ball python defication rate

[MKeim1989]

I am curious as to how often ball pythons tend to deficate. It seems like mine is taking a bit longer than usual. Its been two feedings since her last deficate (or urate. For that matter) and I'm beginning to wonder if there's a problem. She just shed a full shed and on her second to last feed she had two large mice instead of her usual med. Rat. Any help you can offer is appreciated.

[Mark Taylor]

Check your temps and humidity. If the temps are to low it will take longer to digest.

[Aaron_S]

If it's big enough to eat a medium rat and instead it got 2 mice it won't go for awhile.

It'll go when it's ready to go though. Mine do not all go on a weekly basis.

[smy_749]

If it's big enough to eat a medium rat and instead it got 2 mice it won't go for awhile.

It'll go when it's ready to go though. Mine do not all go on a weekly basis.

Just curious, whats the relationship between defecation and feeding 2 mice or 1 rat? Is it a digestion time thing or something about switching up the meal or ...?

[Lankyrob]

My guy takes two 135g (average) rats every month and poops every month and a half(ish). The rats i order fall i to a range of 125-150g so if he has a couple at the smaller end he will take longer to poop, if he takes two large rats he may poop quicker.

The way i look at it if food goes in and poop comes out the time in between is irrelevant.

[Mark Taylor]

Its the digestion time.

[smy_749]

Its the digestion time.

Even if the 2 mice and 1 rat are relevantly the same weight is what I'm getting at? Does it have to do with actually feeding two as opposed to one, or mice as opposed to rats, or just to do with the total weight consumed?

[Starbuck]

if you feed 2 prey items that together are the same mass as one larger prey item; the two smaller ones will have an increased surface area compared to the larger prey item. Digestion then occurs, and may be more complete/quicker in the smaller items due to the increased surface area. Because it is more complete, there is less waste, and a longer time before the animal needs to defecate.
This^^ is conjecture, so if anyone knows a studied/proven reason please chime in.

[Mark Taylor]

It is also more nutritious for the snake to be eating 1 larger pray size as opposed to feeding 2 smaller pray items.

[Aaron_S]

Even if the 2 mice and 1 rat are relevantly the same weight is what I'm getting at? Does it have to do with actually feeding two as opposed to one, or mice as opposed to rats, or just to do with the total weight consumed?

Total weight consumed is what I'm getting at.

Adult mice are roughly what, 40 grams? My medium rats are minimum 150 grams. Two adult mice are barely over half of that.

So as someone else said, more of it would be used up and less waste so the animal will only go when it's more full of waste.

[mykee]

If your ball python doesn't poop 4.5-5.25 days after eating, something is TERRIBLY wrong; get it to a vet immediately.
Seeing as how the programmer who created the software for the ball python was very anal, his program should work like clockwork. If it's not pooping on that EXACT schedule, you need to bring him into Best Buy or Future Shop and maybe a hard reboot will get his software working better.

[lady_bug87]

If your ball python doesn't poop 4.5-5.25 days after eating, something is TERRIBLY wrong; get it to a vet immediately.
Seeing as how the programmer who created the software for the ball python was very anal, his program should work like clockwork. If it's not pooping on that EXACT schedule, you need to bring him into Best Buy or Future Shop and maybe a hard reboot will get his software working better.

I KNEW it!

Thanks big daddy

[mykee]

Lol. Anytime Sunshine.

[lady_bug87]

Lol. Anytime Sunshine.

Careful, I may just hold you to that

[mykee]

........uh oh..

[lady_bug87]

........uh oh..

What? Scared? :p

[MKeim1989]

I keep my room at around elan ambient eighty three degrees so I don't think temps are the problem. Ill keep an eye out for defecated in the near future. Another questioned crossed my mind though: is it okay to continue feeding if no deification is observed? Thanks in advance!

[Starbuck]

no reason to change your feeding habits unless you notice your animal starting to act sick.

Its a good idea to keep a notebook/journal noting all sheds/defecations/feedings etc (and weights if you have a scale) so there is never any question. This can be enormously helpful if you ever have to take your animal to the vet.

[MKeim1989]

Well, she deficated while i was at work today. I actually use a husbandry program to record info for all of my snakes. Thanks to everyone for the help.

[KORBIN5895]

Well, she deficated while i was at work today. I actually use a husbandry program to record info for all of my snakes. Thanks to everyone for the help.

Did she pee or did she poop?

[franks]

I keep my room at around elan ambient eighty three degrees so I don't think temps are the problem. Ill keep an eye out for defecated in the near future. Another questioned crossed my mind though: is it okay to continue feeding if no deification is observed? Thanks in advance!

Just clarifying, when you say you keep an ambient of 83 degrees: I am assuming you also keep a hot-spot? A hot spot is important to the digestion and health of any snake.

[MKeim1989]

She peed and she pooped.

I do keep a hot spot. I use flexwatt heat tape for that purpose, as I'm sure many of you do as well!