Poops and sheds

CHRISANDBOIDS14 · 02-02-04, 09:53 PM

Hello all yah blood experts out there!

(anyone who knows these answers, lol)

I am wondering, my blood girl(20 inches) just had her last meal yesterday(well actually at 1:48 AM). It was her 4th meal with me. She is eating frozen thawed adult mice. I am wondering, she has not pooped yet. Im a little concerned. How often do bloods poop? Aswell, if i continue to keep this rate going, how many sheds should she have and how often? This rate assuming i increase appropriately with size increase. Thanks.

Chris

Big_V · 02-02-04, 10:25 PM

I just got my blood a little over a month and a half ago and he/she has only went the washroom once. I hear that they dont go that often, so i dont think you should be that concerned....but leave it too the real experts in this forum...THEY KNOW THEIR STUFF !!! And i too would like to know how often they should shed.

axwielding1 · 02-02-04, 10:41 PM

I got my blood in september. She was 16" and ate 1 f/t mouse per week. She's now 27" and VERY heavy, Seems to shed now every 30-40 days, and has eaten 1 medium rat a week for 3 weeks now. She has only pooped 3 times since I had her, and from what I understand, that's about normal.Pretty large poops though! Also, It seems to be about 1-2 weeks from shed start to finish. I notice her large head scales seem to flake up at start, 2-3 days till the eyes turn, then 5-7 days till she clears up, then 2-4 days till she's out. She won't eat from the time her head scales start, till she's out. Then she's HUNGRY right away!
ax.

Linds · 02-02-04, 10:44 PM

I am far from an expert, but I can still answer your question

Bloods/STP have a very slow metabolism, hence they will not defecate as often as other boids will, and when they go, they go! It isn't abnormal for them to defecate every few months as adults. As for the shedding question, there is no set schedule. Too many variables come in to play, such as the snakes unique mechanisms, growth, feeding, etc. As long as your snake is otherwise healthy, it isn't something to be concnerned with. If your snake is shedding too frequently (ie- a couple times per month), then it may be cause for concern, as well as if they are not growing and shedding over a long period of time (assuming they are young).

Also, at 20" your blood should be on larger prey than mice.

axwielding1 · 02-02-04, 10:47 PM

I wonder if you should try feeding every 4 days or so. At that size, my blood was eating every 3-4 days no problem! Maybe even a large rat fuzzy( just bigger than a mouse) once a week. I've been told that a rat is more nutritious than a mouse, and bloods like BIG prey. I should have upped the size of my bloods prey sooner, so I've been told.
ax.

CHRISANDBOIDS14 · 02-02-04, 10:58 PM

well i would be feeding larger or more often but im just waiting for my mouse breeding to boot up more. I am actually going out to by all my water bottles and food tommorow. I am also going to buy about 60 breeder mice by saturday. I also have to build my rack. Simple rack, rubber maids. Easy system. Once my breeding gets going and i start to sell i will be able to buy more rats and also feed off jumbo mice. I need to get rats as i cant go out and buy something for my 6ft boa every week. Yes, i know they like big prey. I dont want mine to develop a pinhead compared to the body. Thanks for all the info.

Chris