ETB digestion...

[lostwithin]

Hi just wondering I have heard lots about ETB and there slower digestion I personally have only had mine for a few months I feed every 14-16 days, and she defecates on pretty much the same schedule. Is that irregular ? I just hear so much about them being slow too digest but mine seems to defecate between every meal. Am I just lucky ?? she also shed a while back and man are they ever stunning right after a fresh shed.

Devon

[bistrobob85]

Yours defecate after each meal?!?! What temp do you keep your snake at!?!? How is the poop?? Maybe you feed very large items and the snake has to go more often... I have only had my two young ones for 9 months now but i have noticed that they really do have a much slower digestive system... As for the shed part, i'm waiting for mine to shed within the next two nights :)!!

phil.

[BoidKeeper]

She defficated every 14 ro 16 days, not after every meal. Go back and read it again and you'll see what he meant.
Devon some people go every two weeks with no problem in your case I would too. The animal is CBB and only with it's second owner so you know it's history. The thing I would watch for is 3-meals dump rule. If after 3 meals she hasn't had a dump then I would not feed her until she does.
Cheers,
Trevor

[lostwithin]

Trevor, Thats what I thought. I just found that she has does go quite regularly, and that seemed contrary to what alot of people say, but at the same time, I have been warned most information you see on these animals is based on wild caught animals not healthy CBB specimens.


What temp do you keep your snake at!?!? How is the poop?? Maybe you feed very large items and the snake has to go more often...


He cage temps vary with the snake room. Normally floating around 78-80 going as low as 75, and as high as 84.5 . It pretty much varies with the herp room. The poop looks great lol, Its exactly what you would want snake poop to look like. And the meal sizes are not to big at all . probably just right for a ETB They are just about the same size as her widest part. They don't really leave a lump, just make her look full. In fact I am thinking about uping her prey size in the next couple feedings

Devon

[Holy Mackerel]

Originally posted by BoidKeeper
The thing I would watch for is 3-meals dump rule. If after 3 meals she hasn't had a dump then I would not feed her until she does.

Trevor,

What's the threat the snake faces if defection is not occuring, but they keep feeding? This is assuming the snake is not constipated, just does not defecate often.

Steve

[Rob McRobbie]

You will run the risk of having your emerald regurgitating the next meal... Because they have such slow metabolisims what could end up happening is the animal will stuff itself beyond it's capabilities to properly digest and it's system will say enough is enough and reject the latest meal...

If your emerald has not defecated before a 4th meal is offered, you will probably see that it is quite bloated near the cloacal end of things and another meal is really the last thing it needs...


Rob

[Holy Mackerel]

I know my chondro a little better. She will hold off defecation for quite a while as well. She will also continue to eat without any problems. But I know her well, and know it's not an issue, which isn't the same for my ETB.

[BoidKeeper]

I replied this today but I must not have hit the submit button. I was going to say what Rob said any way.lol
Cheers,
Trevor