Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi all. I was handeling my baby red today and i noticed that the area by his vent felt a bit 'crunchy' as opposed to palpable and squishy. I realised that he has had a good 6 feedings without pooping, so i figured that he was a bit consipated. Since i have been trained on doing this, i soaked my boy and gently 'milked (for lack of better word)' the hard urates and poo out. I realise that this means he is dehydrated (although he shows no other signs). I had been keeping the humidity in his enclosure (a large sweater box) around 80%, then figured that it may be too much, and lowered it to 60%. I guess that was probably wrong. I will up the humidity in there. He does often hide in his bowl of moist sphagnum moss, but i rarely see him soaking (if ever). I figured that another remedy would be to soak him nightly (maybe 30 min at a time?). Im not sure of anything else tho. I do usually soak his f/t in warm water to thaw them...maybei should injuet them with water too? i dunno. He has been eating well (but only 1x weekly...maybe not enough?) any suggestions would be appreciated. I want to stop this before any dammage is done. Thanks so much. ps, here is a pic of hiss:

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"i wasn't born with enough middle fingers"

1.0 ball python- Azazel
1.0 columbian boa- Brooklyn
1.0 JCP-Milton
1.0 red blood python-Hiss
1.0 peach phase thayeri-Sancho
0.1 creamsicle corn- Pandora
1.1 hognose- Pricilla and Odd
0.1 russian tortoise- Manja
0.1.1 leos- Boji and Kodama
0.1 beardie- Indie
1.0 BTS- Griffon
0.1 Iggy- Sunny
0.1 pacific parrolet- Mishka
1.1 cats- Cairo and Oberon
1.4 ratties Rizzo, Bree, Blitzkreig, Raisin, and the Runt (R.I.P. Willard. )

Hey,
In my experience with bloods and short-tails, they are notorious for not having a bowel movement, for long periods at a time. Even months at a time with no ill effects from it what so ever. I keep various sizes of Bloods and Short-tails, and each of them can behave in exactly the same way, with bm's coming months apart of one another. If you feel comfortable massaging fecal and urates from your blood, then go ahead and do it, however, I wouldn't freak out and think that this is something out of the ordinary with this species. It is normal!

Your humidity sounds right on, however, 60% sounds like a better level than does 80%, altough 80% won't hurt it. There are some keepers reporting having had several problems maintaining their bloods at this higher percentage. At any rate, lower the level to the 60% mark and get a larger water bowl, large enough for it to soak in. They love a good soak from time to time and will spend lots of time in it, if a water bowl large enough for them to crawl in is provided.

-Angel

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"Until we lose our self, there is no way of finding our self."
-Henry Miller.

Thanks
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"i wasn't born with enough middle fingers"

1.0 ball python- Azazel
1.0 columbian boa- Brooklyn
1.0 JCP-Milton
1.0 red blood python-Hiss
1.0 peach phase thayeri-Sancho
0.1 creamsicle corn- Pandora
1.1 hognose- Pricilla and Odd
0.1 russian tortoise- Manja
0.1.1 leos- Boji and Kodama
0.1 beardie- Indie
1.0 BTS- Griffon
0.1 Iggy- Sunny
0.1 pacific parrolet- Mishka
1.1 cats- Cairo and Oberon
1.4 ratties Rizzo, Bree, Blitzkreig, Raisin, and the Runt (R.I.P. Willard. )