very worried!!!

[Shanna]

I've never in 13 years of owning snakes had this happen to me. Today, when I got home from work, I checked on my babies and I found part of a rat in my pied's enclosure. It was the back legs and the tail. The legs still had hair on them to. His last meal was 2 weeks ago btw. It was all stuck together but it wasn't wet. The temp in his enclosure is 88 f at the hot end and 80 f at the cool end. His last bm was totally normal, about a week ago. He's never had any problems before. I'm also in the middle of looking for a good herp vet to. Please help me

[stephanbakir]

Never heard of one getting ripped in half by a snake, but it could have been thrown up?
It wasnt wet but how did it smell?

If the rat was F/T it could have broken a bit when frozen then split when the snake constricted it? never had it happen but it sounds possible.

[mistersprinkles]

Sounds like the snake wasn't able to digest the meal properly and regurgitated it after having it in its stomach for some time.

No idea about herp vets. It's been a long time. This is the only one I know of. The Links Road Animal & Bird Clinic

[stephanbakir]

She said that the rat wasnt wet, normally when a snake throws up a rat its whole and sticky/smelly.
no?

[sickvenom]

Originally Posted by stephanbakir

She said that the rat wasnt wet, normally when a snake throws up a rat its whole and sticky/smelly.
no?

that is true. her description wasn't very good at all. we'll just have to wait until she can expand on what she found.

[stephanbakir]

Yeh, also photos of the rat would be fantastic.

[mistersprinkles]

Originally Posted by stephanbakir

She said that the rat wasnt wet, normally when a snake throws up a rat its whole and sticky/smelly.
no?

The rat breaks down. The snake's digestive system is very powerful. A rat is stretched to time and a half it's original length inside a snake minutes after swallowing. I think it's possible that the rat could snap- or part of it could make it through the duodenum into the intestine and cut off due to some indigestion issue. If the snake were unable to produce stomach acid or something it isn't impossible that a non gooey rat could be regurgitated.

I had a weird case of food poisoning once where I didn't digest something and a similar thing happened to me. The next day. Looked the same. Bit scary. Had to take some kind of pill..

That's what I'm going with. More info for sure and maybe a picture too would be great.

[stephanbakir]

interesting idea

[Shanna]

there was no smell at all. If he regurgitated it in the morning though, would that give it enough time to dry out by the time I got home at 3pm? Im really sorry to... I tossed the legs and tail. I didn't even think to take a pic of it. The litttle rat feet even had all of it's little nails to.

[stephanbakir]

Next time the snake feeds hope for the best, as long as he isnt showing any signs of being sick i wouldn't worry.
If it happens again though take him to a vet

[mykee]

Completely aside from this issue, I would increase that kinda hot spot of 88 to a hot spot of 90-95.

[Shanna]

he seems perfectly and looks great. It's was the most unusual thing i'd ever seen. I will definately up the temp though. I'm still in the midst of vet searching and there's a lot of mixed reviews.