regurgitating snake

[hellosugaree]

Originally Posted by infernalis

No the whole physiology behind parasites is that they need the host to remain alive, if the host perishes, the parasite dies with it.

Parasites (Flukes, worms) gain their nourishment from the host animal, so the host animal needs to digest that meal.

HIV doesn't benefit by killing you, but eventually it (indirectly) causes your death. Just because something isn't advantageous for a parasite, it does not necessarily mean that it won't happen in a particular individual. A parasite may not intend to make an animal regurgitate food or die as part of it's "plan." I would never rule out parasites only on the premise that the way it makes an animal sick doesn't support itself. I'm not claiming to be an expert or suggesting that your snake has parasites, but I am saying that regurgitation doesn't exclude parasites because it doesn't nourish them. The way an animal reacts to sickness is a combination of host and parasite responses.

Most importantly, don't take any advice too seriously, including mine. I'm not a veterinarian or a snake expert.

Sorry to hear about your snake. I can imagine issues like these are probably very difficult to pinpoint and a pain to solve in cases where it isn't something completely obvious like playing catch outside with your snake after it eats.

[KORBIN5895]

Originally Posted by hellosugaree

HIV doesn't benefit by killing you, but eventually it (indirectly) causes your death. Just because something isn't advantageous for a parasite, it does not necessarily mean that it won't happen in a particular individual. A parasite may not intend to make an animal regurgitate food or die as part of it's "plan." I would never rule out parasites only on the premise that the way it makes an animal sick doesn't support itself. I'm not claiming to be an expert or suggesting that your snake has parasites, but I am saying that regurgitation doesn't exclude parasites because it doesn't nourish them. The way an animal reacts to sickness is a combination of host and parasite responses.

Most importantly, don't take any advice too seriously, including mine. I'm not a veterinarian or a snake expert.

Sorry to hear about your snake. I can imagine issues like these are probably very difficult to pinpoint and a pain to solve in cases where it isn't something completely obvious like playing catch outside with your snake after it eats.

Isn't HIV a virus?

[infernalis]

Isn't HIV a virus?

Yes, HIV is a virus, and furthermore it's intended host is a primate that can tolerate the virus.

It was introduced into the human population when a group of scientists were testing a vaccine for the common cold.

Viruses and single cell organisms are called infections, not parasites.

But I digress, I know nothing.

[KORBIN5895]

Originally Posted by infernalis

Yes, HIV is a virus, and furthermore it's intended host is a primate that can tolerate the virus.

It was introduced into the human population when a group of scientists were testing a vaccine for the common cold.

Viruses and single cell organisms are called infections, not parasites.

But I digress, I know nothing.

Join my little world then.

[LuvDux]

So my shopping adventure for a thermostat failed. I called every petstore in town (Petco, pet supplies plus, Petsmart, Uncle Bills Pet Center, and Petware House) and only found one at Petsmart. It's not what I wanted but I'm giving it a try. It only has settings for low, medium, and high. So far it looks like I'm probably going to take it back tomorrow. I set it to medium and my temps spiked up to 135. I set it down to low to see what that gives me. I guess I'm going to have to get a good one online. I was looking at this one:

Zilla Terrarium Thermostat Temperature Controller - 500 Watt Lighting Reptiles Pet Supplies HorseLoverZ.com

Hammer mostly stays under the bedding. If I lift up the tank I can see where he's been. I've never actually seen him in the hide but I'll get another one anyway. I tried to contact the seller but I lost his info. There is another reptile show this weekend so I'm going to see if he's there again.

[hellosugaree]

Sounds like you have a rheostat (dimmer), not a thermostat. A thermostat measures temperature usually with a probe and automatically adjusts the power output to maintain the temps at a range around the set point. A rheostat just allows you to adjust the power at a constant level, but it will not compensate for the actual temperature in the enclosure. If you cranked a heater up to 95 degrees in your room, a rheostat controller would still put out the same amount of power to the heating mat as it would if the room was 25 degrees, whereas a thermostat would shut off above the set point and turn on below it.

[LuvDux]

Yes its a rheostat. I'm taking it back today. I found one little pet store that has the zilla thermostat. I had them hold it for me. My temps are going all over the place. If I leave the heat mat plugged it it shoots up to 120-130, if i unplug it it goes down to about 75. I don't know why it's getting so hot but hopefully this thermostat will fix it. I read that it has an automatic shut off when the temps get too high even if its because the room is hot and not just the mat.

[hellosugaree]

Originally Posted by LuvDux

Yes its a rheostat. I'm taking it back today. I found one little pet store that has the zilla thermostat. I had them hold it for me. My temps are going all over the place. If I leave the heat mat plugged it it shoots up to 120-130, if i unplug it it goes down to about 75. I don't know why it's getting so hot but hopefully this thermostat will fix it. I read that it has an automatic shut off when the temps get too high even if its because the room is hot and not just the mat.

That is how a thermostat works. However, you have to be careful how you place the probe. If the probe gets knocked loose and ends up in a cool part of the tank, then the thermostat will feed maximum power because it "thinks" the temperature is low. Do you have a heat lamp? I would recommend using a heat lamp as this can be used to raise the ambient temperature without such a dangerously high hot spot if you set it up right. Also consider putting some sort of insulating mat between the glass and the substrate so your snake can't burrow down onto bare glass on top of the heater. This will also buffer some of the heat since it seems to be really high.

[LuvDux]

Ok I have the thermostat. I just plugged it in and set it to 90. Should I place the probe in the substrate or not? Can I use newspaper on the bottom as a buffer?

[hellosugaree]

Originally Posted by LuvDux

Ok I have the thermostat. I just plugged it in and set it to 90. Should I place the probe in the substrate or not? Can I use newspaper on the bottom as a buffer?

I would place the probe in the substrate over the heater. But if your snake knocks it loose, be aware that it will likely start cranking on high. Newspaper won't do much because its so thin. Would you pull a pot out of oven with newspaper gloves? Probably not also be aware that the temp on the dial may not reflect the actual temperature that the thermostat adjusts to. You will have to monitor the temps and adjust it up or down until the actual temps you measure on your own are in the right range. Depending on the thermostat and where you place the probe and a million other factors, the temperature on the ddial and the actual temperature will probably be different. Once you get it adjusted though it should be fine. Make sense?

[LuvDux]

I have the probe over the heat mat but not directly over the center. My temps are still fluctuating but now its only between 88 and 95. I'm checking it every few hours and the highest it's gotten was 95.6. Is it ok that its still going up and down some? At least its not going from 75 to 135 anymore. I'm going to get a mat to cover the bottom later today. It's now been a week since I last fed Hammer.

[hellosugaree]

Originally Posted by KORBIN5895

Isn't HIV a virus?

Yes, but you could easily extend the reasoning to whatever categories of disease-causing agents you consider a parasite. Malaria work better for you? It doesn't benefit by killing people, although it has another host, mosquito, in which it does not cause disease. In any case, the sooner people die from it, the less likely it is they will be bitten by mosquitos and continue to transmit the disease to others. Humans (or other animals depending on type) are essential for the life cycle of malaria... If you still don't consider malaria a parasite, you can apply it to whatever you consider a parasite.

By the way, parasite is a general term that refers to an association where one thing benefits at the expense of another and generally requires it for an essential part of it's reproductive cycle. It doesn't necessarily apply to one group of organisms or even necessarily living things at all (as you might argue viruses are not really living). In any case, where to draw the line on parasite/non parasite doesn't change the argument.

[geckodog]

You should probably give him some time to get use to his tank, and in a week or so, he probably will be eating fine. GOOD LUCK. hope he starts eating soon

[Wolfus_305]

Aww that doesn't sound too good. I really don't know what to tell you. When I was young and got my first snake he regurged but that was because his heating was wrong and it was my error.

I don't know what to tell you because he is actually eating it when it's offered, the problems I have are more related to my ball python, NOT wanting to eat, but that's because he's picky and likes to annoy me.

Good luck, I hope the thermostat and temps help

[LuvDux]

I fed Hammer last Thursday night. I used a pinky this time. I was gone over the weekend but tonight (Sunday) when I got home I checked his tank and so far there is so sign of a regurge. How long does it usually take for a snake to poop after it eats? I won't be satisfied until I see it lol