Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello-- two weeks ago, I purchased two, 2 week old leucistic Texas rat snakes. One of them has regurged every meal since then. The first day home, she devoured a whole f/t pink and regurged the next day. I waited for 3 days, then offered her 1/2 a pinky; she regurged again. So I waited 5 days, then offered her just a pink head. She kept it down!!! So, three days later I offered her 1/2 a pink... she devoured it... and the next day regurged both it and the head (which sure was a nasty mess!!!).

Her sister is doing fine... eating like a monster.

These are my first rat snakes, and am wondering if this is sometimes an issue... or should we make a trip to the vet? The temps are fine, they are in a quiet room, and I don't handle them... so don't think it is stress...

THANK YOU for any advice!!

First thing you need to do is stop feeding your ratsnake. Anytime you have a snake regurge, they need atleast 10-14 days to recoup their digestive tract. The worst thing you can do after a regurge, is feed right away again. Considering yours has regurged several times, I wouldn't even consider a food item until about 17 days. If, as you have stated, your temps/conditions are right, then in 17 days feed your snake a very small food item. If you were feeding pinks, then go with a pinky head only. Wait 14 days, and if no regurge, feed another pinky head.
If that goes well, then start with a whole pink again 14 days later. To be on the safe side, go with smaller then normal pink for a couple of weeks after that. If all goes well, resume normal feeding.
One thing I noticed is you said you fed your snake the first day when it came home with you. It's a good idea to allow a good week for your snake to adjust to it's new enviorment before feeding. That may be extra cautious on my part, but it's a good practice to make sure that I don't have a stress related regurge. Good luck with your little female
Steve

Steve,You pretty much explained it all!! Jeff

Thank you SO much. Your advice fits right in with what others had told me, but I wanted to come straight to a rat snake forum to make sure there wasn't something specific to rats I should know. I'll give her body a chance to rest and try again in a couple of weeks... and start small.

I really appreciate the help!!!!!