Last night my bf moved my baby snake to my house. He was left in the cage with all his things. We tried to feed him Friday night by dangling the pinky but he didn't bite so we left him alone with the food overnight in a small tub. In the morning the food was gone and the snake was nice and lumpy. We didn't disturb him over the weekend. Last night after moving him to my room I wanted to handle him (which I now reflect on to be a bad idea) and I figured it had been about 72 hours since he ate so it would be fine. This afternoon I discovered that he had regurgitated his food, evident by the lump that is about the size of a pinky. I am really worried for him and am not sure what to do. I will leave him alone for the time being but should I feed him again or wait until Friday? Please help! Any advice would be great.
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PLEASE HELP!
- Thread starter Carnelian
- Start date
Karl_Mcknight
Common Sense Holder
1. are you sure he regurgitated the food and it's not poop?
2. what are the temps in the cage? (Correct temps are necessary fro proper digestion)
2. what are the temps in the cage? (Correct temps are necessary fro proper digestion)
jagodzinski
New member
Okay, two things need to be done. First, you need to get him eating again. Follow the regurge protocol in THIS link. You need to go slow, be careful and do your research. Repeated regurges are very stressful and could be fatal.
Second, you need to check environment to make sure a regurge won't happen again. 72 hours should be long enough to wait to handle, but you also should not move him in that time period. How are you heating? Are you using a UTH (under tank heater)? These are important as belly heat aids digestion. But with one, you need a thermostat to regulate the temperature so it doesn't get too hot and cause burns.
Please let us know how things go and if you have any more questions. Best of luck to you and your snakie. I hope he's feeling better soon.
Second, you need to check environment to make sure a regurge won't happen again. 72 hours should be long enough to wait to handle, but you also should not move him in that time period. How are you heating? Are you using a UTH (under tank heater)? These are important as belly heat aids digestion. But with one, you need a thermostat to regulate the temperature so it doesn't get too hot and cause burns.
Please let us know how things go and if you have any more questions. Best of luck to you and your snakie. I hope he's feeling better soon.
Karl_Mcknight
Common Sense Holder
You stated the snake was left alone in a small tub with the food, and the next day you didn't want to disturb him. Was he still in the tub the whole time?
The reason I ask is because proper temperatures are important for a snake to digest its food. The temps can be a bit cooler if the snake is npot eating, but once a snake eats it needs warmth.
Most of us have one side of the cage heated to about 85 degrees (81 to 88 being ideal for digestion) and the other side of the cage at room temps (70 to 75).
The snake can pick and choose where he spends his time. You'll notice though that usually after eating they curl up on the warm side until they poop, usually 2 or 3 days after eating. If you don't provide the proper temps, it can lead to regurgitation.
The reason I ask is because proper temperatures are important for a snake to digest its food. The temps can be a bit cooler if the snake is npot eating, but once a snake eats it needs warmth.
Most of us have one side of the cage heated to about 85 degrees (81 to 88 being ideal for digestion) and the other side of the cage at room temps (70 to 75).
The snake can pick and choose where he spends his time. You'll notice though that usually after eating they curl up on the warm side until they poop, usually 2 or 3 days after eating. If you don't provide the proper temps, it can lead to regurgitation.
The snake was taken out of the small tub the morning after he ate. I didn't disturb him till last night and it wasn't until today that I found the regurgitation. Yes there is an under tank heater; however, there isn't really a cold side for him to choose. It is hot where I currently live so my room temperature is about 80 degrees (we don't have air conditioning). The thermostat inside the tank reads 84 on the "hot" side. His favorite place to stay seems to be under a log on top of the heating pad where he spends his most time, but he moves to higher ground occasionally (in the plant). I read that I should feed him a pinky head after 8 days of regurgitating. Is there anything else I can do for him? I want to make him as comfortable and happy as possible.
Karl_Mcknight
Common Sense Holder
you mean the "Thermometer" says 84 on the hot side.......
A "Thermostat" is the device that regulates the heat pad. Are you using a thermostat along with the heat pad? Although your air temp in the cage may be 84, the bottom of the cage where the heat pad is can actually be 115 or more without a thermostat.
You should always use a good thermostat with "Any Type" of heat source.
A "Thermostat" is the device that regulates the heat pad. Are you using a thermostat along with the heat pad? Although your air temp in the cage may be 84, the bottom of the cage where the heat pad is can actually be 115 or more without a thermostat.
You should always use a good thermostat with "Any Type" of heat source.
Karl_Mcknight
Common Sense Holder
Also, out of curiosity, how big is the snake? Do you know how much he weighs?
We always assume we should feed a baby snake a Pinky mouse, but if the snake is very small, even a Pinky can be too big.
The main reasons for regurgitation in snakes usually isn't handling, rather it's food item too big or incorrect temps. Also Intestinal blockage, and illness. Handling is way down on the list.
We always assume we should feed a baby snake a Pinky mouse, but if the snake is very small, even a Pinky can be too big.
The main reasons for regurgitation in snakes usually isn't handling, rather it's food item too big or incorrect temps. Also Intestinal blockage, and illness. Handling is way down on the list.
You're right, my apologies. I meant thermometer. I don't have a thermostat for the heating pad. It simply is plugged in and is on all the time. I will invest in buying one with a thermostat now that you mention it.
The snake is very small. I don't have a device to measure how much he weighs and I don't want to handle him now to measure his length. I estimate that he is about 12 to 14 inches long. I do think a pinky is too big for him but I thought since it is the smallest size of a mouse that it would be okay. Should I only feed him heads till he gets bigger? He was fed once before the week previous to last week and he digested the whole pinky fine. He was fed Friday night and handled Sunday night without any complications.
The snake is very small. I don't have a device to measure how much he weighs and I don't want to handle him now to measure his length. I estimate that he is about 12 to 14 inches long. I do think a pinky is too big for him but I thought since it is the smallest size of a mouse that it would be okay. Should I only feed him heads till he gets bigger? He was fed once before the week previous to last week and he digested the whole pinky fine. He was fed Friday night and handled Sunday night without any complications.
Karl_Mcknight
Common Sense Holder
that's probably your problem - no thermostat.
He should be able to handle a pinky if he's 14 inches long. But I would not feed him a thing until your get the correct temps stabilized
He should be able to handle a pinky if he's 14 inches long. But I would not feed him a thing until your get the correct temps stabilized
He had digested one pinky fine the other week.
I think its a combination of moving him, holding him last night, and hotter ambient temperature of her house.
axis1
Fuhgeddaboudit!!!!
Maybe you should try a 1-day-old pinky, if they're available in your area (some pet shops have them separated by size). If he doesn't take a whole pinky right now, I would try the head. It's messy but it might work. I can't tell you how many pinkies I had to cut up when I had hatchlings last year! You sound like you really love your snake. It will be worth it, you'll see!
jagodzinski
New member
Neal regurgitated again 
We bought the snake a thermostat (set to 84 or 85), I fed him a whole pinky and he ate it fine after leaving him with it overnight. I haven't touched him since (that would be five days ago) but he threw up his food last night. On the other hand, he did poop as well which I find to be a strange sign. I have no idea what to do but I was thinking of giving him just the head next time and see how that goes. He likes to stay under a fake plant during the day and then is curled up on the heating area at night. The air temperature in my house is kind of warm (about 80-85 degrees depending on the time of day) because of the hot weather. Should we move him somewhere cooler? What is the best course of action to ensure that this doesn't happen again? I'm really worried and am on the fence about taking him to a veterinarian. Please help!!!
We bought the snake a thermostat (set to 84 or 85), I fed him a whole pinky and he ate it fine after leaving him with it overnight. I haven't touched him since (that would be five days ago) but he threw up his food last night. On the other hand, he did poop as well which I find to be a strange sign. I have no idea what to do but I was thinking of giving him just the head next time and see how that goes. He likes to stay under a fake plant during the day and then is curled up on the heating area at night. The air temperature in my house is kind of warm (about 80-85 degrees depending on the time of day) because of the hot weather. Should we move him somewhere cooler? What is the best course of action to ensure that this doesn't happen again? I'm really worried and am on the fence about taking him to a veterinarian. Please help!!!double post sorry: I don't know anything about corn snakes except what i've been reading. From what I read, the cooler end should be 77'f. and Being sick can be caused by the fact that they're too warm or not warm enough. It could also be that he's decided after eating the mouse he doesn't like how its sitting... or he's getting stressed out and throwing up to make his escape plan viable.
I don't think moving him would be good since the room would smell different... maybe putting some frozen gel outside near his viv on the cool end would help... of course you'd need to eyeball the thermometer make sure it doesn't get too cold...
Again: I know jack and michael about snakes, this is just what i've read.
I don't think moving him would be good since the room would smell different... maybe putting some frozen gel outside near his viv on the cool end would help... of course you'd need to eyeball the thermometer make sure it doesn't get too cold...
Again: I know jack and michael about snakes, this is just what i've read.
axis1
Fuhgeddaboudit!!!!
Neal regurgitated again
Temps seem fine unless there is no variance and it's 84-85 all over the enclosure.
What about your food source: are you sure those pinks are OK?
I would just try a head for now, but wait a few days before trying as multiple regurgitations HAVE to be stressful on any snake. Probably needs some time to recover. I would also let him be. Turn out the light if there is one and don't handle him for now.
Just a suggestion.