How long should I wait before I start handling?

[Marshallarts]

As many of you know, my ball python Marshall regurgitated his mouse yesterday simply because it was too big. I have ruled out any other causes. I am just wondering when I should handle again? I would appreciate detailed responses if possible, thanks.

[Pareeeee]

Personally, I would wait until he had a couple of good feedings before handling again.

[Cmwells90]

Originally Posted by Pareeeee

Personally, I would wait until he had a couple of good feedings before handling again.

I agree, just to be safe I would wait for 2 regular feedings, then if there's no more regurge then you should be fine.

[lady_bug87]

My rule of thumb is three feedings. I don't think it's the food size. My 2014s eat 20-25g rats and no regurgitation.

Sometimes these things just happen. If you really think it's the food size, go smaller next time. I'd obsessively check my temps with an infrared temperature gun if I were you.

Aside from that just take it feed by feed. If the regurge happens again you may want to call a vet

[Aaron_S]

Originally Posted by Marshallarts

As many of you know, my ball python Marshall regurgitated his mouse yesterday simply because it was too big. I have ruled out any other causes. I am just wondering when I should handle again? I would appreciate detailed responses if possible, thanks.

How did you rule this out? How long after eating the prey item did the snake regurge?

[Kuamata]

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

How did you rule this out? How long after eating the prey item did the snake regurge?

Original thread said 2 days, but he also mentioned he held him after two days and he regurgitated afterwards. Not immediately, OP came back home to a regurg later on. Personally feel he didn't wait long enough before handling.

[Aaron_S]

Originally Posted by Kuamata

Original thread said 2 days, but he also mentioned he held him after two days and he regurgitated afterwards. Not immediately, OP came back home to a regurg later on. Personally feel he didn't wait long enough before handling.

Thanks!

I have a feeling that may have been the case. A snake doesn't hold onto a meal for 2 days if it was too large of a meal.

However, I'd double check husbandry again to ensure proper heat for digestion.

[Marshallarts]

I've been checking husbandry every few hours. It's perfect. I waited 50 hours before handling, so I don't see how that could be an issue either. If it wasn't too big, then I honestly don't know why he would have regurgitated. It's obviously my fault though as his caretaker and I want to make sure this doesn't happen again.

[Aaron_S]

Originally Posted by Marshallarts

I've been checking husbandry every few hours. It's perfect. I waited 50 hours before handling, so I don't see how that could be an issue either. If it wasn't too big, then I honestly don't know why he would have regurgitated. It's obviously my fault though as his caretaker and I want to make sure this doesn't happen again.

It's really great that you're holding yourself accountable.

It doesn't happen often as most people blame the snake. So good for you.

In most cases it's keeper error and most often I see husbandry issues. What are the temps you keep? How do you track this?

It could be a faulty temperature gauge inaccurately reading the heat.

[Kuamata]

I usually give mine 3 - 4 days to digest before handling again, and generally do not handle 1 - 2 days before a feed. If you followed that and did the minimum, you'd have at least 3 days to hold your snake for a little bit a day. Seems fair enough to me.

[Marshallarts]

I did handle him before I fed him, could that have caused this?

[Kuamata]

Edit: sorry, misunderstood. Handling before feeding, no. I do that just to lessen the chances of being bitten by a hungry snake lol.

[Marshallarts]

Oh ok I thought you only had to wait 48 hours before you could handle them after feeding?

[Kuamata]

I was always under the impression that it may take a few days, as in three, so I give three or four, personally, just to be on the safe side.

[Marshallarts]

Ok thanks for the advice. He usually poops on the third day as well. Maybe I will start waiting longer.