Boa upchucked

unknownclown · 04-18-03, 01:52 PM

Im not sure the propper term for when they throw up a meal but my boa did it today

I fed him a small and large mouse and neither stayed down

I think Ive heard that this is a pretty common accurance but I just wanna make sure.

HetForHuman · 04-18-03, 01:59 PM

its called regurgitating(sp) food. and as far as i know it is not a regular occurance. i have had my boa for well over 2 years and she has never ever done that.
what are the temps and the humidity in the cage. also does he have a hide box. more details please.

unknownclown · 04-18-03, 02:13 PM

well the cool side is about 85 give or take and the warm side is 90 with a heater under the tank and a light above. I mist alot since I keep plants in there as well. I dont have a gauge for the humidity but I can say its pretty high. There is a hide box on the warm side of the cage but he doesnt go there much instead he scoots behind it and hides there more than inside of it.
He is a new snake I just got him on the 6th and this is the first time I have managed to get him to eat. Maybe he still needs time to settle in?

BurmBaroness · 04-18-03, 05:49 PM

Your temps are too high. the correct temps are 78-80 cool side, and 86-88 warm side. He's too hot. Also, why feed a small mouse and a large mouse? It only needs one appropriately sized food item no closer than 7 days apart, and after 18 months, go to 10 days. At 2 yrs, they only need to be fed one appropriately sized prey item every 14 days. Also, since your boa regurged, do not attempt to feed again for 7 days. Humidity is also probably too high, it should only be about 60%, and can raise to 70% right before shedding. You need to get his environ ment corrected, and wait 7 days to feed. Also, I would switch from mice to rats, about the same size as the mice that is the right size for your boa. The prey item should be no bigger than your snake at it's largest girth.

HetForHuman · 04-18-03, 05:49 PM

yes could possibly still be a little stressed out. give him a little more time to settle in and try again. and it is also a good idea to take them for a vet check when you first get them too. well i do anyway. take a sample of his feces for the vet to check too.

LdyDrgn · 04-18-03, 06:12 PM

Mice have a lot more fur than rats as well. Many boa constrictors have a slightly sensitive stomach and too much fur will result in regurge and/or very runny stool. Switch to rats and wait several days before trying to feed again after the regurge as others have said. Waiting 14 days may be better than 7.... each snake is different.

Linds · 04-19-03, 07:50 AM

90 hot spot is fine IMHO, however they need a much cooler retreat... between 78 and 80. 85 is too warm. BCI do not require high humidity... they can do fine with levels around 55%, and slightly elevated into the 60% when they are in shed. Any higher levels than this over a period of time can lead to respiratory infections or skin conditions. Babies are especially sensitive to improper temps and humidity than adults are. BCI are relatively simple to keep in terms of husbandry, they don't require high humdity, etc. As BurmBaroness mentioned, they should only be fed one appropriately sized prey item. Also parasites should be ruled out as a possible cause. Have you had a fecal done?

djnzlab · 04-19-03, 08:18 PM

HI,
Most boa's regurge because they were handled to much after feeding. I usally leave mine alone for acouple days after feeding.
Are you maintaining temps at nite ?? The need to recover from regurge it takes several days to replace that stomach acid, feed one smaller item at the next feeding to allow the boa to recoverand digest easily the food item.Mice are for king snakes feed the apropiate size rat item.. I start my babies on rat pups.
a couple regurges can lead to a serious problem in your snake.
doug

unknownclown · 04-20-03, 02:03 PM

Well I didnt handle him realy after feeding him except to switch him form where he ate back into his cage. I am going to guess that it is a mixture of being shuffled around here and there this is his 3rd home in a month at least. The heat and the humidity has also been corrected as well. So hopefully that will solve the problem. He has had a fecal done so I think I can rule that one out at least.
Oh and I fed him 2 mice because my female rat had a disasterous litter which took a week to give birth to and they ofcourse all died. So I was rattless when it came to the propper size meal. Next time I'll just pick up a feeder from the store instead of being cheap. Hm.. my mini lop just had a litter yesterday that are about the right size though

But Ill wait a week or so to feed him since you all suggest it. Unfortunately the bunnies will be too big then.

KLG · 04-22-03, 09:26 AM

Linds totally hit the nail on the head with regards to temperatures - you want absolutely nothing lower than a 75 ambient, with 78-80 being optimal, and approximately 90-92 for a basking. If your ambient temps are too high your animal cannot properly thermoregulate.

When it comes to feeding again, wait 2 weeks, not one, and offer your boa a meal that is slightly smaller than what you would normally feed. You have to give your snake time to re-establish positive gut flora, and sometimes a week is simply not long enough. Also, how old is your boa? I didn't see its age mentioned above.

Something you may also want to keep in mind is that after a regurge, soaking your snake (shallow, lukewarm water in a warm spot!) is very beneficial since dehydration is a nasty condition that usually accompanies regurgitation. Rehydrating your animal can help to speed the recovery time, although you should still hold off on feeding for a minimum of 10-14 days.

Just my $.02

K

unknownclown · 04-22-03, 10:25 AM

Well KGL I have no idea how old he is

but Im pretty sure he is somewhere under a year just cause he is still a little guy. Here's a pic just so you can get an idea on the age.

By the way that pic doesnt do him justice he is very light and a gorgeous hunk of a man snake

KLG · 04-22-03, 11:05 AM

He's certainly a lovely boy...just give him some time to settle down and let his stomach rest a bit. He looks great and there's no need to feel in a rush to feed him again. Give him some downtime and let him acclimate to his new surroundings for the next 10 days or so; avoid handling him unless absolutely necessary. You should also make sure you're quarantining him away from any other snakes in your collection as a precaution.

Can't wait to see some new pics of him once he's settled in - I love those even, bowtie-esque saddles and clean background coloration. Nice boa! Good luck with him.

K

P.S. What size enclosure is he in?

04-22-03, 11:20 AM

I can't be positive but the pic looks to me to be a possible Bcc not Bci. Feeding and environment for Bcc is more stringent and less forgiving. Anyone else see a few tiny peaks on some of the lower saddles?

unknownclown · 04-22-03, 11:36 AM

Well since he has already been checked for parasites and had a clean bill I didnt go with the newspaper substrate and went with an all natural enclosure. I moved him into an enclosure called a Reptarium in the living room which isnt as warm and humid as my room.
My room is an attempted assimulation of the Malaisian tropical rain forest. Very humid and warm, I keep air filters set on high on constantly. If you wonder why its because I keep my collection of nepenthes (carnivorous plants) in there. At night I open the window and turn the humidifier off to also assimulate the Malaisian night temps. So thats why Ill easily accept that the temps and humidity were the problems.

unknownclown · 04-22-03, 12:03 PM

Ok just in case there is any doubt I took a couple more pics of him in his cage since I didnt wanna disturb him. As Ive said before Im pretty new and couldnt tell the difference between a BCC and a BCI. He was sold to me as a columbian with 66% het albino. Since I got him for only $150 I think it was, it doesnt matter in the least if I was lied to. I love him way too much to care.

Sorry about the plastic I need to fix that its the liner for the bottom of the cage that I accidentally pulled up when removing his hide box before taking the pics

Sorry Im like a proud mom whos been asked to show off a kid