I recently got a cornsnake as a gift from someone. They bought it from petco and I've had it 3 and a half weeks now. I fed it after a week a thawed out pinkie that was thoroughly defrosted. It took it, and regurged the next day. I waited 10 days and fed it again, it refused food so I waited 3 days and tried once more on monday. It took it this time but last night regurged again. its temp is 70-78 on cool side and 82-88 on warm side. Humidity is 50% and its still extremely active at night. No one has handled it since the day before the first feeding so as to not stress it out. Its about 18" and hasn't lost visible weight. I'm just scared because I don't want it to suffer. It has 2 hides and a climbing branch in its cage and has remained active through both regurges. I'm just freaking out here.
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New snake has regurgitated twice. Scaring the hell out of me!
- Thread starter jr1788
- Start date
medusacoils
Mr. Enigma!
OK, don't freak out. You need to begin a post regurge therapy, that starts with, Stop Feeding your snake. Don't do it again for at least ten days.
Here is a link the post regurge therapy thread. Follow it!
http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28342
Also, check your hunsbandry. Make sure your temps are good, the food is good, etc. Check everything. Also, you may want to get some nutribac and begin using that with your snakes diet. You can find it on Kathy Love's website. This is a dieretic and will help the digestive track of your snake, the same way, you and I would eat yogurt to help us.
After ten day, try feeding only the head of a pinky. Then wait again for another week. If the snake regurges again, you will need to make a trip to the vet.
Take it easy and follow that thread. Hopefully everything will be OK.
Wayne
Thanks for the quick reply. I got a book for cornsnake caretaking. The temps seem to be fine, and I think or better yet, I thought everything was good. I put it clean water everyday. Imma try the pinkie head. Its my first reptile and I feel awful right now. I really like herps and wanted to eventually buy more. But this is disheartening so far.
medusacoils
Mr. Enigma!
Trust me, you came to the right place if you want to talk snake addiction! LOL!! Don't become disheartened, because this unfortunately happens. As long as you deal with it correctly, then you and your snakey will be fine.
Just remember, that you don't want to try to feed again for at least ten days. This is to allow the snake to develop/rebuild the natural stomach flora that was lost during the regurge event. If you feed sooner, the snake may regurge again and your situation could get worse.
Also, check that the feeders you use are the appropriate size. I am not sure why the little one was regurging, but you will want to check everything twice.
When you feed, in ten days, only give the pinkies head and then wait. Do not handle your snake during this time. Let the little one rest. Then wait the full week and if everything goes well, repeat with the pinkies head. You will do this for two to three weeks, assuming that all goes well.
After this time, you will slowly build up to normal size pinkie. Each week, you will give a little bit larger. If something goes wrong, start back at the beginning again.
Good Luck and keep us posted,
Wayne
Its been 2 days since the last regurge, and my little one is still just as active, however he doesn't seem to leave his little climbing tree. He explores his tank, gets water and even burrows and hides but at least a small part of him remains coiled to that tree. Should I worry about this at all or it possibly just like a comfort zone for my snake?
danielle
New member
He's just ajusting just don't feed for ten days and then only the head of the pinky. If he keeps that down feed another head in another 5-7 days, then a half 5-7 days later, and keep it to pinky halfs for maybe a month. They could be too big, or he was fed too soon after coming home most wait a week for the very first feeding to let them settle in. Just keep the meals small and not to close together they can go a month easy with nothing to eat or longer- the most important thing is to let him build his digestive enzymes back up slowly.
Its been 4 full days since he regurged and he's still as active as ever. I'm still worried simply because it hasn't eaten in 3 weeks. But I'm more at ease now that he's not lethargic or frail. Me and my brothers decided to name him lazarus btw. Simply because we consider it a miracle that he's still quite active after 2 regurges, even if it isn't that amazing, we like to consider him to be a "fighter". Lol. He's searching for a way out of his tank right now as I type. I'm looking forward to thursday/friday to feed him. I really hope he keeps the pinky head down.
According to my schedule I should feed thursday or friday. Herein lies my question...how do I cut off the mouse head? Do I do it frozen, thawed, or when? And do I feed it just the head or do I give it half a pinkie cut in half vertically? I wanna get this right when it happens. Its been 1 week since it regurged and I'm getting anxious and a bit stressed to see if it will eat and keep everything down.
medusacoils
Mr. Enigma!
Yes, use a frozen thawed mouse, warm it up first. Cut the head right off and use a pair of clips or tweezers to feed the snake. Your snake may look like it wants more, but do not give in. The snake should be fine. This is such a small meal. Don't stress over this!
Keep us posted!
Wayne
medusacoils
Mr. Enigma!
Either - Or! I caught that after I posted. Sorry about that! You are probably better doing it to a frozen pinkie, because you can use the remainder, to feed later on in the month.
Wayne
Wayne
medusacoils
Mr. Enigma!
Your doing good! Keep asking questions and let us know if you need anything.
Most important, keep us posted!
Wayne
Most important, keep us posted!
Wayne
I just fed it a pinky head. Its been 8 days. Hopefully it keeps it down. He took it immediately but it looked like he maybe convulsed twice quickly after swallowing and then the lump was almost halfway down its body. As soon as that happened he was back to normal and exploring. Hope its nothing to worry about
medusacoils
Mr. Enigma!
That should be fine! I would have waited for the full ten days, though. Well, it's done, so let's not worry about it. Do not feed again for at least 7 days. You will feed another pinkie head at this next feeding.
Wayne
Wayne
I was gonna wait the full 10 but I have school and work literally all day thursday and friday and finals are up and I have a lot of studying so I didn't want to forget. It seemed hungry and still active and I read in kathyloves guide to wait at least a week but if possible 10 so I figured itd be fine. Let's keep our fingers crossed that everything stays good. Those muscle twitches still scared me a bit. Any insight on that?
Its been 6 hours since feeding and so far so good. There's no real visible lump, and a quick scan of the viv showed no regurge. Its been in his tree the last few hours but has moved a bit his positioning. I know the next 2 days are important so I will keep posting every chance I get to stop by at home and check on him
medusacoils
Mr. Enigma!
Great! Now the chance of the snake, throwing up a pinkies head is slim. It's an extremely small meal. The best thing, is to let her rest and keep an eye in there.
Wayne
Wayne
Good to know! That eases me a bit. I feel like an overbearing parent. Albeit, I can't touch or otherwise bother my young. Lol. If the odds are slim then I can sleep better and focus more on studying for my finals and just check on it tomorrow between class and work just to make sure its still digesting and not regurging.