Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am a new particpant to this forum but have been reading it for a couple of months. I just purchased an Argentine rainbow from Jeff Clark ( a beautiful animal ) we are very pleased. I have had the snake for less than a week but I set up the cage 2 weeks ago and have been able to maintain a constant temp of 76 and humidity at 80 . I chose to feed him when I fed our other snakes a couple of days ago. I used a fairly large hopper I thought might have been a little large for the snake. He ate it like a champ but swallowed it butt first. Today I went to check on him and he hag regurged the mouse.

Does anyone have any idea what might have caused it? The substrate in the cage is damp moss and smells like damp moss, could this be it? He did swallow wrong end first, is this it? Was the mouse too big? Or am I worrying over nothing? Should I be concerned?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated... I love this forum.

Do NOT feed it again soon.

I only emphasize this in case you did not already know.

I assume the temps/humidity are right for it(I only have BRB currently) so just let it rest and build up it's digestive system again.

I am not sure how long this normally takes for rainbows but for most colubrids it is one to three weeks depending on circumstances. Essentially you are waiting for it's stomache to build up the levels of enzymes/acids/bacteria that are necesary for it to properly digest a meal and thereby prevent triggering a second regurge. I'm not sure how common chronic regurgition syndrome is in rainbow boa's but I've kept colubrids that were known for it. Normal practice is to give it rest time of at least one normal feeding cycle to build up and then start it out on prey items one size smaller then it normally was eating. Then maintaining the smaller meals for several feedings before resuming normal sized meals.

As far as the cause I would suspect that it was still in shock from transport since you said you have had it for less then a week. The but first thing should not be a problem(most of my snakes eat but first). Moss substrate I am not sure about but feeding in a seperate container is always a option to avoid the issue.

Hopefully Jeff or one of the other regulars who is more knowledgeable then me will respond soon.

Good luck,
Sean.
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1.1 BRB
1.1 Triple Het TPRS's
0.1 Silver TPRS
1.1 Amel Bloodred Corns
0.1 Abbott Okeetee Corn
0.1 Blizzard Bloodred Corn
1.1 Thayeri Kingsnakes
0.1 Reeve's Turtle
0.2 Amstaff's
1.0 Pudytat

...that the reason it needs to rebuild the stomache flora is that most of it got expelled with the mouse. Anyways just forgot to mention that in the original response.

Keep us informed,

Sean.
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1.1 BRB
1.1 Triple Het TPRS's
0.1 Silver TPRS
1.1 Amel Bloodred Corns
0.1 Abbott Okeetee Corn
0.1 Blizzard Bloodred Corn
1.1 Thayeri Kingsnakes
0.1 Reeve's Turtle
0.2 Amstaff's
1.0 Pudytat

Todd,
....Too large a meal or swallowing the wrong way either one could be the cause of the regurge. Wait at least a week, two weeks would be better and try feeding a smaller meal. I was keeping him on paper towel substrate. There is the possibility that something in the substrate you are using may be the problem. Where did you get the moss and what kind of moss is it?
Jeff

>>I am a new particpant to this forum but have been reading it for a couple of months. I just purchased an Argentine rainbow from Jeff Clark ( a beautiful animal ) we are very pleased. I have had the snake for less than a week but I set up the cage 2 weeks ago and have been able to maintain a constant temp of 76 and humidity at 80 . I chose to feed him when I fed our other snakes a couple of days ago. I used a fairly large hopper I thought might have been a little large for the snake. He ate it like a champ but swallowed it butt first. Today I went to check on him and he hag regurged the mouse.
>>
>>Does anyone have any idea what might have caused it? The substrate in the cage is damp moss and smells like damp moss, could this be it? He did swallow wrong end first, is this it? Was the mouse too big? Or am I worrying over nothing? Should I be concerned?
>>
>>Any advice would be greatly appreciated... I love this forum.

hey Jeff, It is reptile moss from the pet store I soaked and dried twice. I am moving it to half the cage and going with tight weave carpet on other half, just in case.

I don't plan on feeding for at least 10 days. I will reassess then.

He doesn't seem to be the worse for wear. Almost like nothing happened.

T

What are the ideal temps for ARB's ?

just wondering aloud!

>>Todd,
>>....Too large a meal or swallowing the wrong way either one could be the cause of the regurge. Wait at least a week, two weeks would be better and try feeding a smaller meal. I was keeping him on paper towel substrate. There is the possibility that something in the substrate you are using may be the problem. Where did you get the moss and what kind of moss is it?
>>Jeff
>>
>>>>I am a new particpant to this forum but have been reading it for a couple of months. I just purchased an Argentine rainbow from Jeff Clark ( a beautiful animal ) we are very pleased. I have had the snake for less than a week but I set up the cage 2 weeks ago and have been able to maintain a constant temp of 76 and humidity at 80 . I chose to feed him when I fed our other snakes a couple of days ago. I used a fairly large hopper I thought might have been a little large for the snake. He ate it like a champ but swallowed it butt first. Today I went to check on him and he hag regurged the mouse.
>>>>
>>>>Does anyone have any idea what might have caused it? The substrate in the cage is damp moss and smells like damp moss, could this be it? He did swallow wrong end first, is this it? Was the mouse too big? Or am I worrying over nothing? Should I be concerned?
>>>>
>>>>Any advice would be greatly appreciated... I love this forum.
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Roberts Realm Of Reptile Research
=========================================================
Thanks,

I opened my mouth and out flowed a melody black.

Franks,
...My adults do well without me paying too much attention to temperature or humidity. They can tolerate warmer or cooler temps than BRBs and the same or lower humidity. Little ones seem to do best in the mid 70s temperature wise and 40 to 75% humidity.
...Final count on your BP clutch? Two pied or more than that?
Jeff

>>What are the ideal temps for ARB's ?
>>
>>just wondering aloud!
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>>>Todd,
>>>>....Too large a meal or swallowing the wrong way either one could be the cause of the regurge. Wait at least a week, two weeks would be better and try feeding a smaller meal. I was keeping him on paper towel substrate. There is the possibility that something in the substrate you are using may be the problem. Where did you get the moss and what kind of moss is it?
>>>>Jeff
>>>>
>>>>>>I am a new particpant to this forum but have been reading it for a couple of months. I just purchased an Argentine rainbow from Jeff Clark ( a beautiful animal ) we are very pleased. I have had the snake for less than a week but I set up the cage 2 weeks ago and have been able to maintain a constant temp of 76 and humidity at 80 . I chose to feed him when I fed our other snakes a couple of days ago. I used a fairly large hopper I thought might have been a little large for the snake. He ate it like a champ but swallowed it butt first. Today I went to check on him and he hag regurged the mouse.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Does anyone have any idea what might have caused it? The substrate in the cage is damp moss and smells like damp moss, could this be it? He did swallow wrong end first, is this it? Was the mouse too big? Or am I worrying over nothing? Should I be concerned?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Any advice would be greatly appreciated... I love this forum.
>>-----
>>=========================================================
>> Roberts Realm Of Reptile Research
>>=========================================================
>>Thanks,
>>
>>Frank Roberts
>>
>>
>>
>>I opened my mouth and out flowed a melody black.

>>...Final count on your BP clutch? Two pied or more than that?
>>Jeff

Jeff,

1 pied
2 pos het's with def pied markers
1 pos het with pos pied marker (need second opinions)
1 pos het absorbing yolk
1 still in slit egg
1 dead.

I am not a big believer in the "pied markers". Since it is not a 100 percent thing I think it's just a coincidental polygenic trait that runs in that anomalies genotype. Both my het's do have them though and so do some of the babies.
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=========================================================
Roberts Realm Of Reptile Research
=========================================================
Thanks,

I opened my mouth and out flowed a melody black.