The most interesting topic of rosy boa fecal deposit methods...

FlagonFly · 08-11-12, 07:02 PM

So we've had our rosy for about a week now, and she's eaten two pinkies. Haven't found any poop yet though. Do they tend to do their business under the substrate where I find her often burrowed, or would they typically come up and leave it on the surface? Wondering if I need to start digging through the aspen shavings to find the deposits to clean out.

franks · 08-11-12, 07:05 PM

I cannot give you a definitive answer, because I have only had mine a few months, but mine does not poop alot either and seems to be very healthy. What are your warm side temps? Does she have access to water? I have noticed that when mine does poop it is generally in her shed or after she has had a long drink. (niether of which is often)

FlagonFly · 08-11-12, 07:22 PM

Under the warm hide it stays close to 88, bit warmer during the day with an overhead light on.

I have put in a small water dish for a few days at a time so far. Not one in there currently but was thinking about putting it back soon since she ate yesterday. Am comparing to the kingsnake we had that would poop invariably a few days after eating, but it rarely burrowed.

That would be convenient for shed-only poopin, 2 cleanups with one scoop!

jaleely · 08-11-12, 09:06 PM

It does not hurt the snake in any way to have a water dish available at all times.
There are many suggestions that sand boas or rosy boas do not need water, however it's simply not true. They don't require MUCH water...but when they drink, they *drink* and I find that mine like to drink more often.
Here's my girl in her moist shed box

and here she is drinking : )
All animals need water, so why not provide it all the time so they can drink when they like?

OH and i forgot to actually answer the original thing. Yes you should shift through the sani chips to find the poo. THe liquid part of the pee will probably absorb into the chips, but sometimes you can find white chunks of that. The dark poo you will find in little turds if you sift *lol*

FlagonFly · 08-11-12, 09:41 PM

Thx for the feedback, I'll start sifting...!

As for the water, only reason have not kept it full at all times is to keep the humidity down. Want to avoid the respiratory problems I've seen mentioned in many places. I'm in the southeast so ambient humidity tends to be pretty high. What percentage range do you make sure you don't go above for yours?

snake man12 · 08-11-12, 09:46 PM

Get a dehumidifier some cheap ones are like 50 dollars.

FlagonFly · 08-11-12, 10:02 PM

Yeah I did a few quick searches before, but they are all too big to fit in her current enclosure. Am looking at a 36 when she gets bigger though, so could fit some of the smaller ones I am seeing on Amazon.

Wonder if something like this would be toxic in any way? Dehumidifying eggs:

Amazon.com: DEHUMIDIFYING EGG (SET OF 2) - REMOVE EXCESS MOISTURE FROM THE AIR!: Home & Kitchen

FlagonFly · 08-11-12, 10:04 PM

This one looks interesting, too:

Amazon.com: Eva-dry Renewable E-333 Wireless Mini Dehumidifer: Health & Personal Care

jaleely · 08-12-12, 12:25 AM

Do you have a way to measure the humidity? Gets pretty humid here on the west coast, though not too stifling. My male is fine, but my girl needs twice as much humidity as he does to help her shed. I think she has issues *lol*

Lankyrob · 08-12-12, 08:58 AM

I dont have rosy's BUT i have found my snakes that ate pinkies rarely pooped - probably because there wasny anything left over from digestion, once they eat mouse or rats with fur then the poop comes along

Eight · 08-22-12, 02:46 AM

My guy always has a water bowl in with him, but he wasn't shedding so well.

**Pareeeee** · 08-23-12, 06:59 PM

My rosy, Boaz, usually poops under his hide or in a corner. Look in your snake's favourite hiding spots. You'll probably find the poop there (if there is any).

My rosy has a water dish most of the time. I make sure he has water especially when he is going into shed. Before he sheds I give him a "bath" every other day. He goes in a plastic tub with a wet towel anywhere from a half-hour to an hour. This helps him shed faster.

We have had some very humid days here, but I have not observed any negative effects on Boaz. Just try to keep the enclosure well ventilated.

FlagonFly · 08-23-12, 07:59 PM

Thanks for all the feedback. I have started to find poop in the corner of her hide, so they must like that. I don't see her hanging out there very often though, usually she's under the shavings. In fact she's usually on the cool side, so I lowered the UTH from 88deg to 86 (on a thermostat) and will see if she starts going back and forth more often. She gets daylights during the day.

Think it's time to move her to fuzzyies... she gets pretty nippy around feeding day (every 3-4 or so schedule so far) and even bit at the feedbox lid as I was bringing in the mouse with the tongs. After she downs a pinkie I can't tell that she even ate, and she acts like she would take 3 more!

rmfsnakes32 · 08-23-12, 08:48 PM

Yeah when their appetites go up you know it when they swallow in minutes and start moving around looking for more boas usually have big appetites well most my one boa Taco is a fussy eater about half the year he has always done that his health checks out so I dont worry