regurgitation

[clarke]

How long after a snake regurgitates is it 'safe' to feed her again? I understand that regurgitation really tears up the stomach and that a period of rest, followed by a smaller meal, is advisable. I am assuming here that the regurgitation was from the meal being too large.

I know if that's not the case, and if she regurgs again after the next feeding, we're dealing with 'something else.'

[clarke]

Thanks, Wade, I never heard that about water.

I'll try it. My snakes almost always drink after they eat.

We are HOPING....we being the man who sold me the snakes and I.....that this is 'just' because they moved from breeding drawers into big vivs.....and because I fed them too soon, even though he told me to.
The snakes did not hear him tell me to!

They did not regurg the entire meal.

Kathy Love, whose snakes they were NOT, told me to wait at least 7-8 days, before retrying. I 'liked' Anna's answer better as I love to feed feed feed, it's my anti-anorexic-Gloria response.....but I'll strap my hands to my sides and wait the full week.

You do think this is stress, do you not? I am not asking for a nickel-diagnosis....ah, well, maybe I am.....but these snakes did not heave when they lived in their drawers with their original owner, and he does fecal them every half year.

He is very concerned that I be happy and that the snakes be well but he really feels that it's stress.

I am not handling them at all, except to change water and scoop.....vomitus.

[hot_lil_monkey_lover]

No...wait 7-10 days. A snake has a certain "gut flora", or bacterium that it needs to properly digest food. When a snake regurgitates, it also dispels a large portion of this gut flora, and it takes approximately 5-7 days for this gut flora to replenish itself. If you try feeding too soon after regurging, many times the snake will once again regurgitate its food as a safety measure; without the gut flora, the food item(s) can become rancid within the digestive tract of the snake. To prevent this, the snake will regurgitate its food.

Now you have to determine the cause of the regurgitation. It could be as simple as stress (over-handling, heat, cold, cage conditions, etc.) to overfeeding or illness. Another common cause is allowing the snake immediate access to water after eating. Remove the water dish for at least 10-12 hours after feeding! I always remove my water dishes when feeding, and replace them the next day.

If, after you offer food to the snake(s) again, and it regurgitates the food item once more, take it to a good herp vet and have it checked over.

Good luck!

[bedidos]

I had few regurgitation-problems with my snakes, last year, and while 2-3 days of waiting weren't enough, they did fine after 4-5. Maybe you have more factors all together, stress, water, aching gut. Well, your snakes I mean.

[bedidos]

wait 3-4 days