Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Just got a new normal 6 month old boa, he was dropped off a few days ago. About an our after we put him in the new tank he regurgitated what looked like a big hair ball, though much smaller then a mouse he would eat. He also pooped that day. What could be going on here? He otherwise is fine, but I have been keeping snakes since I was 16, and this is the first time I have seen one do this. Also, both his parents were salmon, his dad 100% het for albino and anery. What would be best to breed him to and what are his chances of being a het?

>>Just got a new normal 6 month old boa, he was dropped off a few days ago. About an our after we put him in the new tank he regurgitated what looked like a big hair ball, though much smaller then a mouse he would eat. He also pooped that day. What could be going on here? He otherwise is fine, but I have been keeping snakes since I was 16, and this is the first time I have seen one do this. Also, both his parents were salmon, his dad 100% het for albino and anery. What would be best to breed him to and what are his chances of being a het?
>>
-----
What's written above is purely my opinion. In fact, MOST of what you read on the internet is someone's opinion. Don't take it too seriously

Jonathan Brady
DeviantConstrictors.com
Deviant Constrictors picturetrail

I've noticed this type of hairball regurge and then they usually poop before or after that hariball.

I'm not certain but I don't believe its a very serious issue ,I think
the hair just doesn't want to go through the digestion process
much like a cat coughs up fur balls.

I still treat these hairball regurges like they are a real regurge
and don't feed the Boa for at least 10 days even better wait
14 days before offering another new meal.

Better safe than sorry.

try offering a pinky Rat instead of a mouse with hair.

. . . Lar M
-----
Boas By Klevitz

I Support USark.org

I could be completely incorrect, but I feel I have heard that boas can "cough up" hairballs and that this is not the same as an actual regurgitation of a partially digested meal.

I would definitely want to know when the last meal was to give some better idea of whether this was a regurgitation or not - or if the boa was already known to have regurgitation issues.

was the 'hairball' much different in appearance and smell from any regurgitations you have witnessed? I'm guessing this hairball wasn't smelly and gooshy??

posting a picture of it could be helpful as well, as some of the more experienced boa keepers might be able to identify the object. did you actually see the "hairball" come out from the mouth?

couldn't hurt to contact a vet just to be on the safe side. definitely would recommend keeping it quarantined from the rest of your collection, and do not attempt feeding it for a few weeks.. and plenty of hydration.. just a few thoughts off the top of my head.

if his father was truly het for both anery and albino, then he has a 50% chance of being het for anery and a 50% chance of being het for albino.

Its normal for young boas to occasionally cough up a hair ball.......since thats all it is, hair, you know the protein is gone and thats what counts!!......no sweat.
Mike

I don't know what you guys feed your Boas that makes coughing up hair balls seem normal, but I haven't witnessed that in over 30 yrs of keeping them.

IMO, he regurged. Plain and simple. You said it was within a few hours of setting him up, he was probably stressed.

Give him a couple weeks before feeding again to replenish intestinal flora, and feed him. You might consider a probiotic too. It's a worthy investment, and has helped me many times in the past with intestinal issues.

http://www.reptileuv.com/nutribac-df-probiotic-for-reptiles.php

Again, the above is my meager opinion.
-----
Sublime Boa Constrictor

I feed my baby Boas mice of course depending on age and size of Boa.

So it all depends on age and size of baby Boa, what determines size
of mouse I feed, for 2-3 month old boas normally a sml mouse.

In 30 years you've never seen a hair ball come out of a young Boa ?

Hair ball regurge is not a normal occurrence but it happens , no doubt !

I'm Honest . . . . Right or wrong all I can do is share my experiences
and hope it helps someone else

. . . Lar M

-----
Boas By Klevitz

I Support USark.org

>>
>>In 30 years you've never seen a hair ball come out of a young Boa ?
>>

Yep. True as can be. I've had plenty of regurges over that time, but never a hairball.

Never fed them a mouse either, so maybe that's the link. I've always considered a mouse an inappropriate meal for even new born Boas. Might make an exception when I breed my Sabogae though. They're sorta tiny. LOL
-----
Sublime Boa Constrictor

Thanks for all the responses! Glad to know nothing too serious is going on, and as of today hes doing great. No more regurgitation, but he was fed rat pups previously, might it be better to feed mice hoppers? I fed all my other babies mice and never had any problems. Hes only about 2 feet. And the thing he spit up was like a black hairball an inch or a half long...there was no 'flesh' to it...needless to say I didn't keep it around to look at overlong.

Regurge is regurge!Stomach acids are lost.any regurge wait 2or3 weeks and feed pinky rats for a month or 2 if its under a 4foot boa if its over 4 which it isnt just feed a smaller meal .like said before.Any regurge is serious.