got her when she was just a hatchling. She has been an amazing pet, excellent feed response (no regurg at all) feeding her once a week. Humidity perfect and warm side of cage stays 88-96 degrees and cool side 72-77 degrees. Large water bowl and hiding spaces on both hot and cool sides. Never a problem shedding or pooping (has a "movement" every 1 ans a half weeks. Until now. 4 weeks ago switched her from mice fuzzies to rat fuzzies. Gave her one a weeks for 3 weeks. Then I noticed no "passing" after 2 weeks. 2 weeks later and one skipped meal still no poop. I have soaked her in warm water, massaged her, cleaned her cage. She has zero (external) parasites I can see. Using Aspen for subsrtate and change the water dish every day. Housed in a 20L enclosure. In October I am going to house her in the 60"x24"x24" enclosure from ShowCase Cages. I don't know what else to do and the only vet that does herps in a 60 mile radius can't see her 4 another 7 days. She was VERY lethargic for about 3 days last week but seems to be getting back to normal "personality" wise but I don't want anything toxic resulting from what I think is an impaction. Internal parasites maybe? Any feed back would be great.

personally I wouldn't worry about it, espcially if the animal does not seem distressed.

I can tell you really care about the animal, but I think the amount of time that has passed falls well in the range of normal behavior. They aren't always super consistant in their timeing. I've had them go longer without a movement will no ill effects.

Thanks a lot. I do love her to death and this episode just kinda freaked me out. I'm going to get her to the vet anyway just for routine check up (hopeully have a stool sample by then) and just to make sure she is as healthy as I think she is.

Haha, yeah, don't worry. Mine regularly go several weeks between poops, and sometimes they only go a week between. Check out some other posts in the last few days. Not pooping seems to be a popular theme this week.

~jenny
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On a seance with one who died for science
This figure is sworn to and attested,
He counted them while being digested."
~Ogden Nash

jenny.thegreenes.org

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I had 2 hatchlings that didn't go on 2 different occasions for 3-4 weeks in between.I soaked , massage , and cleaned the cages(seems to always trigger defecation) .I was just about to take them to the Vet because they looked extremely uncomfortable . I was told sometimes urate stones can cause slight blockage and sometimes has to be removed by a vet . They finally defecated with a large piece of hardened urates as well alot of fluid . I thought for sure they were going to have problems , but they turned out fine . Sometimes it's ok to be a pecimest , then you are in good spirits when everything turns out ok rather then worry .hope it helps

Rich-OSC

Thanks for your help everybody. I'm going to taker her to the vet on Monday just for an overall check up anyway.

This probably has nothing to do with your specific problem but you might want to tighten up those temps. You shouldn't let the cool side fall below 75 and the hot side never needs to be above 86. If she is only 20" long now moving her to a 60" enclosure in Oct might stress her. I've never kept a ball in anything bigger than 36"X18"X12" myself. Try it out and if she seems stressed move her back until she is bigger. Other than that what everyone else said sounded good. In some ways balls are among the easiest snakes to keep, in other ways they are EXTREMELY stressful, especially when just starting out.
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I agree with everything you said and I too think the enclosure is way bigger than he/she needs at this point.

The only thing that I sometimes wonder about, do you really have to worry in a setup this large, if one end is alot colder than the other?

I think as long as there is an area that has a hot spot that is 85 or so, I think the snake is smart enough to stay out of the area that are too cold.

In the wild snakes will come out in the mornings to warm up on a rock in a hot spot where the sun is and wont stay in a cold burrow and die. What I am trying to say is the snakes are smart, the know how to thermo-regulate themselves. I dont think they will just lay down in a cold area and die if a hot spot is available.

Signed,

F. GUMP