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Black Rat Metabolism ?

Weekendherper Sep 30, 2005 12:01 PM

Do black rats have a quick metabolism like other colubrids? The reason I ask is my black rat regurged a day after his first meal. I waited 10 days and fed him again 3 days ago. I noticed some poop in the corner and have to assume it's the mouse from 3 days ago. I don't want to disturb him in case he still digesting and take a chance he regurges again.
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1.0 Malagasy Giant Hognose
1.1 Jungle Carpet Python
1.0 Black Milksnake
1.0 Black Pine
0.0.1 Black Ratsnake
1.0 White Lipped Python (Black phase)
0.1 Dumeril Boa
1.0 Columbian Red Tail Boa
0.1 Guyana Red Tail Boa
0.0.1 Blue Tongue Skink

Replies (3)

alex Oct 01, 2005 10:57 AM

If your black rat regurges 3 days after you've fed it a reasonably-sized prey item (especially for a pukey snake) and all your other husbandry is correct, your snake likely has a problem and should get a fecal exam for parasites before treatment (it's better to only wipe out what he actually has and not his whole GI flora)
All colubrids have relatively fast metabolisms for snakes, especially compared to things like larger boids. Black rats aren't anywhere near garters, racers, indigos, etc, or even Pits, which are a little more closely related to them... I actually think of them as kind of intermediate but it depends what you're comparing them to.

phwyvern Oct 02, 2005 05:59 PM

>>Do black rats have a quick metabolism like other colubrids? The reason I ask is my black rat regurged a day after his first meal. I waited 10 days and fed him again 3 days ago. I noticed some poop in the corner and have to assume it's the mouse from 3 days ago. I don't want to disturb him in case he still digesting and take a chance he regurges again.

Standard op is to wait 48 hours after feeding to handle (some advocate 72 hours). By then the meal should be well on it's way through the digestion track and not likely to be regurged (if it does regurge then something is wrong with the snake or the enviornmental conditions are not right). By day 4/5 you are likely to start seeing poop expelled. Depending on the size of the meals and ambient temperature, some of my snakes may poop at day 3. I've got some baby black rats that are begging for more food a day after they have eaten LOL.
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PHWyvern

chonubrid Oct 04, 2005 12:40 PM

I would also get a fecal done... I had a BRS recently die from a bacterial infection, among other things, that I failed to catch in time. But that was one of her first symptoms, now that I think about it. Nip it in the bud if possible.

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