No Poop!

BRB-OC · 08-22-12, 04:28 PM

Fun topic to start my Forum-posting career, but here goes...
Brought home a juvenile BRB about 4 weeks ago. Have fed him (Severus - named by my 13yr old daughter) 4 times with no output. (or at least not one I could find). Here is some info to help:
Snake details
Size: 14-16 inches (I haven't held him straight next to a tape measure yet.)
Weight: not sure, but heavier (and longer) than a month ago when we brought him home

Conditions
Temp: 85 warm side (set to drop 5 degrees overnight)
Humiditiy: 65%-75% with spray-down once a day
Substrate: Eco-Earth type coconut husk (x1 inch), some Reptibark on top of that (1/2 inch), and sphagnum moss piled here and there
Feeding: Done outside of terrarium (so I don't think it's impaction)
Amount of food: started with 1 pinky, then 2 per feeding (last 2 weeks)

Behavior

He's active when we take him out to hold him, and is exploring terrarium at night.
Moves just fine. (smooth, even motion)
No visible swelling or bloating.
Soaked him in luke-warm tub x10 mins today - swam like a champ

After searching/reading a lot, I'm beginning to think he's not getting enough food. ?? Any other thoughts?

snake man12 · 08-22-12, 05:06 PM

Try feeding him a larger meal like a fuzzy or even a small hopper. That will probably get things moving, so to speak.

CDN_Blood · 08-22-12, 05:16 PM

I think you'll find that if you significantly increase the amount of food, it'll start getting more regular

Snakesitter · 08-22-12, 05:21 PM

BRB-OC, a 16-inch Brazilian is still a baby.

I would drop your hot-side temps by a few degrees. Around 82F is ideal. I would also raise your humidity by 20% -- babies need around 90%, adults around 80%. Substrate sounds fine.

When you say "pinks," do you mean mice? If so, that's your issue. Even a newly-born Brazilian can take a *rat* pink. Try one of those every week. If you cannot get them, then offer four mouse pinks per feed. That should produce more of a poop reaction -- right now he's using up all the fuel he gets. ;-)

Good luck,

Lankyrob · 08-22-12, 05:24 PM

Ifound feeding punky mice or rats to my younger snakes didnt produce much "output"

Once they were on to prey items with fur then there is a definite increase in through product

Tekpc007 · 08-22-12, 05:28 PM

i use a blowdryer on my rats and mice before feeding for 2 minutes , they seems to react more to the smell and taste and eat every time.

BRB-OC · 08-22-12, 10:22 PM

Thank you all for the feedback. It seems unanimous. Bigger portions on the way!
I'll try to remember to follow up after he leaves me a "gift". :-)

Snakesitter · 08-24-12, 02:02 PM

LOL. I think this falls under "tis better to give than receive...." ;-)

BRB-OC · 08-24-12, 05:59 PM

Well, I guess posting the issue was all the motivation he needed. Yesterday, he left a small dollop of chocolate pudding in his moss. Not big, and very soft. Is that normal for BRB's?
Last snake I owned was a red-tail boa (about 20 yrs ago!) and it's feces were always a little stiffer (closer to the consistency of a dog). So this soft-serve offering from my little guy is very different. But is that normal?

shaunyboy · 08-24-12, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lankyrob

Ifound feeding punky mice or rats to my younger snakes didnt produce much "output"

Once they were on to prey items with fur then there is a definite increase in through product

^^^^^
it's the same with carpet pythons

cheers shaun

Rainbowsrus · 08-24-12, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BRB-OC

Well, I guess posting the issue was all the motivation he needed. Yesterday, he left a small dollop of chocolate pudding in his moss. Not big, and very soft. Is that normal for BRB's?
Last snake I owned was a red-tail boa (about 20 yrs ago!) and it's feces were always a little stiffer (closer to the consistency of a dog). So this soft-serve offering from my little guy is very different. But is that normal?

Pinkie feeders will lead to soft (even runny) stools. Once you move up to feeders with hair, then there will be straw for the bricks! ;-)

BRB-OC · 09-01-12, 09:15 AM

Well, we upgraded the menu to a good-sized fuzzy. He thought about it for a while, but eventually downed it. I haven't seen the recycled product yet, but I'm sure it's keeping the pipes moving.

Thank you all for your feedback...

Snakesitter · 09-03-12, 07:04 PM

LOL....good news!

BRB-OC · 09-21-12, 09:44 AM

Just to bring the discussion to conclusion, there's no question that the transition from hairless pinkies to fuzzy hoppers made all the difference.

3 weeks of consistently passed feces of normal size and consistency. ...and now, back to more savory topics!

h3h · 09-21-12, 11:06 AM

Did you just use the word feces, and savory in the same sentence? Really? That's so disgu....Oh my lunch is ready gotta go...

- h3