T O P I C R E V I E W |
DonnaMarch |
Posted - 01/05/2012 : 12:18:30 Hi there. I have a four years old corn snake and he is eating mice. The problem is he is taking a long time to pass it. He is currently taking a month to do so. He has a bath every two days. I have taken him to the vet about this previously and they put him under to x-ray to see if there was any obstructions but there was nothing. That was a while ago but he did get back into a natural rhythum of passing once a week. I know a snakes metabolism goes down every winter and i normally put that down to the cause but he normally regains his passings every week once spring hits. He is lively enough and friendly and have no over concerns. Just wondered if anyone can give me advice or has experienced the same. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. |
6 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
lotabob |
Posted - 01/05/2012 : 19:11:58 I would start by bring the mat down a few degrees, I have my hot end at 27-28oC, just by observing my snake and his movenments you tweak the temperature until you can see them using both ends to regulate their temperature. If its always in the cold side then its likely that its too hot in the hot end, always in the hot end its too cold in the hot end, the temperature guides are just guides but each snake is slightly different and likes it a certain way and with a little bit of attention to behaviour you can get the setup just right for them.
Does the snake ever regurgitate its food? Does it ever show signs of being constipated?
It is a bit unusual for a corn snake to go so long without passing waste but if the vet cant see any reason for it, maybe its just got a slow digestive tract, if its not causing problems then its just something you will have to manage. |
Mamma |
Posted - 01/05/2012 : 18:02:46 quote: Originally posted by Georgina
im not sure if any vitamins or reptobosst would help?
reptiboost is generally used to ensure they dont get dehydrated when fasting etc. Im not sure if it will help them pass poop though. |
Georgina |
Posted - 01/05/2012 : 17:14:27 maybe he is moving off the mat to cool mre often as its at the upper end. try taking it down a degree or two and see how he is on his next couple of feeds, along with snakey massages.
im not sure if any vitamins or reptobosst would help? |
tordyjo |
Posted - 01/05/2012 : 13:37:13 most of us here use mats, your hot end is right on the upper limits of the temperature scale, not sure if this would contibute though |
DonnaMarch |
Posted - 01/05/2012 : 12:33:36 We give him baths but never tried massgaing his back. Will give it a try. Does anyone think that it may have to do with the temp in his tank? I don't use a lamp but i use a heat mat. I keep the temps at 30 one side on the heat mat and the cold side is 20 degrees. |
Mamma |
Posted - 01/05/2012 : 12:29:29 You can try giving him a warm bath. Massage him down to his back end. I had a constipated snake once thats I had to do that with. He has since been rehomed to a friend and she says he still has probs now and then but a warm bath and massage still works fine on him xx |