Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Has anyone ever experienced this problem? I have a gaboon and he eats every two weeks, a live mouse about 2 and a half inches long, and regurgitates 3 days after eating. So far he has repeated this 4 times. My day temps are 80 and my night temps are 75 with a constant 70-80% humidity (I have been avid about keeping the "ideal" numbers). Anyway, I would like to run fecals but I havent gotten a bm out of him yet. Do you think this all may be due to constipation? Or may it be parasites? I dont think he is dehydrated, he drinks every 2 days, whether on his own or me moving him to his water dish. By the way, the mice are as wide as his head and about twice as long, so I know they're not too big. I need advice from someone else, it only leaves me scratching my head. thanks

Yeah, but with Milksnakes not Hots ( fortunately). Unfortunately, there could be many causes. Do you have a vet that will do hots?

Matthew

Try soaking it in water about 2" deep for about 30 min.
Why don't you offer it frozen/thawed off forceps or tongs?
I have never had a Bitis refuse f/t rodents. If your feeding it a mouse, then it must be a gabby that's about 16" or so. How big is it?

Randal Berry

Yes he is around 15 or 16 inches. Will f/t make a difference in how he digests it? If so then I will definately try that. He never has a problem eating the mouse, as soon as he gets the scent he is on it, but 2 or 3 days afterward, I find it laying in his enclosure, covered in mucous. Is there anything I can buy to maybe get rid of the percieved parasites?

I agree with Randal. If this were my snake, I'd be very concerned. Four regurgued meals is not a good thing and is usually an indication of a serious problem...or, it could be something stress related (like having someone watch him eat). I would recommend a wider temp gradient during the day - mid 70's on the cool side to the low 80's on the warm side and possibly a hot spot approaching the mid to upper 80's in a small area. Night temps can drop to the mid 70's. Also, provide a deep pile of dead leaves (oak) that the snake can feel secure in.

My recommendation is to find a vet and get some quick help. Even w/out a bowel movement, you can get samples using other methods.

Rob Carmichael
Wildlife Discovery Center

>>Has anyone ever experienced this problem? I have a gaboon and he eats every two weeks, a live mouse about 2 and a half inches long, and regurgitates 3 days after eating. So far he has repeated this 4 times. My day temps are 80 and my night temps are 75 with a constant 70-80% humidity (I have been avid about keeping the "ideal" numbers). Anyway, I would like to run fecals but I havent gotten a bm out of him yet. Do you think this all may be due to constipation? Or may it be parasites? I dont think he is dehydrated, he drinks every 2 days, whether on his own or me moving him to his water dish. By the way, the mice are as wide as his head and about twice as long, so I know they're not too big. I need advice from someone else, it only leaves me scratching my head. thanks
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Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, IL

Good information above!! My experience with regurgitations speak to either a meal too big or temps too cool. Your temps sound OK but I would try a warmer during digestion and maybe a much smaller meal. However as Rob said, 4 sequential regurgiations sounds like a more systemic problem. Good luck....maybe the 5th time is the charm.

Bob

Great advice guys.Another thing to consider is how quickly you are offering food after a regurge.If you don't give the snake 7 to 10 days to build the juices in its digestive system back up it will continue to puke.I normally wait 2 weeks after a regurge before offering another meal.Hope this helps,
Trey

possible cause. Reoccurent regurge syndrome in snakes can be caused by any of the previously mentioned issues, but if all else fails, be aware that many chronic regurge episodes, especially in imports, can be of bacterial origin. If that is the case, I have seen 3 doses of Cipro at 3 day intervals, quickly resolve chronic regurges in a number of boas, pythons, vipers, and colubrid snakes over the years.

Kelly

Like Bob H said, when rodent comes out looking like it was eaten 2 hours ago the first consideration is temperature. Twenty years ago I had a rock python doing the same thing; upped daytime to 87-88 degrees, nights 78-80, no more problems. Have kept various bitis and other pit vipers under these temps-no problems whatsoever. Don't fool around with bumping it up 1-2 degrees, get it up to the upper 80's.

Where would I find this cipro? There aren't many reptile vets in my area and I may have a hard time finding it if it comes to that. thanks

Ok, he now has a slightly smaller mouse in his stomach as of last night. I put the mouse in and walked away, to prevent causing any stress. I bumped up the temps to 84 on the cool side and 90 on the hot side, he is hunkered down right in the middle. If this one comes up, we are taking a trip to the vet to run some tests. Thank you to everyone for the great advice, what a great forum!!

If I were you, I´d run to the veterinarian.

Vomiting 3 to 4 days after eating is classic to infections crom Cryptosporidium sp., Chlamydophila psittaci and may also happen in some types of Inclusion Body Disease virus.

Maybe a cloacal swab could help detecting parasite sporocysts. A blood chemistry could also indicate infection.

Keep this snake away from your healthy animals.