Constipated Temple Viper?

[kevyn]

I ran my finger along the underside of my temple and felt some solid matter in the rear of the snake, about 1 inch above the cloaca. I haven't noticed any defication for a bit and I am thinking that this is some solid fecal matter. She does appear slightly swollen in that area where the solid matter sits. She is soaked about every other week and during these soakings she expells urine, but not fecies. To me this sounds like constipation, but I may be wrong. She ate 3.5 weeks ago and the item was a hopper mouse. She could very well just not be ready to pass yet, but the seeming solidity of the matter has me a bit concerned. Is this constipation and if it is, besides soaking what else can be done to aleviate this condition? Can mineral oil be used the same way it is with constipated lizards? Thanks for all your help.

[cobraman]

Warm soaks often works, but you have already tried that?

[Scotty Allen]

Quite a few years ago, I had a trio of C. d. tzabcan that I had the same problem with. When it got to the point where warm water soaks did not work, I administered a mineral oil enema using a large syringe and an infant feeding tube. Do not try doing this by yourself! This did the trick. Once I learned that the problem was being caused by keeping the animals in too dry an environment it never happened again. I'm not saying you are keeping your wagleri too dry but you might want to examine your husbandry. Good luck.