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Do cooler viv temps=slower digestion?

D

dfree

New member
We fed our new almost year old corn for the first time on Monday around 8pm. She has been hiding out ever since, which thanks to you all I found out is perfectly normal. Today though, since it had been 3 days, I uncovered her in the cage just to make sure she was okay. She was coiled up in a ball, but did pick her head up and stuck her tongue out at me, so I guess she is fine. But although her "pinkie bulge" is getting smaller (it was absolutely huge-don't know how she fit it in her), it appears to be only about 2/3 of the way through her (hard to tell as she is curled up). Is this normal after 3 days to see a noticable bulge still, and for it to only be that far through her? If she was going to regurge, would she have done it by now? My UTH is not here yet, so all I have is a 60watt bulb over the cage to warm her, and it has been farily cool here-around 70 in the house. Could cold temps mean slower digestion? And if so, does this mean that I should probably wait 10 days to try and feed her again instead of 7? If she doesn't digest this one for 5 or 6 days, will she be hungry again in 7 days? Sorry so many questions. I feel so dumb right now.
 
Hi dfree. Corns need belly heat to digest their food that is probably why it is taking so long. I would leave it ten days before feeding again and wait until your uth is in place. Snakes can go a long time without food so dont worry about the extra days between feeding.
 
Hi dfree,
maybe you can put another lamp pointing at her hiding from outside the tank to get higher temperatures until the UTH arrives. If digestion takes too long due to cold surrounding temperature, the food can molder inside the snakes and poison her.
 
dfree said:
We fed our new almost year old corn for the first time on Monday around 8pm. She has been hiding out ever since, which thanks to you all I found out is perfectly normal. Today though, since it had been 3 days, I uncovered her in the cage just to make sure she was okay. She was coiled up in a ball, but did pick her head up and stuck her tongue out at me, so I guess she is fine. But although her "pinkie bulge" is getting smaller (it was absolutely huge-don't know how she fit it in her), it appears to be only about 2/3 of the way through her (hard to tell as she is curled up). Is this normal after 3 days to see a noticable bulge still, and for it to only be that far through her? If she was going to regurge, would she have done it by now? My UTH is not here yet, so all I have is a 60watt bulb over the cage to warm her, and it has been farily cool here-around 70 in the house. Could cold temps mean slower digestion? And if so, does this mean that I should probably wait 10 days to try and feed her again instead of 7? If she doesn't digest this one for 5 or 6 days, will she be hungry again in 7 days? Sorry so many questions. I feel so dumb right now.
Click to expand...

Cooler temps can have an effect on digestion. They need properly regulated heat for digestion. I know you said that you are using a 75watt bulb as a heat source, but are you monitoring the heat in the viv with a thermometer? You can successfully regulate heat using a bulb, but to make sure you are doing it right, you will need several thermometers. These aren't all that expensive either. I have picked up a few at petco for around 13 bucks.

http://www.petco.com/product/100375...N_Shopping_ReptileSupplies_TemperatureControl

They have other ones that are around 8 bucks or less.

http://www.petco.com/product/106227...-7A19-DE11-B4E3-0019B9C043EB&mr:referralID=NA

Once you can successfully monitor temps, then you can use that bulb to regulate a warm and cool side, properly, until the UTH arrives!

Good Luck,

Wayne
 
The same has happened to my snake. I've had October since... last Friday. the breeder told me to feed him on Saturday ( so I did) and then again on Wedneday. Within that time he hasn't pooped at all. The temps in my viv are 86 and 78 in the day time, but also in the day time he always tends to stay in his cocoanut hide on the cool side all day and doesn't bother to go to his log hide. I know that the heat will help him digest better but he doesn't even go over there unless i gently shimmy him over. Should I place his cocoanut hide where the heat is and switch it with the log hide on the other side??
 

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