Posted by Fred Albury(AZTEC REPTILES) on August 30, 2000 at 14:36:32:
In Reply to: Re: Regurgitating posted by TC on August 29, 2000 at 18:52:55:
: Hey Jim,
: Need more info. What are temps? (Hi\Lo\Basking spot)
: What and how large are you feeding?
: I assume this animal HAS to be captive bred, have you had the animal since a neonate?
: How soon after 1st regurgitation did you attempt to feed again?
: Was the first meal regurged exceptionally large?
: Lemme know, I'll give you my .02 (I have an adult pair myself.)
: Also - your best advice will come from Fred Albury and Robert Seib
: THEY are the experts - I am but a disciple. LOL
Jim,
I am alarmed to hear about your Eastern and its regurgitation problem. The things that cause regurge in eastern Indigos are the following:
A) Temps that are to high, hovering in the high 80's or even higher(90's) This a guaranteed regurge. Tempes that are to low to aid in digestion(50-65) degree range also can cause it.
B)Enviormental factors- Such as placeing the cage in a high traffic area where the snake is constantly subject to people tapping on the cage and /or foot traffic.
C)Feeding mice/rats that are not sufficiently thawed and are still frozen inside. I have personally seen this happen.
D) feeding mice and rats from a source that does not maintain cleanlinesss in their operation, the transmission of pathogens and disease.
E) The size of the meal. Try and feed smaller meals, even resorting to small hopper size mice and see if he keeps that down,it may indeed be the size of the meal.
If you adjust the temp of the cage, give the snake a hide box and put the cage in an area without much foot traffic and lookyloos , and avoid handleing the snake for 48 hrs+ after feeding then it should hold down its food. Often snakes that regurge fall into a pattern of regurge long after the original reason for the regurge (Stress, heat etc.) has subsided. If all these methods fail, then my suggestion would be to take it to a vet and get a FECAL WASH done on it to determine wht type of pathogens, flagyl, are present in its interstinal tract/stomach(If any) E-Mail and let me know how it responds to the changes suggested.
Fred
(AZTEC REPTILES)