Snake eating

[Rolly]

I have had a female ball python now for 3 weeks. The pet store where I bought it from said it was just fed. So when I tried feeding it the first time... it was not intrested and avoided the feeder mouse. I told the guy @ the store and he said try a pinky. Well I left it in her cage and she ate it within 5-10 mins (she was hiding in the shelter). Well about 24 hours later I found the snake has hurled up the pinky... is this normal?

[Aaron_S]

No it's not normal. Can you describe your set up? Temperatures? A snake regurges a meal when it might not have enough heat to properly digest it.

It could also just be an unhealthy snake. I doubt with you owning to other ball pythons that this is the case. I recommend that you just don't handle it for a few days. Then try a live fuzzy-hopper mouse. Pinky mice are too small for hatchlings.

[Rolly]

It is in a 55 gal. tank with paper on the base of the tank, heating is a pad that is attached to the side of the tank( read it is bad to sick them to the bottom) Humidity is 60-70%. It was a Pinky Rat not mouse.

[The Snake Guru]

Definitely not normal. Will wait till I see the answers to Aaron's questions...usually re-gurge is temperature related or internal parasite load.

~B~

[The Snake Guru]

It is in a 55 gal. tank with paper on the base of the tank, heating is a pad that is attached to the side of the tank( read it is bad to sick them to the bottom) Humidity is 60-70%. It was a Pinky Rat not mouse.


Yes but what are the Temperatures at? If all you have is a heat pad on there that's probably your problem right there.

Overall cage temperature should 85 to 86 degrees F with a hotspot of 90 to 95 (the heat mat creates your hotspot)

~B~

[Rolly]

Wow maybe I should attach the pad to the bottom of the tank. The snake was bought from the same place I purchased my male from. Good reputation on this guy I have heard nothing bad about his snakes.

[Rolly]

I have not checked it today as I am at work but last night it was 82-84.

[The Snake Guru]

Wow maybe I should attach the pad to the bottom of the tank.

That would be a good idea, belly heat is very important for Balls especially.

82-84 is within the range, though on young ones I usually try to keep it a little higher speeds up thier metabolism a bit.

~B~

[Rolly]

Well I really thank both you guys for the help. I will get the temperature up a bit more. What would you recommend in order for me to keep it at a constant temp? Like bigger pad, or heat rock... light?

[The Snake Guru]

Keep the same heatpad.....NEVER speak of a hotrock again! LOL Those are the worst things for snakes.

I would look into a reflector hood with an Infared bulb should do what you need it to.

~B~

[Aaron_S]

Get a rheostat and hook the pad upto that. Then set it at the temperature you want. Voila. It'll work. It might run you a bit more than the bulb and reflector but it's so much easier.

How large is the snake aswell? A 55 gal tank might be stressing the snake if it's a baby. If you don't have anything smaller put in lots of hides where it fits snug.

[reptiven]

i think that you should quarentine this if you have more than one snake and also do a regular deparasite i think you coud try on panacur that its a very safe medicament the dosis is 25-50mg. per Kg. this act on all nematodes and it's very safe or see a veterinarian

[ToddBecker]

I personally wouldn't unneccassrily medicate a snake unless I know it has parasites. I decent vet can do a fecal exam and find out for sure. Todd