Help

Auddi01 · 04-30-03, 09:00 PM

i have just recieved some snakes, every time i try to feed them they regurgitate their mice. The corns will begin eating the mouse then quit half way, i have garter who did the same thing. i have never had this problem before what could it be?

LdyDrgn · 04-30-03, 09:13 PM

Who did you get the snakes from? Where in N. Carolina are you located? I know someone there who is really into colubrids (and is also a member of this forum) who could probably help you out. Hopefully he will see this post soon. JRiley, where are you?

04-30-03, 10:22 PM

offer a smaller meal to the corns and a minnow to the garter, anytime I saw a corn not swallow something down it was to big (almost an oxymoron with corns) most garters I know prefer fish.

NewLineReptile · 04-30-03, 10:31 PM

have you had them checked for internal parsites just a thought

Auddi01 · 05-01-03, 05:06 AM

i am in wilkesboro, nc i got the garter from New York, and the corns from Florida. i tried putting a small minnow with the garter, he is about 3ft long and his girth is more than a quarter,he is a large garter. he passed on it

Auddi01 · 05-01-03, 05:07 AM

wilkesboro is in the foot hills

BurmBaroness · 05-01-03, 07:19 AM

How long have you had them? I noticed you said "just received". They need at least a week to settle in, with minimal handling. Also, if you just received them, how many times have you tried to feed? Offer too often and they will just be stressed by the food. Sounds like one of 2 things to me. the prey items are too large, or they are just not hungry yet. Depends on how long they have been with you and how stressful the new environment has been. I have kept colubrids for several years, usually when they do that, it's because the prey is too large, or not hungry. Also, are you feeding live or f/t? I have one, a milk, who will not eat while I am in the room. If I come in and startle her, she spits the mouse out and feeding time is over for her. Everything here eats f/t, so leaving the food item with them and giving them some peace and quiet is a good option for funny eaters. Anyway, just a few ideas. A fecal would not be a bad idea, but sounds more like the reasons I have already given than a parasite problem. Good luck.

Simon R. Sansom · 05-01-03, 08:22 AM

Hi Austin,
I hope it's not something serious. Healthy snakes should not regurgitate. Here's my advice; I would leave them alone for one week. No handling or disturbance except for routine maintenance (changing water bowls, etc). Let them settle in. Make sure that they each have a secure hide-box (if you don't already). Then offer each a relatively small prey item, leave the room and come back to check later.
How long after feeding is the regurgitating happening?

Keep us informed.

Simon

BurmBaroness · 05-01-03, 11:52 AM

I don't think it's technically regurging, they are only half swallowing and then spitting out. I have a milk that does that if interrupted during feeding. If they are indeed swallowing the entire mouse, and then some time later regurging, I would follow Simon's advice, which is about the same thing I said. The main thing is not to stress them right now, any more than they already are.

Auddi01 · 05-01-03, 05:19 PM

thanks every one for your help, ill leave them alone and put a weanling mouse in there with them overnight, that is what i did last time, but i got them a week and a half ago, but i have been holding them every day, could that be it?

J_Riley · 05-02-03, 12:23 PM

I know I had my corn snake shipped from a friend in California about this time of year last year (or was it 2 years?) and he wouldn't eat for crap for about a month. My theory is that if they get chilled at this time of year, then get warmed up, instincts kick in and they think they should be breeding, which makes them uninterested in food. Sounds like a little too much handling, you should definitely let them get used to all the new sights and smells for a while.

And I agree with BB, doesn't sound like 'regurge' as it seems the prey item never gets swallowed completely.

Simon R. Sansom · 05-02-03, 02:10 PM

Aahh! Now I see... I think I agree with you guys about the excessive handling.
I think that we as keepers often tend to forget that snakes are, really, very shy and retiring creatures which very much prefer to be left alone.

Good Luck!

Simon

Auddi01 · 05-03-03, 02:38 PM

thanks alot every one for your help