My snake just might have regurgitated!!!

[AlexPan]

Today morning i smelled something in my room like something died. Looked in all of the snake's habitats and found nothing. When i came back home about an houer ago, and came up into my room, it smelled like something died and was decomposing for a long while (i have never smelled anything that bad!).

Anyways i took another theral look into my snake's cages and found something that looked like poo. When i picked it up with a paper towel, i saw a non decomposed tail and legs, but everything als looked like wet poo!

He is California King Snake almost 4 years old, and have shed just 2 days ago. I gave him a dead frozen mice which i have socked in warm water till it became worm before feeding it. It was a fully grown mice but, in the past he have ate mutch bigger ones. On one side of his ocvarium he always have between 84-92 F and on another 68-72. He looks healthy but have being very agressive for the last 2 weeks ( i think due to be hangree). The last time he ate before this one was aproximatly 3 weeks ago.

Do you guys think he pooped or regurgetated? Also i have no vet any where in my area, is there a way i can check for parasites by my selph some how? I can make some pics of him if it will be needed. Thanks every one.

[sapphire_moon]

pics would probably be helpful, but it "sounds" like he just didn't digest it all the way. I'm sure someone else would be more helpful.

[asphyxia]

IMO it is regurged - check your temps and as it is a mouse and 4' long snake, i do not think it is the food size, Also serch this site for lots of additionl info

Good Luck
Brian

[Auskan]

You didn't mention how long after feeding, this "regurg" appeared? Also, I'm just kind of curious why it was 3 weeks between feedings - that seems like kind of a long time for a 4 year old King snake.

[Dark_Angel_25]

my boa just regurged yesterday. my problem was the size and possibly the temps. I am sure their is a vet in your area somewhere. as far as I know the only way to test yourself is if you have a good microscope. but if you can get a vet to do it they know what they are doing. I'm not sure, but maybe a regular vet can do the fecal exam for you.. as they aren't actually treating the snake. they also may know of a herp vet in the area. worth a shot...

[sapphire_moon]

if you can't find a herp vet try www.herpvetconnection.com

and you can find one nearest you hopefully.

[AlexPan]

Thanks every 1. here is a pic of him which i took just know. He regurgetated 2 days after eating. Hope this works

http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/sh...cat=500&page=1

[AlexPan]

Thanks sapphipe_moon. I checked that website and the nearest vet is 5 houer drive from here.

Auskan, The reason he did not eat for 3 weeks is because i usually feed him every 13 days but he was in his sheding proces so as you know they will not eat,.. the reason for that is if they eat the food size that is going to extend their body, it may interfire with sheding their skin and make some problems.

[marisa]

Well for one, get him off that crappy sand.

Sand is not good for any snakes. Not only is it uncomfortable, but it can cause impaction EASILY. Are you feeding him on this substrate? Get him off that sand like right now.

Don't feed him for ten days- two weeks. Then try a smaller than normal prey item.

Marisa

[AlexPan]

Marisa, I am well aware that MOST sand is bad for them but, on the other side of his habitat where i feed him on the SAND, its a special "sand" made stricly from bone and calsium so when he swolowes it, it only does good by giving him calsium.
I will not feed him for 2 weeks then try a small pinky.
Thanks every 1.

[Ontario_herper]

I wouldn't agree that sand in uncomfortable.... many snakes are found living on sand in the wild. Some people keep them on sand in captivity. I personally haven't and I personally wouldn't.

As Marisa said don't feed him for two weeks and then resume feeding as per usual. The snakes looks quite healthy. If it's that thick from eating only every three weeks then there's no need to feed more.

I wouldn't bother with the vet unless this becomes a problem again. I've had snakes regurge before. Maybe they experienced a temperature flux that they didn't like or maybe they just got stressed for some reason. As long as it doesn't happen again there's not likely a reason to worry.

[sapphire_moon]

Same thing here, I had a temp flux because it got warm outside so her temps spiked to like 95 degress (like 110 in my bp cage! )

Like Marisa said, I would get him off that sand. I can't be good for him. I've heard sand really scratches up the belly scales (even if you can't see it) Hence it being uncomfortable.

Does it have hides?
I would say a small fuzzy mouse, a pink is so tiny, not even a morsel to a snake that big, and if you do use a pink get the biggest one there.

I would say after you wait 14 days, to feed it a smaller item (as you said you were)

then wait until after atleast 4 successfull feedings before attempting any handling or deep cleaning the cage.
Only go into the cage once a week to check/change water, maybe do a QUICK spot clean. Keep it in an extreme low traffic area of the house.

Once you get her/him/it up and feeding regurlarily again, for a 4fter I (IMHO only!!!!!) would feed once a week.

You can also try rat pups which are about the same size as adult mice.....
I remember someone saying that their rat feeders where bigger/thicker than the mouse eaters.....so that may help to bulk him/her up a little IF you are worried about that.........

[AlexPan]

sapphire_moon, I have that special black sand for when it gets hot snake sometimes burrows in it or just sits under the light bulb, and seem to like it. Althought i belive that you know more so what will be the "other" substance which will absorb heet just as well and which he will like? And yes i do have a hide for him on both sides of his habitat (if you look clothly on the pic you can see a box under the sand which is 2 inches high).
Thanks for youre help every 1.

[marisa]

Just so you know, that calcium sand you are using, has actually been proven to IMPACT reptiles. It is NOT safe for the to ingest!

"I wouldn't agree that sand in uncomfortable.... many snakes are found living on sand in the wild"

There is a huge differance between sand in the wild and that terrible calcium sand. For one snakes in the wild have the opportunity to get away from the sand. Sand in even half the enclosure means the snake is on it for what, at LEAST 50% of the time? It gets in scales, in eyes and in the mouth. I am glad you don't use sand Ontario Herper! I would NEVER EVER use it. For two, the grain and dying of the sand is far far from natural for anything. I have just recently seen a photo of someones corn feces, guess which color? Calicum sand green. The snake passed away shortly after. The feces was literally FULL of it.

Sand IS NOT A GOOD SUBSTRATE for captive kingsnakes. I can't believe am I actually having to argue this point! It's caused problem after problem for owners of all species and is constantly advised against. If you continue housing him on sand and feeding him in the cage you are ASKING for impaction.

But whatever, your snake regurged, and you know it all. So go ahead and house him on whatever you think looks "pretty" but I am telling you now its NOT healthy and my advice is to help you, not attack you.

Marisa
P.S. AlexPan a substrate I suggest is either paper towel, or repti-bark which is a dark brown wood chip type substrate. The piece are larger and can't be ingested as easily. If you feed outside the enclosure the risk of impaction is near zero, but if you want to continue feeding IN the enclosure a simple paper plate with food item on it can help reduce the risk.

[Ontario_herper]

Forgot that I've been keeping my pair of sand boas on sand for the past three years. They seem to be doing fine and haven't complained about it being itching their scales.

IS their a magical substrate out their that I haven't heard about yet? I would guess that almost any substrate if ingested would cause the snakes problems.