Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So I found something worrisome in one of my snake's cage today. It was shaped like defecation, was kinda grey, and had an undigested mouse hand sticking out of it. He was fed 6 days ago, and the meal was on the big side, but not excessively so. Can they regurgitate after that many days or can they defecate undigested meals like that? When I picked it up to take it out of the cage, it broke in half very easily, not like an undigested mouse. It was just strange. Any insights?

I've seen random undigested parts before, should not be a big deal.
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
26.49 BRB
20.21 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

So, in your opinion, should I feed him tomorrow night (his schedule), or just wait till next week to be on the safe side? Thanks... I know I'm a worried new mom, but I'd rather ask way too many questions than have one of my guys sick and not notice! (This is one of Ann's boys... btw, and he's so red and gorgeous!)

Ann's offspring shouldn't have any regurg problems. But I always get a little nervous when people talk about regurg in the same sentence as the hypo gene. Just to be on the safe side, I recommend skipping the next feeding night and offering something small the next time.
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Mike Lockwood
www.tooscaley.com

He's outcrossed, so I don't think it's a genetic thing. I doubt he even regurgitated, I just prefer to ask if I don't know for sure about something. Either way, I don't need him to grow quick, since he's a male, so I have no reservations about skipping a meal just to be on the safe side. I also invested in a temp gun so I can be sure my husbandry is perfect, just in case my thermometer is poorly calibrated or something.

A regurg smells extremely bad - bad enough for most people to gag.

The large meal might have pushed out the previous meals a little too quick.
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Mike

7.13 BRB
1.2 Spotted Python
1.0 Cal. King

It had almost no smell. I highly doubt it was a regurg.

I agree with Mike - skip a week before feeding. Snakes can go a long time without eating. I think it is human nature to worry/care too much, and we all want our animals to eat on a regular basis.

Last week I had a regurg and I had to spray most of my house with air freshner once I opened the rack - as it sat a couple of days before I found it.
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Mike

7.13 BRB
1.2 Spotted Python
1.0 Cal. King

It was definitely a defecation, I found the other, more digested half, under a plant. I just didn't see it. *sigh of relief*

I will start feeding him a bit smaller meals from now on though. I prefer he digests his meals a bit better! So even though he's fine, I did learn something from all this worry... so thanks!

I saw a really good quote the other day. I can't remember it
word for word, but it was something like, "Ask a question and look dumb for 3 minutes; don't ask questions and look dumb for a lifetime." Besides, someone lurking/reading might have learned something.

Don't feel dumb!

Thanks,
Ed

>>It was definitely a defecation, I found the other, more digested half, under a plant. I just didn't see it. *sigh of relief*
>>
>>I will start feeding him a bit smaller meals from now on though. I prefer he digests his meals a bit better! So even though he's fine, I did learn something from all this worry... so thanks!

LOL... it was a good humored... smack yourself on the forehead and say D'oh! Kinda feeling. Made me laugh and sigh in relief. And those reasons are exactly why I'd rather ask than not. Thanks!