Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi all,

My Blood hasn't pooped in at least 3-4 months ... I can feel hard balls of poo in the latter half of his body. They are very hard. Is this something to worry about? I know that they don't go that often, but I'm beginning to get worried. Does soaking help this or is that a myth?

Thanks!
Joel
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0.1 Ball Python
0.1 Corn Snake
1.0 Leopard Gecko
0.0.1 Blood Python

I only have one blood python that I've had since November, but she's only pooped once in that amount of time. Four months until the first big dump happened.

I started to stress about the lack of pooping also--my ball python poops every week when she's eating.

If your snake seems to be eating and drinking on a regular basis, the poop will come eventually. You won't believe they can get out what ends up coming out. It as huge and very firm, but also not bone dry.

Getting enough water in your snake helps. Others say that soaking is important, but I've gotta think drinking is probably key. I'm sure some amount of water passively absorbs into their skin.

Good luck, and try not to worry too much.

A warm bath does work. Not sure why it triggers a reaction, but it does. Run about 3-4 inches of warm, maybe 85 degree, water in the tub and let it soak in there for fifteen or twenty minutes. Longer if it isn't trying to escape the tub . If there is something in there this should loosen it and cause it to be expelled. I don't own Bloods, yet, but this seems to work with most reptiles that will tolerate a good soak. Good luck.

Quig
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Don't interupt me when I'm talkin' to myself

Anyone who has bloods can tell you that they do defecate infrequently. Mine do so about once a month on average, and others I have had in the past went several months. One thing that helps is changing drinking water frequently as bloods need more water than most other boids, and seem to prefer fresher water. If this blood has been eating regularly and has gone close to 4 months without defecating, it would not hurt to try and initiate something.

Quig was on the right track. The best method is to soak them, but it needs to be long enough to be effective. Find an opaque plastic container, with lid, that gives it plenty of space and fill it with luke warm water (under 90 F) to a depth of 3 times the thickness of the snake and leave several inches of space below the top edge of the container. Cover the top with the plastic lid so the snake can't get out, and have a few holes in the lid for air. Let the snake soak for at least 8 to 12 hours. It usually takes this prolonged period to be effective. Also, make sure that you place the container in an area where the water will not cool below 75 F.

Kelly

Kelly,I knew it worked on Balls, burms and rocks so I figured it hadda work on bloods . I didn't realize it could take hours to be effective with bloods though. Thanks, ya learn somethin' new every day.

Quig
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Don't interupt me when I'm talkin' to myself

I'm soaking 2 bloods and one carpet 8 to 12 hours a day but not for this reason..I'm soaking for mite control and of course theres nothing safer than water..
Tim..