Regurge

[ramanth]

Lucy regurged her meal of two hoppers. Frustrating since it was the 4th time she had 2 hoppers at once.

Should I give her half a hopper or a 1 full hopper next time?

She's 1 year and 9 months old and over 2 feet in length.

 

[Susielea]

I'd be tempted to go back to a fuzzy for a snake that size, which, (I'm guessing as I'm from the UK), would be about half the size of one of those hoppers?
I would also wait at least 8 to 10 days before attempting another feed, to allow her gut flora to get back to normal.

I'm assuming you know the regurge protocol but just in case, or for anyone else reading this thread, here's a link to the feeding problems FAQ

http://cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28342

Hope that helps some.

Good luck and best wishes,

 

[Nanci]

My advice is- your snake has made it to an old enough age that you know this regurge was meal-size-related- not some sort of birth defect or abnormality or weakness that it will eventually succumb to. One regurge, while serious, is surviveable. Once you get two or three, the snake's chances of survival drop rapidly. I would treat this very, very conservatively. As Susie says, after the initial waiting period, drop back to a size smaller mouse than the hoppers you have been feeding. I'd do two to four meals of that small size even before returning to hopper size. I might not ever feed double hoppers again- I might instead go to a small adult. The size hoppers I use are about 14g- that's equal to a pretty big adult mouse if you double it. I would also slit every mouse from now on, forever. Good luck.

 

[ramanth]

Thanks for the suggestions.

Lucy regurged once before back when she was on pinkies, so I'm definitely familier with the regurge protocol. We'll let her wait out this month with no handling or food.

We've always sliced open her meals, so it's good to know that really does help.

Back to fuzzies it is.

 

[Annihilation-]

she reminds me so much of mine...same colors and size lol
mine is currently refusing meals =/...

hope she comes though well best of luck

a year and 9 months...im going to maybe take a swing as put mine at that age...either hes really big for his age, or is about the same age as yours

 

[ramanth]

Thanks. I hope yours starts to eat as well.

I think Lucy is a bit small for her age honestly. We got her from Kathy Love, so we're lucky to know her hatch date.

 

[Cat_Eyed_Lady]

about the only I could try to add is maybe just a large or small fuzzy for the next meal..... with maybe some nutrubuc (sp?) on it to help in digesting and make sure the fuzzy feels warm to your fingers before offereing it There a few thing in the forums that do help with this kind of problem....... Or maybe you just have a baby like mine?? I have one fluoresent orange female that Ever single time I bump her up to 2 pinks, she will regurge on and keep the other down.... she is my smallest at 20 grams and its driving me crazy so..... anyway sorry for the long story, just wanted to add a couple things that May be useful to you or someone else Good luck!!

 

[Velvet]

I'm confused as to why you would feed two hoppers? My snakes get hoppers in various sizes according to how big they are, surely if your snake can handle two hoppers, she should be able to handle a small adult mouse?

 

[Nanci]

Could be trying to use them up! My Choco would rather eat two hoppers than one small mouse, but she's a kingsnake.

 

[ramanth]

Obviously she can't handle two hoppers if she regurged.

But Nanci answered for me. I have over 50 hoppers in the freezer. No point in having them go to waste.

 

[diamondlil]

Hope Ramanth is on the road to recovery soon.

 

[wade]

Kimmy
You didn't mention but what else might have caused the regurge? Are your temperatures ok? Did you handle the snake too soon after eating? Were the hoppers old or spoiled? Are you feeding too often?

Don't just assume it was the size of the meal.

Good luck and go slow.

 

[ramanth]

Kimmy
You didn't mention but what else might have caused the regurge?

Are your temperatures ok?

Warm side 85; Cool side 66 (I prefer 70 but the apartment has been a pain to keep warm this winter)

Did you handle the snake too soon after eating?

Nope. We never handle her after feeding. It's always a week or more before we take her out. Typically we only handle her on feeding days.

Were the hoppers old or spoiled?

Bought fresh in January '08

Are you feeding too often?

We feed her every 7-10 days unless she's in blue and then she goes longer between feedings.

Thanks for the thoughts everyone. She's been cruising around her tank every other day. I think she's getting cranky. We're going to wait a week or two more before offering her food.