Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I gave a friend one of my ball pythons a few months back. I was feeding him small rats every week and he ate great. She has been feeding him 2 mice every 2 weeks. On Friday I picked up a small rat for her from the pet shop she uses. I thought it was a normal size compared to what I used to feed. He hit it fast and took it down easily. Today, Tuesday at 7am he regurgitated it. I have heard some bad things about the pet shop she uses and saw first hand baby mice being sold as feeders (at the price of adult feeder mice) with wet tail(a.k.a. diarrhea). Why do you think the snake regurgitated? Was the rat too big compared to the size he was eating recently? The rat did not look sick, but could that be the reason? Has anything like this ever happened to you? I know regurgitation is not the end of the world, but it is also not desirable. I would like to learn why this happened so it doesn't happen again. I also want to know if it was my fault, can he not go from small meals to big meals, or the pet shop's fault, sick feeders, or just a strange fluke. I'd appreciate any help you might have.
Rebecca

I may be wrong on this but don't feed her for another 2 weeks. I have heard that regurgitating a meal is really traumatic to the stomach and if you feed another mouse/rat any sooner it could cause some serious complications to your pet. I had a Texas Rat Snake (this was years ago when I had just started out so I didn't know that I could cause a problem doing this) and she regurgitated a meal. So I waited a few days and then fed her again and she ate. Then a few days later I found her, dead. She had been doing very well and growing like a weed up until then. Then I heard that feeding a snake right after it regurges could cause some problems and I couldn't help but think that I caused her to die. So, long story short, I wouldn't feed her for another 2 weeks and then give it a try. I am not a professional so I would see what other people say and if other people think I am wrong please say so. I'd like to know if what I heard was true or not.

That is correct , do not feed for two weeks then start with a smaller meal.I also had a ball regurgitate I also feed it to soon and she passed away. If you do not trust the feed from that store I would tell her to try and find another store.

I am glad to know that I was correct and I will never make the same mistake again. When I heard about that I couldn't help but feel like I had killed my own snake, it took me awhile to get over it but I learned from my mistake. In this hobby, there will always be times like that, whether an animal dies on you or you just strike out on a clutch you had been waiting on. You just can't go through it and never make a mistake.

So true. I was devastated when mine died I also felt that I killed it. Live and learn. That is what is nice about the forum someone else can benifit from your mistakes.

"Regurge" is a strange thing! Basically, reverse of the intake and digestive system! No one, or no thing, likes to do it! It can be caused by several different things! Too low temp, too big of meal, illness of snake, tainted food item or just because! Most of the time, it's too low temp or too big of item! The one thing people ignore, is the dehydration factor! Make sure that snake has a full water bowl and even mist it down a couple times a day! Wait 10 days to 2 weeks, make sure hot spot is sufficient and feed a smaller food item! It maybe a simple case of the snake getting used to mice and not being able to handle the rat after so long! I doubt if it's a tainted feeder! Stomach acids are incredibly strong! GOOD LUCK!