Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi all - my first post, and no good news

I have a juvie male BRB, he's about 6 months old I believe. He is my first reptile and was a gift from a guy I dated, but I am absolutely in love with him (the snake, that is!).
Everything's been great so far - I have him in a large clear plastic container with drilled air holes and concrete blocks on top, with a heat lamp shining through from above the lid. I keep the temp at around 80 or 85 on the warm end, and the humidity between 70% - 80%. I try to feed him every two weeks (he is up to an adult mouse now) but don't stay on as a consistent schedule as I should, because I am a student at a small college and mice are not always in ready supply.

The last feeding was attempted I think the first week of April, and he didn't eat - (I still maintain that's because when we euthanized the mouse with dry ice, it was left in there a little too long and so felt too cold to be "food" - but I tried again April 15th and he went right for it and scarfed the mouse down. He hasn't pooped it out yet, though, almost two weeks later, which is unusual, and has gotten very dull and grumpier than ever before. I'm not expecting a shed yet, because this most recent mouse has been his only meal since his last shed. He has been dull and grumpy about four or five days - I haven't even tried handling him for fear of irritating or provoking him.

Any advice to offer? I read that snakes don't always poop after eating, sometimes they store waste for two or three meals, and he could just be shedding again and having a rough time of it, but I am an over-anxious mama and just want to make sure he's ok!

Thanks everyone

Welcome to the forum, first of all.

Hopefully it's nothing serious, and imo it doesn't sound
all that bad.

When was his last shed? Did he have any trouble shedding before?

Thanks,
Ed

>>Hi all - my first post, and no good news
>>
>>I have a juvie male BRB, he's about 6 months old I believe. He is my first reptile and was a gift from a guy I dated, but I am absolutely in love with him (the snake, that is!).
>>Everything's been great so far - I have him in a large clear plastic container with drilled air holes and concrete blocks on top, with a heat lamp shining through from above the lid. I keep the temp at around 80 or 85 on the warm end, and the humidity between 70% - 80%. I try to feed him every two weeks (he is up to an adult mouse now) but don't stay on as a consistent schedule as I should, because I am a student at a small college and mice are not always in ready supply.
>>
>>The last feeding was attempted I think the first week of April, and he didn't eat - (I still maintain that's because when we euthanized the mouse with dry ice, it was left in there a little too long and so felt too cold to be "food" - but I tried again April 15th and he went right for it and scarfed the mouse down. He hasn't pooped it out yet, though, almost two weeks later, which is unusual, and has gotten very dull and grumpier than ever before. I'm not expecting a shed yet, because this most recent mouse has been his only meal since his last shed. He has been dull and grumpy about four or five days - I haven't even tried handling him for fear of irritating or provoking him.
>>
>>Any advice to offer? I read that snakes don't always poop after eating, sometimes they store waste for two or three meals, and he could just be shedding again and having a rough time of it, but I am an over-anxious mama and just want to make sure he's ok!
>>
>>Thanks everyone

Thank you

His last shed (only his second ever) was exactly a month ago, and it was a beautiful shed - came off in two pieces, one almost the entire length of his body. No problems at all - I was surprised how quickly it happened, compared with his first shed which seemed to drag on forever.
Is there any other reason (sickness or stress), that you know of, for BRBs to get so dull besides going into shedding?
Thanks so much!
Becca

Becca,
...The length of time between shed cycles is highly variable. If healthy and not eating too much and not growing much adults can go three months or so between sheds. Young ones that are eating and growing will shed more often. Shedding as often as every 20 days for a rapidly growing little BRB is okay. If they are sick or have an injury they can go into a shed cycle earlier than they normally would. I do not think there is anything wrong with your snake. When they are opaque they are especially susceptible to stress. Stress can cause them to not feed. Some will eat when opaque and some will skip meals at that time. I do think you should get rid of the light on the cage. These snakes are nocturnal and very secretive. Too much light will stress them. Things to consider when they do not eat.
1. They will feed more agressively at night with no disturbance.
2. They will eat a live mouse more readily than a dead one.
3. Their favorite food seems to be live mice that are large enough to run around.
4. If feeding dead prey it will get a better response if it is fresh and also very warm.
Jeff

>>Thank you
>>
>>His last shed (only his second ever) was exactly a month ago, and it was a beautiful shed - came off in two pieces, one almost the entire length of his body. No problems at all - I was surprised how quickly it happened, compared with his first shed which seemed to drag on forever.
>>Is there any other reason (sickness or stress), that you know of, for BRBs to get so dull besides going into shedding?
>>Thanks so much!
>>Becca

First off, welcome to the forum, if you hang around you'll find this to be one of the best forums anywhere!!!!

Nothing glaring sticks out in anything you described. I'd prefer a UTH on a dimmer over a heat lamp. How many holes, what size and what size container. One common mistake is over-ventilating BRB cages. They simply do not need as much "fresh" air as most people think. More important is the humidity.

If dulling out, does sound like a shed cycle coming on. Not necessarily based on feedings/growth. Can be triggered by stress or hormonal changes but yours is to young for hormonal changes.

How are the eyes, any signs of opaque?

Here's a link to my [yrl=http://rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com/Care Sheet Brazilian Rainbow Boa humidity.htm]humidity caresheet[/url], some good info there since BRB's do require high humidity.
-----
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

Thanks, Dave.

There are only 8 small holes in his tank, smaller than a pencil diameter - I doubt humidity is the problem, as my gauge says it's at 80% and I can see the condensation on the sides of the container.
Pardon my ignorance but what is a UTH? I currently have a heating pad under one side of his tank (just your run-of-the-mill athletic heating pad) and the lamp I have over the lid is just a regular light bulb, I think 60 watt.
I lifted Radio for a few seconds this morning with a snake stick (don't want to irritate him, as he's bitten people when handled prior to a shed in the past) and didn't see a noticeable lump - is it safe to assume he's digested the mouse, and just hasn't passed it?

Thanks so much for all your help,
Becca

np,

Yeah, condensation is a good sign of adequate humidity.

UTH = Under Tank Heater. Typically used to describe a stick on heat element but your sport pad under the tank is functioning the same.

I see it quite often when a shed is due they hold onto feces and/or urates and defecate/urate/shed at give or take the same time.

Since it's been a month since last shed and looking opaque, attempting feeding could go either way, many of mine will continue to eat while others will refuse food. Since I have many to feed I offer to all and those that choose not to eat have their dinner passed on to the next in line.
-----
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