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View Full Version : SAND BOA SICK? PLEASE HELP!!! (cont'd)


Laud
02-27-05, 11:11 PM
We are in need of some advise regarding our sand boa, "Sandpaper". About a week ago we were holding Sandpaper and to our suprise the li'l dude vomited this clear/white/cloudy mucus on a pant leg. (it came out in two bits)
We're not too sure why... but then the other day he did it again... we're wondering what this could be from.
As we were instructed by our contacts when we bought the snakes... we had the temp (air temperature) directly about the substrate at about 90 degrees Farenhuit. Since the snake got out about 2 months ago and has shown a couple times that he's vomiting or something like that we've turned the heat up to about 110 degrees Farenhuit on the bottom ON the glass. to warm them up some more.
He has not eaten for 3 weeks (just pretty much LOOKS at the mouse) and we are getting a little bit concerned with the situation.
We've changed from a over aquarium heat lamp to a heat pad directly on the bottom glass. so this is keeping the immediate tempurature closest to the snakes at about 110 as we said before.
He is housed in a 20 gallon glass terrarium with aspen shavings on the bottom and a water dish in the middle (half warm half cool). the terrarium contains both him and a lovely female, "Tigger", so someone had said he might not be eating cause of the mating season ... but that doesn't explain his puking.

That's pretty much all we know.

Please only serious responces.

Thank you

Stockwell
02-28-05, 12:35 AM
Is the snake regurging after feedings, or is this happening even know the animal hasn't fed for several weeks? Regurging food can happen if the snake is held too soon after a meal, but this is common knowledge. If this is the case simply stop holding it after it feeds .. Wait a good 3 or 4 days.
Snakes will also spit up water mixed with mucus if they are handled right after they drink.
If it hasn't been eating or drinking but is vomiting,this is quite rare, not normal and would likely indicate a serious internal problem. It could have a bacterial or protozoal infection, or internal growth/tumor/cyst or have an internal impaction from ingesting substrate. It's very rare for sand boas to become impacted but if it has ingested a large piece of Aspen shaving that was stuck on it's food, this could be stuck inside the intestinal tract. Impacted snakes will exhibit non feeding and regurge symptoms. Unfortunately such cases usually prove fatal unless surgery is performed to remove the obstruction.
Mucus in regurge or feces is usually indicative of a serious problem in the gastro-intestinal tract.

Golden_Lotus
02-28-05, 10:52 AM
I have 6 at home (6 kenya sand and 2 rosy) and I never put the temperature that high. At your place, I will verify that requirement with other sources. I suspect that is your problem.