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Quick question...

Orocosos Sep 14, 2008 12:58 PM

Zorro hasn't eaten in a while (over a month). I have offered her different F/T rats, and she investigates them and moves off. Temps are 75F on the cool side and 80F on the warm side. She defecated today, and the fecal material was very dark, almost black. The urates were normal in appearance. Other than not eating, her behavior hasn't changed at all. She is not congested, and her muscle tone is still good.

My question: are feces of this type normal when a snake hasn't eaten in about 6 weeks?

Thanks for responding.

Orocosos
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0.1 Banded California kingsnake - Zorro
1.0 Betta fish - Billy
0.0.3 White Cloud Fish
1.0 RES - Chopstick
0.1 Australian Shepherd - Jet
2.1 Domestic Shorthair Mix Cats - Robert Bob, Nimbus, & Pirate

Replies (4)

Orocosos Sep 15, 2008 12:51 AM

N/P

Joe Forks Sep 15, 2008 07:50 AM

>>My question: are feces of this type normal when a snake hasn't eaten in about 6 weeks?

It seems like a long time but not out of the question. It's easy to get a kingsnake to cr@p, just clean the cage.
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Herp Conservation Unlimited
Mexicana Group Directory
Photography by Joseph E. Forks

antelope Sep 15, 2008 09:16 AM

Haha, Joe! Orocosos, how big are the rats and how often were you feeding Zorro? If she is just able to eat the rat, maybe it is sustaining her longer than say, a couple mice per feeding. I have a 6 foot bull that eats two medium rats every ten days or so but will refuse more or more often rat meals, but throw in a live mouse anytime and it is ready for action. None of my cal kings are on rats, not saying don't, but a large mouse is a pretty good meal for a 4' snake that isn't in breeding mode, IMHO.
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Todd Hughes

Orocosos Sep 15, 2008 11:37 AM

The rats are small adults (about 6" body with a girth slightly larger than the snake). I was a little worried with the feces because I saw something similar with a malnourished corn snake I rescued. She's acting fine, but I just wanted confirmation.
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0.1 Banded California kingsnake - Zorro
1.0 Betta fish - Billy
0.0.3 White Cloud Fish
1.0 RES - Chopstick
0.1 Australian Shepherd - Jet
2.1 Domestic Shorthair Mix Cats - Robert Bob, Nimbus, & Pirate

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