Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Well I got 2 questions here. One is about my 8 month old tx bairds. She is always on the cool side of the tank, the cool side stays around 75 or so. She has the same hides on both sides. However I know she's not getting warm enough because when I pick her up she is freezing cold! She hasn't regurg'd or anything... so should I even worry about this?

Also, I FINALLY got my licorice stick to eat last night, one live rat pup. However I was somewhat worried if this would be too big for her... it is JUST under 1.5 times the widest girth of her body. She ate it last night (Thankfully!!!) but she's still got the lump. I've never noticed this before in any snake.. could this be that i'm feeding the rest of them too small or was this too big? I figure that if it IS too big she'll regurg it tho, right?

-Chris
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-Chris

The reason mainstream thought is thought of as a stream is because it's so shallow. -George Carlin

A fool doesn't learn. A smart man learns from his mistakes. A wise man learns from the mistakes of others. Which one are you?

My Website
N. American Rat/Corn snake care sheet I wrote
Information on substrates

Current snakes:
0.1 Licorice Stick Black Rat (Lola)
1.0 Black Rat (Frankie)
0.1 Texas Bairdi (Rosa)
0.1 Blue Beauty (Brunhilde)
1.0 Green Tree Python (Monty)

That is kind of a big meal, but don't worry about it. Snakes can take some pretty BIG meals for their size. Larger meals of course will take longer to digest. Don't worry about it, just keep him warm and leave him alone. If he ever DOES regurge, take care of it from there to get him rehydrated. If he does regurge, I've heard Pedialyte mixed in water is great for rehydration. His gut flora also needs time to replenish, so if you are feeding every 7 days, wait 14 days before the next feeding. Feeding too soon can actually do more harm than good. All you can really do now is wait it out. If nothing happens in a day or two then you're good. Usually if a snake eats too big of a meal, they regurge within 24 hours.

I had a snake regurge on me before, so I know how to deal with that, unfortunately. He was one that just wouldn't ever eat and ended up not making it... but she seems to be doing fine. thanks.
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-Chris

The reason mainstream thought is thought of as a stream is because it's so shallow. -George Carlin

A fool doesn't learn. A smart man learns from his mistakes. A wise man learns from the mistakes of others. Which one are you?

My Website
N. American Rat/Corn snake care sheet I wrote
Information on substrates

Current snakes:
0.1 Licorice Stick Black Rat (Lola)
1.0 Black Rat (Frankie)
0.1 Texas Bairdi (Rosa)
0.1 Blue Beauty (Brunhilde)
1.0 Green Tree Python (Monty)

Keep the licorice stick warm and completely undisturbed until you get a good defecation. Most regurges take place 3-5 days after ingestion because their systems cannot handle the size and the meal will begin to break down naturally causing extra gas and bloating. Typically, if the bulge isn't significantly less in 3 days, watch out because it may be coming back up. If it does happen, follow the below advice on rehydration and the next feeding attempt. Also, for the next several meals, make sure the prey item is SMALLER than what you would usually feed and wait for a good defecation(s) between feedings. Good luck!

>>That is kind of a big meal, but don't worry about it. Snakes can take some pretty BIG meals for their size. Larger meals of course will take longer to digest. Don't worry about it, just keep him warm and leave him alone. If he ever DOES regurge, take care of it from there to get him rehydrated. If he does regurge, I've heard Pedialyte mixed in water is great for rehydration. His gut flora also needs time to replenish, so if you are feeding every 7 days, wait 14 days before the next feeding. Feeding too soon can actually do more harm than good. All you can really do now is wait it out. If nothing happens in a day or two then you're good. Usually if a snake eats too big of a meal, they regurge within 24 hours.

There are several possibilities:

a) She may feel the cage is too warm (if she feels freezing cold, then temperature is probably not an issue.)

b) She may either feel unsecure in the cage (lack of things to hide in/under), or it might be where she feels most secure. Maybe you should add more hides, or turn them to a different angle where she doesn't feel she is easily seen. Maybe the hides are big? They like them pretty tight. Do you have her on loose substrate or newspaper/paper towel? Loose substrate gives the snake a place to burrow, thus creating a better sense of security.

I do think she may be in a little bit large cage for her, i'm gonna move her down to a smaller one in just a couple minutes. She's about 20 inches or so, so I moved her into a 29 gallon. I put my licorice stick in there when she was 18 inches and she did fine, so I didn't think there would be any problem. I'm gonna move her back to a 10 gallon for a few months I think. She actually has a somewhat smaller hide on her warm side, and I know they like them to touch their back and they both should. She has about 3 inches of aspen substrate, and if shes not in her hide she's hiding under the cool side! i dont get it....
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-Chris

The reason mainstream thought is thought of as a stream is because it's so shallow. -George Carlin

A fool doesn't learn. A smart man learns from his mistakes. A wise man learns from the mistakes of others. Which one are you?

My Website
N. American Rat/Corn snake care sheet I wrote
Information on substrates

Current snakes:
0.1 Licorice Stick Black Rat (Lola)
1.0 Black Rat (Frankie)
0.1 Texas Bairdi (Rosa)
0.1 Blue Beauty (Brunhilde)
1.0 Green Tree Python (Monty)

>>If your bairdi is eating well, defecating properly and doing well then I wouldn't worry which hide it occupies.
As long as it has access to a warmer area with a hide it can regulate as it needs.
I have several snakes that constantly stay under their water bowls and always feel cool. They have access to warmer areas, eat well and digest properly so I leave them alone. They have the temps and the hides and have made their choice.
As long as they eat grow and stay healthy they can spend time wherever they want...lol
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Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"resistance is futile"
Jimmy (draybar)

Draybars Snakes

You've been given good advice so far, try and make sure you have same type, if not same exact, hides on both warm and cool sides of the enclosure.

I just wanted to mention that my Bairdi (now 4 years old) spends 90% of his time on the cool side of the cage. After a meal, he may move to the warm side, but never for long.
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- John

1.0 Baird's Rat (Milton)
1.0 Okeetee Corn (Edgar)
0.1 Ball Python (Agatha)
1.0 Brazilian Rainbow Boa (Rudyard)