Emergency plz hwlp! regurgitzation

[BallBuster7653]

So his name is shade. He’s 120 g 30 inches and about six months old at most n He is a smale Suriname red tail BCC I just got him about two months ago since said he has shed for me wants and has eaten the adult mice weekly with no problem Sorry about punctuation and everything I’m speaking into my iPhone I have about 15 years of owning large constrictors I know exactly what I’m doing but I’ve never had this happen to me before and I really need help I’m worried

Long story short I brought him outside to days ago because it was very nice bright and sunny and he was just laying on the grass out front which isn’t very big my entire yard is probably about 15’ x 10’ and it’s all just grass so he was just staying in the same spot so I ran inside because I forgot I have dinner in the oven and I completely forgot and I can’t outside right away and he was gone I looked for 8 1/2 hours until it got dark after it got dark everything looking in the two bushes out front climbing up trees looking for any kind of barrels that were around and I had no luck I was so upset. Long story short I brought him outside to days ago because it was very nice bright and sunny and he was just laying on the grass out front which isn’t very big my entire yard is probably about 15‘ x 10‘ and it’s all just grass so he was just staying in the same spot so I ran inside because I forgot I have dinner in the oven and I completely forgot and I can’t outside right away and he was gone I looked for 8 1/2 hours until it got dark after it got dark everything looking in the two bushes out front climbing up trees looking for any kind of barrels that were around and I had no luck I was so upset The next morning I was smoking a cigarette on my front porch and all of a sudden I see that beautiful red tail and I was so happy tears of joy I felt him I am mediately brought him inside cascade set back up and put him away The next morning I was smoking a cigarette on my front porch and all of a sudden I see that beautiful red tail and I was so happy tears of joy I felt him I am mediately brought him inside cascade set back up and put him away Now here’s the problem I lost him Saturday night while Saturday I mean Sunday even though I shouldn’t of been holding him I just wanted to get him some sun that I wasn’t handling him but he fed on an adult mouse the biggest thing he’s ever eaten and the huge lump inside him. I found him Monday morning which was only two days after he’s eaten this large pray I don’t he did not look like he ate anything at all there was no trace of a bump whatsoever not even a little one so my best guess is because it got a little cold at night maybe in the 50s and he got nervous and scared and I also had to start moving that maybe he regurgitated I cannot find the mouse but I think he may have a gorgeous at it which is really really bad I found him Monday morning which was only two days after hazy in this large play I don’t he did not look like he ate anything at all it was no trace of a bump whatsoever not even a little one so my best guess is because it got a little cold at night maybe in the 50s and he got nervous and scared and I also had to start moving that maybe he regurgitated I cannot find the mouse but I think he may have a gorgeous it is it which is really really bad and

So basically I am asking is he OK what are the side effects of regurgitating a meal should I leave him alone for a week should I not handle him at all I also tried to feed him a hopper mice are frozen Harper and he wouldn’t take it he always takes food he loves food so if he difficult to say even if you did ever go to say I feel like he still would’ve ate the hopper really worried about that too. I will say one thing his last shed was on March 31 he shut his whole skit and he started the shed process of March 20 well it is now April 24 so it is possible that he is beginning his shed cycle I’m going to post some pictures and you guys tell me what you think I can usually tell if the about the Chevrolet and I know he’s going to ship by the end of April he’s a newborn he’s eating a lot I’m sure he’s going to **** every month by now if not more than that
I will say one thing his last shed was on March 31 he shut his whole skit and he started the show process of March 20 well it is now April 24 so it is possible that he is beginning his shed cycle I’m going to post some pictures and you guys tell me what you think I can usually tell if the about the Chevrolet and I know he’s going to ship by the end of April he’s a newborn he’s eating a lot I’m sure he’s going to shed every month by now if not more than that

Please any advice is appreciated tell me what to do and tell me when to feed him next and all that good stuff thank you so much and advance

pics below are ig in ntural coloring after shed 3 weeks ago

[BallBuster7653]

heres pics of him now...does he look of? do you think h refused food because he looks like es going into shed? hes definitely darker here

[Jim Smith]

I think that you're over stressing right now. Leave him alone in his enclosure for at least a week and let him get settled back in after his stressful adventure. After a week or ten days feed him again and appropriate sized prey item.

[craigafrechette]

I didn't even bother to read this repeated thread. I can't get half way through that giant run on sentence.

If the snake regurged, leave it alone for a week. Don't feed again for AT LEAST two weeks, but you're better off going three weeks.

A regurge beats the crap out of the snake's insides, so it's very important to let it heal.

Also, feed smaller prey than the snake typically eats for the first few meals.

It's very important to let it heal. Also, it's important to figure out WHY the animal regurged and correct the issue. That may have been addressed in your thread, but again I couldn't read it

[Pedroo]

You are not even sure that he regurged, you are only guessing. maybe he just digested that mouce. A large mouce is not even a big prey for a 6 months old boa. My boa imperatoer was eating large mice when he was two months old. Although i read that BCC,s have a more sensitive digestiv system than BCI,s. Anyway i think its more likely that he digested it.

[Bandit]

I think that you're over stressing right now. Leave him alone in his enclosure for at least a week and let him get settled back in after his stressful adventure. After a week or ten days feed him again and appropriate sized prey item.This is good advice. Chill out a little bit. The important thing is that you got him back in a relatively short period of time. He should be fine, just let him be for a few days.

[BallBuster7653]

I believe maybe your all right , he possible did digest it. And Craig maybe you should post if you haven’t read everything. The run on as explain was because I was speaking into my phone to get it all out there. If you have read it you would no I thought he regurgitated because he was lost outside overnight where the temps dropped into the high 40s which could have made him regurgitate.
Also between the pics and comparison does he look like he’s beginning shed? Because that could be another reason he refused. He shed in March 31. Well at this age it’s ahout once a month almost so maybe he’s refusing because he’s starting the shed cycle??

Either way he will definitely be shedding soon probably within the ne next 10-14 days so once that’s over with and he’s doing well andnd keeping warm in his cage I will then feed him again. Wish me luck! Sure he will be fine. I checked his mouth and teeth and all and all looked good so much he didn’t spit it up.

Also on a side not he’s 30” and a 100 grams. Does anyone know how old he is. How long are they and weight at birth? I got him from LLLreptile in mid March. So if he grew an inch a month from birth that be about 6 months and which means September he was born. Unless he was fed small items and kep different which could mean he’s much younger. Any ideas??

Thank you , reason I ask is because small rats at my pet shop is 40 grams. So the mice he eats every7-10 days are 20g. So my boa (Shade) is 100 grams. I was thinking he could take his first small rat at 120 grams. That’s 1/3 his body weight. So every 2 weeks he gets small eat in that scenario? Input is appreciated.


Thanks in advance for my long post with many wuestions! Love this forum

Michael Dolan
M.dolan7653@gmail.com

[Andy_G]

I believe maybe your all right , he possible did digest it. And Craig maybe you should post if you haven’t read everything. The run on as explain was because I was speaking into my phone to get it all out there. If you have read it you would no I thought he regurgitated because he was lost outside overnight where the temps dropped into the high 40s which could have made him regurgitate.
Also between the pics and comparison does he look like he’s beginning shed? Because that could be another reason he refused. He shed in March 31. Well at this age it’s ahout once a month almost so maybe he’s refusing because he’s starting the shed cycle??

Either way he will definitely be shedding soon probably within the ne next 10-14 days so once that’s over with and he’s doing well andnd keeping warm in his cage I will then feed him again. Wish me luck! Sure he will be fine. I checked his mouth and teeth and all and all looked good so much he didn’t spit it up.

Also on a side not he’s 30” and a 100 grams. Does anyone know how old he is. How long are they and weight at birth? I got him from LLLreptile in mid March. So if he grew an inch a month from birth that be about 6 months and which means September he was born. Unless he was fed small items and kep different which could mean he’s much younger. Any ideas??

Thank you , reason I ask is because small rats at my pet shop is 40 grams. So the mice he eats every7-10 days are 20g. So my boa (Shade) is 100 grams. I was thinking he could take his first small rat at 120 grams. That’s 1/3 his body weight. So every 2 weeks he gets small eat in that scenario? Input is appreciated.


Thanks in advance for my long post with many wuestions! Love this forum

Michael Dolan
M.dolan7653@gmail.com

Should be feeding 10-15% or so of body weight every 10 to 14 days. What you're describing is too much food being offered too frequently for the species. Just my own opinion of course.

As far as how old he is, generally boas breed in the fall and winter and babies arrive in late winter or early spring, but that's not to say it isn't possible for it to be a September baby...just unlikely...unfortunately without them having provided a date of birth to you, all one can reasonably do is speculate.

[bigsnakegirl785]

If he regurged, wait at least 3 weeks and offer a half-sized meal for the first couple of meals before slowly increasing back up to his normal size.

If he didn't, feed on his normal schedule.

I don't offer smalls until they are 500-600 grams minimum, and my 1,100 gram boa is still eating smalls every 3 weeks, and has gained 100-200 grams while in my care eating in this way.

Should be feeding 10-15% or so of body weight every 10 to 14 days. What you're describing is too much food being offered too frequently for the species. Just my own opinion of course.

As far as how old he is, generally boas breed in the fall and winter and babies arrive in late winter or early spring, but that's not to say it isn't possible for it to be a September baby...just unlikely...unfortunately without them having provided a date of birth to you, all one can reasonably do is speculate.

I don't really like 10-15% rule in general, but a Bci could certainly physically handle that big of a meal. It would just be a bit of overfeeding. A Bcc on the other hand would likely regurge on that size of meal. Bcc seem to be very prone to prey size sensitivity, and more readily regurgitate than a Bci does. Not every Bcc is like this, of course, it's just a more common issue with them.

The bigger the snake, the larger a meal 10-15% becomes. A rat 10-15% the weight of an adult boa is a bigger meal proportionate to girth than a rat 10-15% of a juvenile's weight - compared to girth.

I agree with the age bit, it will be impossible to guess this boa's age simply based off of its size. Even when fed exactly the same way, boas will grow at their own rate, but how much they eat will also impact their growth greatly.

[BallBuster7653]

Thanks Andy and bigsbake girl. Andy I have a very strict feeding schedule. I feed about 1/3 boy weight no weekly. Which is 1/6 a week which is about a small adult mouse. Which he ate. He only regurgitated if he even did because of being outside overnight in a 45-50 degree nighttime temp. And stress. I feed larger items less often and I have 15 years experience with constrictors. My feeding routine works and everyone is different and every snake is different. I will adjust his meals as we go along. If I feel they are too large I will reduce them. If I feel I’m feeding too often and he refuses food or shows signs of a problem. I will fix that problem.

Thanks again guys. He’s doing ok. He won’t eat but as I said he does seem like he’s in very very early shed stage. He shed last about a month ago exactly so I would figure as s 200 gram baby he should be shedding any day now. So maybe he’s refusing because he’s starting shed and not because of regurgitation. He very well may have not regurgitated. In my opinion I think he did spit the mouse up though. He was in a stressful situation and temps dropped a lot. Most snakes would regurgitate, especially since they do this so they can move faster and get out of danger.

[bigsnakegirl785]

Thanks Andy and bigsbake girl. Andy I have a very strict feeding schedule. I feed about 1/3 boy weight no weekly. Which is 1/6 a week which is about a small adult mouse. Which he ate. He only regurgitated if he even did because of being outside overnight in a 45-50 degree nighttime temp. And stress. I feed larger items less often and I have 15 years experience with constrictors. My feeding routine works and everyone is different and every snake is different. I will adjust his meals as we go along. If I feel they are too large I will reduce them. If I feel I’m feeding too often and he refuses food or shows signs of a problem. I will fix that problem.

Thanks again guys. He’s doing ok. He won’t eat but as I said he does seem like he’s in very very early shed stage. He shed last about a month ago exactly so I would figure as s 200 gram baby he should be shedding any day now. So maybe he’s refusing because he’s starting shed and not because of regurgitation. He very well may have not regurgitated. In my opinion I think he did spit the mouse up though. He was in a stressful situation and temps dropped a lot. Most snakes would regurgitate, especially since they do this so they can move faster and get out of danger.

That would definitely cause a regurge, but unless you actually saw the regurge, it's hard to say. What leads you to believe he regurged?

[BallBuster7653]

Big snake girl I thought I just mentioned it. By accident and something out of my control he was left outside on a tiny fake decorative tree to enjoy the sunny day. Well I couldn’t find him I looked for 8 hours! Found him the next morning thank the lord and he just did not look like he had any type of bump all. So I’m thinking the stress of outside and him having to be on the move to get warm since the temps dropped in the 50s at night here in PA. im thinking he regurgitated. He’s absolutely fine now. Long story shot my nephew did something he wasn’t supposed to and caused this and I’m just happy I found him. Now I put a lock on his cage. I was almost in tears. I’m just so happy he’s back. So he shed a month ago exactly so I’m guess he refused the little fuzzy I offered him to see his responses but he wouldn’t eat. So either he’s full and did not regurgitates., or stressed out from being cold, or most likely because he’s in the very beginning stages of shed. I’ll find out soon. Once he sheds in the next 10-14 days kk feed him after and I’m sure he will be fine.

Please nobody judge me for what happened. Mistakes hallen. I fixed it and made sure it will never happen again and I am upset and ashamed enough.

[craigafrechette]

I'm confused....

You originally said he was in the grass, just staying in one spot and your yard is just grass. Then you ran in because you forgot you had dinner in the oven. You then forgot and ran back outside and the snake was gone...

Now you're saying the snake was on a decorative tree and your nephew did something to cause this.

Something doesn't add up here....

[StevenL]

The snake is alive and appears to be ok. You got lucky and learned a lesson I hope.

[BallBuster7653]

The story is irrelevant. He’s home and healthy. Just worried about him refusing food. I hope after he does shed in the next 2-3 weeks he willeatafter. because I’d

[craigafrechette]

The story is irrelevant. He’s home and healthy. Just worried about him refusing food. I hope after he does shed in the next 2-3 weeks he willeatafter. because I’d

Irrelevant why??? Because you got called out?? Because you got caught in your lie???

[scales.jp]

If the snake regurged, leave it alone for a week. Don't feed again for AT LEAST two weeks, but you're better off going three weeks.

A regurge beats the crap out of the snake's insides, so it's very important to let it heal.


If it was only a regurgitation, then no damage is likely to have been done. Regurgitation is when the food is pushed back through the path it initially travelled before digestion has started. Could be caused by a number of things that either scare or stress the animal and make it want to prepare for a quick getaway.

Vomiting is a different matter. If it was vomited (i.e. after the digestion process had started), then dehydration and other imbalances can occur and the snake needs to rest as said above. The cause of vomiting also needs to be established and treated.

I got a bit confused with what happened exactly, so not sure if this is of much help.

[craigafrechette]

If it was only a regurgitation, then no damage is likely to have been done. Regurgitation is when the food is pushed back through the path it initially travelled before digestion has started. Could be caused by a number of things that either scare or stress the animal and make it want to prepare for a quick getaway.

Vomiting is a different matter. If it was vomited (i.e. after the digestion process had started), then dehydration and other imbalances can occur and the snake needs to rest as said above. The cause of vomiting also needs to be established and treated.

I got a bit confused with what happened exactly, so not sure if this is of much help.

You've got the two confused.

regurgitation
[ri-gur-ji-tey-shuh n]
noun
the act of regurgitating.

voluntary or involuntary return of partly digested food from the stomach to the mouth.

[phenyx]

You've got the two confused.

regurgitation
[ri-gur-ji-tey-shuh n]
noun
the act of regurgitating.

voluntary or involuntary return of partly digested food from the stomach to the mouth.

By dictionary definition that's correct, but there is a *way off topic* situation that illustrates the distinction between an undigested regurg and illness-induced vomiting. I'm sure any Moms or Dads here know what I'm talking about.

When moms nurse human babies, we quickly learn the difference between an oral liquid expulsion that's merely "spitting up" and an oral liquid expulsion that's actual vomit. The former looks and smells pretty much the same as it did when it went in because it hasn't been digested at all. The latter looks darker and smells like bile because it's come from deep in the stomach and is partially digested. We're even told by books, nurses and pediatricians that there's a difference between "spitting up" and vomiting. "Spitting up" is normal and to be expected. Actual vomiting means a trip to the pediatrician.

Maybe I'm incorrect applying the same knowledge to snakes, but when Jerkface regurged last week I never worried about him being actually sick because the fuzzy looked more or less like it did when I gave it too him. Even before I asked my question here on the board, I put the regurg down to some sort of environmental stress rather than illness.

[bigsnakegirl785]

Big snake girl I thought I just mentioned it. By accident and something out of my control he was left outside on a tiny fake decorative tree to enjoy the sunny day. Well I couldn’t find him I looked for 8 hours! Found him the next morning thank the lord and he just did not look like he had any type of bump all. So I’m thinking the stress of outside and him having to be on the move to get warm since the temps dropped in the 50s at night here in PA. im thinking he regurgitated. He’s absolutely fine now. Long story shot my nephew did something he wasn’t supposed to and caused this and I’m just happy I found him. Now I put a lock on his cage. I was almost in tears. I’m just so happy he’s back. So he shed a month ago exactly so I’m guess he refused the little fuzzy I offered him to see his responses but he wouldn’t eat. So either he’s full and did not regurgitates., or stressed out from being cold, or most likely because he’s in the very beginning stages of shed. I’ll find out soon. Once he sheds in the next 10-14 days kk feed him after and I’m sure he will be fine.

Please nobody judge me for what happened. Mistakes hallen. I fixed it and made sure it will never happen again and I am upset and ashamed enough.

I understand that he escaped, my confusion comes from what led you to believe he regurged without an actual regurgitation.

If it's just because there was no bulge, he may have just digested the meal down in that time.

As a side note, the story does matter here, as they are two totally different scenarios with different ways of fixing them. They also have two different culprits, and it's important that if it was through a fault of your own that you own up to it. If it was someone else's fault, it's important you take steps to prevent it from happening again.

By dictionary definition that's correct, but there is a *way off topic* situation that illustrates the distinction between an undigested regurg and illness-induced vomiting. I'm sure any Moms or Dads here know what I'm talking about.

When moms nurse human babies, we quickly learn the difference between an oral liquid expulsion that's merely "spitting up" and an oral liquid expulsion that's actual vomit. The former looks and smells pretty much the same as it did when it went in because it hasn't been digested at all. The latter looks darker and smells like bile because it's come from deep in the stomach and is partially digested. We're even told by books, nurses and pediatricians that there's a difference between "spitting up" and vomiting. "Spitting up" is normal and to be expected. Actual vomiting means a trip to the pediatrician.

Maybe I'm incorrect applying the same knowledge to snakes, but when Jerkface regurged last week I never worried about him being actually sick because the fuzzy looked more or less like it did when I gave it too him. Even before I asked my question here on the board, I put the regurg down to some sort of environmental stress rather than illness.

I wouldn't rely on the type of expulsion to determine if a snake is ill or not. A snake will throw up partially digested prey, even if they are not ill, if they are stressed enough. High temps, overhandling, escapes...any of these could result in regurgitation, whether partially digested or not.

[scales.jp]

You've got the two confused.

regurgitation
[ri-gur-ji-tey-shuh n]
noun
the act of regurgitating.

voluntary or involuntary return of partly digested food from the stomach to the mouth.

Hmmm, had this discussion before. Maybe a difference in usage between UK and US English.

[scales.jp]

I wouldn't rely on the type of expulsion to determine if a snake is ill or not. A snake will throw up partially digested prey, even if they are not ill, if they are stressed enough.

Good point. Perhaps we should just say that "throwing up" soon after eating is unlikely to harm the snake, but if it happens after digestion has started then the animal will require a period of recovery and monitoring for signs of illness.

"... when Jerkface regurged last week ..."

Such an awesome name. What you said was exactly what I meant. Thanks for going *way off topic* to illustrate it.;)

[craigafrechette]

Good point. Perhaps we should just say that "throwing up" soon after eating is unlikely to harm the snake, but if it happens after digestion has started then the animal will require a period of recovery and monitoring for signs of illness.


Interesting, and you may be right, maybe we just use them differently here than there....
...and since the proper use of the words isn't the topic here I'm perfectly fine with moving on.
Thanks man!

[craigafrechette]

Hmmm, had this discussion before. Maybe a difference in usage between UK and US English.

Interesting, you may be right.

[BallBuster7653]

Scales. And everyone else. Yes this was a big help. It puts me st ease. It’s been almost s week. The reason I thought he regurgitated was yes, as one of you mentioned , was because the huge bulge in him was gone. So yes, I could be wrong. But he always! Always has strong feeding tespsone and now he doesn’t. So it’s either he regurgitated and needs to rest. Or shedding cycle has begun. So I need to get tips on signs of early shedding with BCC anyone know any?

[craigafrechette]

So you think he regurged, yet you're already trying to feed him??????

[craigafrechette]

So you believe he regurgitated, yet tried to feed him less than a week later???

[craigafrechette]

Never mind, we probably won't get the truth anyway...

His nephew probably tried to feed the snake...or dinner was in the oven, or....

[Andy_G]

Signs of a shed cycle would be the same as any other snake species. I also think it's a bad idea to try to feed already.

With all due respect, for someone who claims to have a lot of experience, you're doing a lot of things and asking a lot of questions that someone with experience just doesn't usually do/ask...

[craigafrechette]

Signs of a shed cycle would be the same as any other snake species. I also think it's a bad idea to try to feed already.

With all due respect, for someone who claims to have a lot of experience, you're doing a lot of things and asking a lot of questions that someone with experience just doesn't usually do/ask...

I couldn't agree more

[MichaelRobinson]

Ballbuster, after seeing numerous posts where you are asking basic care questions and also posts where you pretend to be an expert. You clearly have no idea about snake husbandry and should never, ever, be giving advice to anyone.

[EL Ziggy]

No name calling.

[BallBuster7653]

No with all due respect I haven’t had a boa Amin years and I can trying to do anything perfect. Of that means repeatedly asking questions then I will. I broke my neck next year. It’s hard for me to remember something and type so anyone who said I’m lying well you can. Lock me.

Anyway he’s on cloud mode now. So good shes Friday then I’ll offer mouse. Be good.