My snake just might have regurgitated!!! - Page 4

sapphire_moon · 01-25-04, 04:35 PM

It's almost like a cat getting a hairball stuck in it's stomache. except it's a snake, it's sand thats caught and it can't puke it up.

Vanan · 01-25-04, 04:48 PM

Kay, didn't wanna get involved but just wanted to say that everyone's got their own way of doing things. If it works, go ahead. That being said, I wouldn't go with the sand jus cos it's too fine for my liking. I have found it stuck in snakes' nostrils and cloacas eventually causing irritation to the mucous membrane. If you really like the feel of sand, go with crushed walnut! Great stuff for sand loving snakes. Bigger in size and less likely to get plugged in your snake's nostril. BUT, crushed walnut, being abrasive can create a lot of "walnut dust". I've seen snakes sneeze too much for me to be comfortable using it. And I know an RI from a regular "Atchoo!"

IMO, the best bet would be Aspen (as someone mentioned). Not as much dust (still a lil dusty) and create tunnels which snakes love to go in and out of! Just like in the wild.

BTW, Ryan I would have to disagree with Dr. Upjohn being a good snake vet. He may be great with lizards but any vet who tells you that your snake needs UV lighting else it'll die is friggin moron! Sorry, but we've lost a very precious snake due to his incompetence and stupidity. If anyone want more info, feel free to PM or e-mail me. There is a great vet (from what I've heard) in Surrey. Her name's not coming to me now but WSPCR members have her info. Just email one of them.

Vanan · 01-25-04, 04:48 PM

Kay, didn't wanna get involved but just wanted to say that everyone's got their own way of doing things. If it works, go ahead. That being said, I wouldn't go with the sand jus cos it's too fine for my liking. I have found it stuck in snakes' nostrils and cloacas eventually causing irritation to the mucous membrane. If you really like the feel of sand, go with crushed walnut! Great stuff for sand loving snakes. Bigger in size and less likely to get plugged in your snake's nostril. BUT, crushed walnut, being abrasive can create a lot of "walnut dust". I've seen snakes sneeze too much for me to be comfortable using it. And I know an RI from a regular "Atchoo!"

IMO, the best bet would be Aspen (as someone mentioned). Not as much dust (still a lil dusty) and create tunnels which snakes love to go in and out of! Just like in the wild.

BTW, Ryan I would have to disagree with Dr. Upjohn being a good snake vet. He may be great with lizards but any vet who tells you that your snake needs UV lighting else it'll die is a friggin moron! Sorry, but we've lost a very precious snake due to his incompetence and stupidity. If anyone wants more info, feel free to PM or e-mail me. There is a great vet (from what I've heard) in Surrey. Her name's not coming to me now but WSPCR members have her info. Just email one of them.

Jungle Jen · 01-25-04, 05:10 PM

I think the veterinarian Vanan is referring to is Dr. Sharon Prus 604-597-7387 in Surrey.

AlexPan · 01-25-04, 05:28 PM

Travor, let me start with that argue because i want people to give me some real proof. i infact hate arguing but i think i have full wright to say my opinion. Every one here have being great at giving sugjestions to me, and many have given me very good info. The only thing i'm trying to do here is to proof that sand is not hasardous, and weather or not i'm wrong, i do not knoe thats why i wrote to Julian White for his opinion. If i would not be here asking people for help i most sertanly would neot be where i am today sanks to every one.

Also it is nothing like when i wanted to learn how to milk snakes, and let me tell you at that time althought many people were reacting like small children, a few did wright to me back and tald me all of that info, whom i sank to god for that.

AlexPan · 01-25-04, 05:34 PM

Nice thanks Vanan and Jungle Jen! that really helps

BoidKeeper · 01-25-04, 05:39 PM

Quote:

The only thing i'm trying to do here is to proof that sand is not hasardous,

The proof that it's bad is dead herps. People aren't going to go and dig them up and post pics for you. Herps have died from being on sand. It's been documented time and time again. You want proof, go look for it. We don't have to prove anything to you. We had a member here that was a vet tech and she posted time and time again that she has seen herps come into her clinic that were pluged with calci sand and other sands.
If some one tells me that sand is bad and I know they aren't newbies then that is proof enough for me. I'd rather learn from their mistakes rather than repeat them. People die during war, do you belive me or do I have to start a war to prove it to you? It's in a book some where, look it up.
Ask the biggest and best breeders in north america who produce hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of animals every year if they keep kings on sand. Then ask them why?
You want proff sand is bad, go look at your king.
Trevor

Vanan · 01-25-04, 05:39 PM

Thanks Jen! Stupid brain farts!

AlexPan · 01-25-04, 05:53 PM

BoidKeeper, i did not meen it litteraly that i need proof. What i meant was for snad getting stick in the snake its pretty hard to imagine...

Say the sand is some where stuck, knoe the snake eats. The foor paces thrue the stamch and since the fur does not gets digested, all the way it scrubs and cleens the snake's stomach, one the snake poops, the fur will grag out the snad with it.

Like i said i will change the substate for my snakes to aspen shaving but, just for prinsibles i wanted to see how can the sand get stuck in the stomach.

marisa · 01-25-04, 06:07 PM

So using your logic, snakes can eat as much debris as they want and not get impacted....or even eat small amounts of debris and be fine.

Then please tell us why snakes get impaction using your logic that things don't get stuck in them.

Marisa

AlexPan · 01-25-04, 06:14 PM

Marisa, Its only my theory but, i think if the snake eats a furry anymal its fur would clean its stamach since its fur does not get digested. Others might have not given them furry anymals to eat especially to smaller snakes which cannot eat large enaph pray which have fur yet.

marisa · 01-25-04, 06:25 PM

That is seriously a bad theory. No offense.

I'd venture to say we can all agree that 95% of the people who keep snakes feed them rats or mice. Now I can assure you if you asked, you would find some of those very same owners experiencing impaction resulting from some sort of substrate in a snakes mouth.

So you saying only snakes that aren't fed rats and mice or rabbits are getting impaction. What exactly are these other prey items that someone would actually feed a snake? hmmm? Sorry but you are not correct. Plenty of impactions have occoured on mouse fed animals. That is a fact.

Wanted to add: I am not saying fur isn't used that way. In fact I am sure it is much like birds use pebbles. What I am not agreeing with is the fact that you think only snakes that arent eating mice or rats with fur get impaction. that is the inncorrect part.

Marisa

ohh_kristina · 01-25-04, 06:38 PM

AlexPan, no offence, but why did you even ask for help if you're going to act like this? You have people with a lot of experience telling you something and you're doing everything in your power to try and prove them wrong with "theories" that hold no water. What's the deal? Learn how to take advice..especially when you ask for it. Your animals will thank you for it.

AlexPan · 01-25-04, 06:54 PM

ohh_kristina, i do take advices! All i was talking about is the snad getting in the snake's body. I never said i'm gona keep on keeping my snakes on the sand! Infact i said i will change it to aspen shavings.

Will · 01-25-04, 07:59 PM

Quote:

I'l make 50% sand and 50% aspen shavings and see what they will perfer.

Just a side note. Your snake will be choosing one over the other based on temperature, or availbality of hides, etc - not which one is more 'comfortable'.

In addition, I don't think anyone here has mentionedyet, is that the little grains of sand create more surface area than most other substrates. More surface area could lead to more areas for bacteria to grow. Bacteria is bad.

I use aspen, and it's simple to just grab a bag and scoop everything out and fill it up in a couple minutes. Cleaning out sand is a little more labor intensive, and I hate using more effort than is needed.

I'm throwing my hat in the ring with the "Get-rid-of-the-sand" votes.