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Is my snake making himself regurg?

Sinsational

Sinsational

New member
Ok so about a month ago, my snake regurged. I followed the regurg procedure and waited 7 or 8 days before feeding again. I fed 1 pinky instead of 2. He kept it down. I waited another week and then fed 2 pinkies again, and the snake was over on the cold side, climbing his climbing branch and falling, climing to the top of the tank and falling off. He was rarely on the warm side. He regurged 4 days later.
How can I prevent this from happening again? Is it ok to take his cool hide out and just leave him the warm one?

Thanks
 
No, it's not okay to take out his hide. He regurged because you increased the size of his food too quickly. This time, wait 8-10 days again. Feed a pinky head. Two times. Then the front half. Then another front half. Then each rear half, separately. Then a whole pink cut in two halves. I'd stick with that for maybe four feedings, then go to 1.5 pinks, in three pieces. Before this all started, had you ever fed double pinks? How much does your snake weigh? Oh, I'd do the feedings five days apart, once you start.
 
Oh no, I just fed him this weekend again, I fed him 1 pinky. He had been on 2 pinkies for abut 4-5 feeds before his first regurg. Ok, I will make sure to feed him a much smaller meal next time. I'm just worried because he's so small and has lost weight already :( He is now 14 grams. He was 16 when he was on the double pinkies. The pinkie I fed him was cut in 3 pieces though at least. I really hope I get the hang of this snake thing... I am trying to do the best for him. Thanks for the advice Nanci. Should I do anything different if he keeps this down or not? or should I start the regurg procedure all over from the beginning 8-10 days from Sunday?
 
If he keeps that down, I would go to a couple meals of half pinks. Then to pinks in three thirds.
 
Nanci, Thanks so much for your advice. I will make sure to follow it. Looks like he kept his meal down. He has pooped twice. How long should I wait till his next feeding? I fed him 1 pinkie chopped up. So just to confirm that I should feed him only a half a pinkie for the next few meals?
 
I would do two meals of half a pink, five days apart, then go to a pink in thirds. When I have a snake that has regurged, I feed mice in thirds all the way up to fuzzies. I would also not handle him at all for about a month. You want to keep his stress level low and let him use all his calories for growing.
 
Aww bummer! He seems to not mind being held, but if that's what you recommend, I will try to do what is best for him. I will make sure to chop up his mice in the future. Thanks for the advice. Do you know why he might be on his cold side and climbing walls when he should be digetsting? I took his climbing branch out this time to try to deter his climbing and falling and regurging.
 
My babies are typically out either the day after feeding or two days after at the latest. That's kind of the idea- easily digested meals that move through quickly rather than sitting in the stomach fermenting.
 
Even though he doesn't mind being handled- you know how they say even the good things in life stress humans? Getting married, moving, having a child, whatever. Any _change_ is stressful. So you just want your baby to be living a calm, boring life until you are positive he's fully recovered. While he's getting reduced calories, you don't want to be burning those up by handling him. He'll be with you 20 years- you'll have plenty of time for handling in the future!
 
Makes sense I guess, but on the other hand, if I've been handling him almost every day for the past month, wouldn't it be a change to stop handling him? Would that not stress him out? (not trying to be argumentative, just trying to understand) The burning calories makes sense. How much should weight should a healthy snake his age be gaining?
 
In my experience, the snake gains about 1/3 the weight of the prey's weight from the meal.
 
I really don't think not handling for a month is necessary just don't handle until 2 days after every feed(which I hope you have been doing already if not that might be why he regurgitated)and feeding 2 pinkies is not necessary at any point either when 1 pink is not enough move up to fuzzies
 
I always feed double pinks for a few feeds when transitioning to fuzzies. Gives their digestion time to slowly adjust, rather than hitting them full on with a much bigger meal.

I'd say it was especially important if you have one with a history of regurging and a potentially sensitive digestive system.
 
According to the munson plan, 2 pinkies is a good idea. That is what I was following. The first regurg was because I waited 2 days but the snake had not digested his food yet. I don't know why he regurgitated the 2nd time. But, on the plus side he did keep his most recent meal down! YAY. I also moved him into my room so that the cat does not have access to jumping on his tank like she did last night.
 
YAY! he's been keeping his food down. He's had... 3 or 4 successful feeds now. And he's back onto single pinkies cut into 3.
After he has another single pinkie, I think I'll move him up to double pinks.
He's even putting on some weight. He was down to 14 grams, and is up to 17 grams now :D. I haven't been holding him, and didn't realize it but he went into blue and is about to shed. I fed him a few days ago, not realizing he was about to shed (thats why the first regurg happened) so here I am all scared he's going to regurg again, and yesterday I find a nice big healthy poop!
Thanks Nanci for all your help :D
 
I'm glad to hear he's doing well! It's probably okay to handle him now a couple times a week, on his two days before feeding, for short periods. Nice and gentle- don't stress him.
 
Awesome! That is good to hear. I missed my snakey friend. I had him "swim" in a little bit of water today as last time he shed, he had a bit of trouble. I hope that doesn't stress him too much.
 
Well I just weighed him. He is 19 grams... but he needs to poop. So my guess is 18 grams. Which is awesome. He got down to like 13 grams. I'm so happy. Thanks nanci for all your help. He seems to have put on some decent girth to him too. He was getting quite skinny, I was a bit worried. But now I am happy to have a nice healthy snakey. He should shed soon so I will post pics :D
 
Excellent news! Just remember, increase meal size _very_ slowly- much more conservatively than you normally would. Instead of jumping right to double pinks, do two or four meals of 1.5 pinks. If you cut them while frozen, you can just thaw the half you are going to feed. It's not very messy at all. You could try a pink cut in half, plus another pink. When you go from double pinks (in halves) to a single peach fuzzy, then go back to cutting it in thirds. He won't mind at all.

I have a snake that I don't have quite the right sized prey for, so I am cutting the arms and legs off, and feeding them to others. Everyone loves rat fuzzie drumsticks! I'm just saying, snakes don't generally care how many pieces there are or that the pieces are small.
 
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