Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Help! I have had my Columbian Rainbow Boa since November of 2001 and have NEVER had her regurgitate on me once. Until six weeks ago...We were originally told after that to buy heating strips for the bottom of the cage (we only had a top basking light) because she might be too cold and to make sure the humidity is higher which we did.

We were told after that to try feeding her another mouse (she eats thawed frozen adult sized mice) about 2-3 weeks later. We did that on 12/8 and she regurgitated that one a few hours after eating it.

At that point my wife called the vet who said sometimes they just go through periods where they regurgitate (????) and to give it another few weeks and to try again.

We decided to just try and feed her a hopper on 12/27 and were happy because the next morning she had not regurgitate it. Well, last night she did just that. I am so frustrated! I have no clue what could be wrong with this snake. The temperature and humidity are fine, and she hasn't been held since the regurgitation started which are all things everyone says I should watch out for. I have no clue what else it could be other than parasites, which I doubt. She looks fine, does not look underweight at all, and is even continuing shedding?!?!

Does anyone have any idea what the problem could be? Please let me know because I really cannot afford to bring her into the vet right now. Should I wait another few weeks, try feeding her another hopper, and if she regurgitates that should I bite the bullet and take her to the vet?

Any help you guys could give would be greatly appreciated!

Don't feed it for the next 2 weeks, and then feed it a smaller prey than it normally eats.
Im no expert, but that way one snake of mine got to eat again.
-----
-Miki

1.0 Ball Python (Python Regius)
0.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boa (Epicrates Cenchria Cenchria)
0.0.1 Sinaloan Milksnake (Lampropeltis Triangulum Sinaloae)
0.0.1 Albino Burmese Python (Python molurus bivittatus)

Her temps might be too high. Yes, too high. Your vet is an idiot. Regurgitation is NOT something snakes "just go through." It is a condition that is extremely hard on their bodies, and is a symptom of husbandry errors or health problems such as parasites. Find this site....www.corallus.com/cenchria/index.html, there you will find good husbandry info. Match the recommended temps there and give her another 2 weeks. In the meantime, give her a good soak in luke warm water for a few hours. Regurgitation severely dehydrates snakes. This isn't like you losing the TV dinner you had for lunch....imagine if you puked a bowling ball. When you go back to feeding her in a couple of weeks, make it a meal about 1/3 the size she normally accepts. If she regurgitates that...take her to a vet that isn't retarded. Find the local Herp society, they can probably recommend someone. Oh....and lose the light.

Good luck, Chris O
-----
www.chrisolsonreptiles.com
Naked I see the camp of those who desire nothing

Specifics on Maurus...but it just has brazilain specifics (come on Jeff!. According to my literature, a basking spot of 88F and a cool end around 75F is good for Colombian Rainbow.

Chris O
-----
www.chrisolsonreptiles.com
Naked I see the camp of those who desire nothing

..just to the point, no confusion. Wouldn't it be nice if more things were this way?

Have a good day!

Linda

Painkiller,
...I think there are three possibilities. Either there is something wrong with the snake's captive environment or the snake has some sort of internal parasite problem or an infection. With the colder winter weather your heating system may be doing something different in the cage than it was doing when the weather was warmer. I would recheck exact temperatures of the snake and various locations in it's cage and if you find nothing wrong there then you will probably need a vet visit to determine if it does have internal parasites. The third possibility is that the snake may have some sort of infection, possibly resperitory. Fourth outside possibility is stress from too much light or noise or vibration in or near it's cage.
Good luck,
Jeff

>>Help! I have had my Columbian Rainbow Boa since November of 2001 and have NEVER had her regurgitate on me once. Until six weeks ago...We were originally told after that to buy heating strips for the bottom of the cage (we only had a top basking light) because she might be too cold and to make sure the humidity is higher which we did.
>>
>>We were told after that to try feeding her another mouse (she eats thawed frozen adult sized mice) about 2-3 weeks later. We did that on 12/8 and she regurgitated that one a few hours after eating it.
>>
>>At that point my wife called the vet who said sometimes they just go through periods where they regurgitate (????) and to give it another few weeks and to try again.
>>
>>We decided to just try and feed her a hopper on 12/27 and were happy because the next morning she had not regurgitate it. Well, last night she did just that. I am so frustrated! I have no clue what could be wrong with this snake. The temperature and humidity are fine, and she hasn't been held since the regurgitation started which are all things everyone says I should watch out for. I have no clue what else it could be other than parasites, which I doubt. She looks fine, does not look underweight at all, and is even continuing shedding?!?!
>>
>>Does anyone have any idea what the problem could be? Please let me know because I really cannot afford to bring her into the vet right now. Should I wait another few weeks, try feeding her another hopper, and if she regurgitates that should I bite the bullet and take her to the vet?
>>
>>Any help you guys could give would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks for all of the great advice! I checked the temps with a digital thermomater that my wife picked up and they are right where they should be so I'm happy about that.

I'm going to give it a couple weeks, try feeding her a small mouse, and if she regurgitates it it's off to the vet we go!

Again thanks to everyone and Happy New Year!