Hairballs

**Minkness** · 10-15-15, 09:32 AM

Hey everyone.

I know that snakes are sometimes like cats in thatbif they injest too much fur, they may have a hairball. Not sure if this is 'bad' for them though, or how to prevent it. I have a female hognose who has as many hairballs in ger tank as poops when I check. She is the only one who does this and has done this since I've got her. She'sotherwise healthy, active, eats regularly (slown down to 1 adult mouse every 14 days), and clearly has a working bowel since she does still have alot of poops. But I'm concerned about the hairballs I keep finding. I'm talking like a good 3-4 a week. They are small, granted, but still odd. My other female hoggie who eats slightly larger adult mice has never given me a furball.

Any info or suggestions would be a great help!

(Also, she has a hot spot of 89 and ambient temp of 76-78, and humidity sticks between 50-60 depending if the ac is on)

reptiledude987 · 10-15-15, 10:27 AM

That is odd that you're just getting it from the one. As far as I know it shouldnt be an issue as long as shes having bowel movments and eating. I was recently thinking about breeding hairless rats for food items as I dont believe the fur contains nutritional value and simply gets passed but Im not sure if this is a good option or not. the reason I question it is because if it were better wouldnt there be rodent breeders breeding hairless rats for food already?

**Minkness** · 10-15-15, 12:28 PM

I looked into the same thing with my mice and was told that the fur actually acts as fiber and helps with the flow of...you get the idea lol.

Just find it odd I am getting so many from the one girl...no regurg, just hair balls.

prairiepanda · 10-15-15, 01:40 PM

Are you 100% positive that the others aren't passing hair? It might just be better hidden in the other poops....theoretically, all of them should be passing hairballs from every meal.

**Minkness** · 10-15-15, 03:51 PM

My other large female has passed 2 dince I've had her. The boys don't pass any but are only on hoppers and fuzzies, not adult mice yet. I wouldn't be worried, but seems to be as many hairballs as poops...i keep everyone on sanichips and clean about every 2-3 days or as I see poops (just in case they burry some). She's the only one who has so many...even my BPs who are in rats and mice don't do hair balls... (but my large male gives me pitbull sized poops once a month that requires the whole house to be aired out....)

mistersprinkles · 10-17-15, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reptiledude987

That is odd that you're just getting it from the one. As far as I know it shouldnt be an issue as long as shes having bowel movments and eating. I was recently thinking about breeding hairless rats for food items as I dont believe the fur contains nutritional value and simply gets passed but Im not sure if this is a good option or not. the reason I question it is because if it were better wouldnt there be rodent breeders breeding hairless rats for food already?

No my friend, the fur contains lots of vital keratin for your snake's scales. Leave it on. They ingest it in nature and they do ok.