Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I own a 3 year old eastern indigo. She’s big and beautiful and has been a very healthy and active snake in the three years that I’ve had her (never a problem).

Two day ago, she made a gurgling sound and drooled a clear liquid that was almost as thin as water. It had a smell to it…but not particularly potent.

Today, I woke up to a nightmarish mess, almost gagging from the smell when I walked into her room. Apparently she had vomited the entire contents of her stomach (5 mice from a few days prior)…at least I hope it was her entire gut content as the pile of sludge seemed impossibly large. Indigo feces has nothing on this puke. It’s easily the worst smell I’ve ever suffered through. I spent the early part of the day scrubbing the cage down outside and washing her off (and both still carry faint trace). When I first got her out, she squirmed and wriggled and took off at her top slithering speed (which she rarely does).

Any ideas what might have caused this?

I know heat can cause regurgitation . . . but I don’t think her cage has been any hotter than normal. Her room gets a little above average room temperature, so I’m usually very conservative with her other heat sources and the heat wasn’t even on when she regurgitated.

The only real X-Factor in her care is her food. I fed her f/t mice from a store that I hadn’t purchased from before. Has anyone had any problems with bad food causing a snake to regurgitate?

I’m keeping a close eye on her and she hasn’t done anything else out of the ordinary today.

thanks,

Josh

Although you did not say how hot you keep your Indigo that just might be the problem.

I would watch her for a couple of days. Give her a week or so to re-supply her gut then try feeding a small Item (two mice) or one small rat.

I know you have had that snake for awhile. I remember when you got it. Surprised to see your post.

Over the years I have had other snake regurge but not any of my Indigos or Cribos. It is upsetting to see and smell any regurge.

Dan

Sometimes just a temporary spike in temps is enough to cause regurgitation. Whenever I have a snake regurgitate (a rare occurance) I'll usually take the contents to my vet to have it checked out (gross, yes, but it can be checked for parasites....one of our timbers regurged several times while in quarantine and we discovered a problem that was quickly remedied and the snake is now doing great). But, if that's not possible (and it probably isn't as you most likely disinfected everything right away), I would do the following:
- keep a close eye on temps (particularly cool side temps)
- fast the snake for at least 2-3 weeks and watch its behavior
- Feed only one mouse at the first feeding....wait 3-4 days, and if the mouse has passed, feed another one. Build the snake back up very slowly.
- There's always a possibility that your feeder animals may have had a problem. Frozen feeders can still harbor parasites.

Personally, I would run a stool sample to a vet and have it checked out just for peace of mind. It happens to all of us so just keep a close eye on temps, behavior, and future stools (and feed small meals for a while).

Rob

>>Although you did not say how hot you keep your Indigo that just might be the problem.
>>
>>I would watch her for a couple of days. Give her a week or so to re-supply her gut then try feeding a small Item (two mice) or one small rat.
>>
>>I know you have had that snake for awhile. I remember when you got it. Surprised to see your post.
>>
>>Over the years I have had other snake regurge but not any of my Indigos or Cribos. It is upsetting to see and smell any regurge.
>>
>>Dan
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Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, IL