Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Okay, I posted a while ago about one of my bloods having large masses of urates by the vent. I ended up bringing it to the vet, and they broke the first one up so that it could be passed. Even now I'm not sure if that was necessary, but that wasn't the only mass. Soaking for extended periods hasn't helped, and neither has an increase in humidity. I've had these two for over a year and a half (got them as hatchlings), and it was never a problem before.

ANYWAY, here's my question. How large of urates have other people's snakes been able to pass? It feels like the next one is about an inch or so in diameter.

Other than that, they both eat great. I'm amazed at how quickly they've been growing - and outgrowing everything! I ordered a couple 4'x 2' cages from Moonstruck Exotics, and I'm really hoping that this will be the last upgrade I need to do for a while at least...

Here's a picture of the snake in question, taken today. (again, sorry about the picture quality - I did take some pics with my nice camera but I have to develop them)

Here's the other that isn't having problems, with my hand to get an idea of their sizes (I have no idea why I didn't just do that with the first one).

I think my snake passed one almost that big, and he's half the size of yours. I've squeezed them out myself, and it requires a very gentle touch but isn't that hard. He hasn't had that problem since I put him in a cage with ultra high humidity, but he still isn't 'going' on a regular basis.
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"The serpent crams itself with animal life that is often warm and vibrant, to prolong an existence in which we detect no joy and no emotion. It reveals the depth to which evolution can sink when it takes the downward path and strips animals to the irreducible minimum able to perpetuate a predatory life in its naked horror."
Alexander Skutch

Hey,
I don't think that there is anything wrong with them, but that they are doing what comes natural to them when it comes to retaining bm's, and urates longer than other boids etc. (Spraying them after cage servicing or cleaning with warm water, helps, if done at night when the lights are out in the room). They can hold out for quite a long time before actually going and have been known at least in my experience, to hold out for months on end, with no apparent ill-effects from it (I have several large adults). I don't think that having taken it to the vet was a bad thing perse, but breaking up the urate I have some reservation about. They can pass urates and stools that look the size and shape of a Great Danes stool - LOL! I have a couple of babies, well more than a couple, but a couple that actually passed urates and stools that looked like the size of a small dogs stool.

They are remarkebly able to pass large (1inch) stools and urates with no problem, if they are in good health and there is no underlying illness present.

P.S. With the larger new cage, you might want to consider putting a soaking tub into the cage for them - just a thought.

-Angel
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Sometimes on your way to your dream, you get lost and find a better way!

Do you have a large water container for them to soak in on their own.Mine all soak on a regular basis and that seems to help make them go more often, not that this was my intension, just works out that way.Luckily I check on them at night and day, as I like to change their water right away if they do urinate or poop. Dirty water could cause health problems if they are drinking it or even soaking.And my sub adult and adult bloods pass the big white balls all the time.

I guess I'll try not to worry too much. I used to have larger water dishes, but they would dirty them right away. Now I'm using a small water dish just for drinking and a humid hide on the warm side. The cool side seems to stay pretty damp. They also get soaked (smaller bin with about an inch of water and a chunk of cork bark above the water to rest on) for at least an hour about every other day while I clean. I think I'll have both a small drinking dish and a large soaking one in the new cage. Must be easier than bugging them all the time. At least they've gotten used to being handled!

Thanks again!