Boa Regurgitating *Help

MoreliaMike420 · 05-26-05, 04:15 PM

I own a very pretty young columbian boa constrictor named Rock that has by far been my most favourite snake I've ever owned. He's been a regular eater and I feed him as much as possible (mostly once a week). I feed him frozen mice which I get from my work (Pet Paradise). He's eaten many times and shed a few times, however the last two feedings he's regurgitated his food partially digest - very gross. Im concerned why this is happening. The first time he did it the other week I assumed it was cuz I didnt give him enough time to fully digest the food item before handling, or possibly cuz it was very hot outside and I always let him bask in the sun on my back deck or in the small shrub in my backyard. But Im left confused now. I'm hoping he's ok, cuz he still seems like the same old Rock. Can anyone give me suggestions or help with this problem? It would be greatly apprecaited. Thank you.

thunder · 05-26-05, 04:28 PM

if you feed a snake too soon after a regurge, you get into an ugly cylcle. a regurge causes damage, and a snake needs time to build up his gastric juices. give him at least 3 or 4 weeks before offering him food, and give him something small. make sure not to handle him after eating. also, check your temps. in the future, do not offer him food more than once ever 7 days. when you say you feed him as much as possible, i dont really know what you mean by it, but it is wholly possible that you are overfeeding.

MoreliaMike420 · 05-26-05, 04:31 PM

By as much as possible I mean once every week or two if he'll take it. I never feed him more than once a week. And for temperature, I keep the tank warm with a heating pad, but the temp is only around 20C (I dunno what that is in stupid F system). Its also in my room which is fairly dark and cool for the most part. So I dont think too much heat is problem.

thunder · 05-26-05, 05:18 PM

i dont know celcius, but im sure someone else in here can tell you if your temps are correct.

HetForHuman · 05-26-05, 06:49 PM

i can almost gaurantee that it is your temps. 20 deg celsius is way to cold. That is only like 70 F. You should have your boa at about 80 F which is about 27-28 deg celsius, even a bit warmer. And also give him a hot spot with your heatpad of about 90-93 F. Which is about 33 deg celsius.

kferrari · 05-26-05, 07:24 PM

i would even try to keep it a little warmer for a ambient air temp say around 84 deg which is just around 30 degrees celsius. and the hot spot sounds perfect from wat het for human said that is what i have kept all my boas at and they were all fine with that. And also keep an eye on the night time temp to dont really want it to drop to low. I also wouldnt feed it for a few weeks and would handle it for about 2 weeks it is probably really stressed and weak. Then when you go to feed it give it a small meal and wait about 10 days until you feed it again then it should be okay to feed mice again. And also just by preference i wouldnt bring your snake outside to bask unless you bring a tank outside as well, leaving it on a shrub might increase your chances of it getting some sort of parasite which could be living on the tree(not good). any other concerns feel free to ask

CARLiTO_ · 05-26-05, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MoreliaMike420
...I feed him as much as possible...

This could also be one of your problems. Just feed what is needed, which is something that is 1.5 times the snake's widest girth. The prey should leave a lump for a few days. I would also definitely raise the temps. Leave the snake alone, if u have good temps...it doesn't need to "bask" in the sun.

Invest in a better heatpad and try feeding in 1 - 2 weeks.