i have a baby python that i bought about a month ago and she has thrown up the last two mice iv given her. I dont know why she does, she moves around the cage and is active, she doesnt look sick but she can seem to keep the mice down. we were feeding her dead mice but we switched to live ones today to see if it would make a difference any advice would help. thanks!!
2007-12-21 11:42:16 · 14 answers · asked by Mel 2 in Pets ➔ Reptiles
There are a few reasons for regurgitation:
1. Not hot enough
2. feeder to big
3. stress
4. illness
So, first check your temps. Make sure you are keeping him plenty warm after he eats. Heat helps him digest his food. If his temps are good, then try a smaller feeder. If you are feeding him adult mice, downgrade to fuzzies, if you are feeding fuzzies, downgrade to pinkies. It will seem like an appitizer to him, but the smaller it is, the easier it is to digest.
If the temps are good, and he still regurtitates the smaller feeder, then take him to a qualified herp vet. Because he may have internal parasites (which are very common in captive reptiles, so, don't think your a bad snake mommy! lol)
Good Luck!
2007-12-21 12:04:55 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 0⤋
First of all, it is NOT possible for you to be feeding her too large of a prey item. If your snake can get it down her throat, then it's not too big. If you offered her something she couldn't swallow, she wouldn't do it. It's that simple. Secondly, you do NOT have to wait 48 hours after a feed to handle her. Waiting until the next day will more than suffice. I handle mine an hour after a feed if I want to. You shouldn't handle yours at all until it's healthy again, but don't think that you have to wait more than a day when she's healthy.
More than likely, the culprit is your temps. You need to have the hot end of your enclosure no cooler than 85 degrees. 90 would be better. You also need to have a cool end about room temperature to allow your snake to thermoregulate.
Another problem could be with your mice. If you aren't thawing them out completely, it could cause your snake to regurgitate, or even die. I thaw my mice in a mug of hot water. Squeeze your mouse for about ten seconds between your fingers to make sure there are no cold spots before feeding it to your snake. And you should never feed live if you can avoid it. If your snake doesn't kill the mouse right away, the mouse may turn the tables and nibble your snake causing infections and possibly death. Stick to frozen/thawed if your snake will take it. Also, as a baby, you could feed your snake daily and it wouldn't hurt it. If she's not hungry, she won't eat. I fed mine three times a week as a baby, and recently aquired an adult rescue that is underweight who I feed daily. All you have to look out for with over feeding is obesity.
I get my advice from breeders of these wonderful snakes. And just so you know why that is such a credible source, a ball python has to be conditioned perfectly inside and out before you can get it to reproduce, so when a successful breeder tells me to do something, I listen. My feeding schedules are successfull breeder approved.
I hope this helps and dispells any of the false information that tends to float around. Good luck, and great choice of snake!
2007-12-21 23:19:35 · answer #2 · answered by Angel 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Don't handle the snake for at least 48 hours after feeding. If a regurg occurs, wait 10 days for her system to settle down before trying to feed again otherwise she is likely to regurg again. As stated above, check your temps, setup, humidity, etc. Make sure the mice are not too large.
Good info here:
http://www.kingsnake.com/ballpythonguide/
2007-12-21 21:41:40 · answer #3 · answered by KimbeeJ 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Troublemaker rep. rescue is dead on with the advice. Don't wait too long between feedings once you get her back on track. Three weeks between normal feedings is too long for an adult snake (unless it's in it's winter slow-down), but for a baby this is dangerous. They need to eat about once a week.
Best Answer so far - the reptile rescue...:-)
2007-12-21 20:26:11 · answer #4 · answered by prism_wolf 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If the python is a baby you may be feeding him to large a mouse. see if your pet store has Pinkies ( newborn mice) .
Could also bee that he is eating but does not need to yet.
Snakes don't eat often. I don't know how frequently for small ones though. Check with your pet store
2007-12-21 19:48:27 · answer #5 · answered by Fl. Guy 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
maby you should not give her mice maby her somech re.acts with mice try to give her 1.eggs 2.snake food if that dos not work take her to the vet
2007-12-22 10:36:35 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yea this snake needs to go to the vet right away... and if youve got a snake and cant afford the vet, you have made a really stupid decision... if it doesnt see a vet, it will probably die, seeming throwing up in the first place can kill it
2007-12-21 21:16:09 · answer #7 · answered by onesadpanda 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Well, I have a snake too. It's a Ball Python. He's a boy, but he's never thrown up like that. Infact... he's never thrown up. How often do you feed her? You should feed her once every 3 weeks. It depends on how long you wait to feed her each time. You should'nt feed her every so days. Thats probably why shes throwing up. (but thats only if you feed her every other day!) Write back to me and tell me how she is. I really am concerned. :)
2007-12-21 19:50:18 · answer #8 · answered by Kylie M 1 · 0⤊ 5⤋
make he has the right heating, humidity, and other requirments. Snakes only throw up when they are stressed, or are trying to get away frm predators so they need to lighten up.
2007-12-21 20:45:20 · answer #9 · answered by daboadude 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Maybe you handle her after she eats............that can upset her stomach - best not to handle for 24 hours after feeding
2007-12-21 19:46:08 · answer #10 · answered by tirebiter 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋