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gbernst
Snake Mite
3 Posts |
 Posted - 24/06/2012 : 06:25:33
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So I think my corn snake might be having a bout of constipation. I say this because she's now gone over two weeks without passing anything. My records indicate she last went to the bathroom on June 9th, which was also the day she last shed (a good/full shed). I fed her a couple of fuzzies the next night (June 10th) which she ate without issue. Typically she poops about 2-4 days after eating, but she hadn't pooped by the time I fed her again (one fuzzy this time) on June 18th. She still hasn't gone to the bathroom since the 9th, so I'm starting to get concerned.
So to summarize, here's her recent schedule:
June 9th - pooped and shed
June 10th - two fuzzies offered and eaten
June 18th - one fuzzy offered and eaten
She hasn't had any issues at all eating, but I'm hesitant to continue feeding her until she "makes room."
Now some basic information: the snake is about two years old and to my knowledge has never had any health problems. She's about 30 inches in length and lives by herself in a standard 20L terrarium with paper towel substrate and an undertank heating pad at one end. The ambient temperatures are around 78-80 degrees Fahrenheit. She has constant access to a water bowl (about 6 inches in diameter and 3 inches deep) which I change every day.
I took a close-up look at her yesterday to see if I could notice any lumps, bloating, etc. but I couldn't find anything out of the ordinary. I've double-checked her cage several times to make sure I didn't miss any poop but haven't found anything yet.
The only change of note is that I'm currently staying with my parents before moving to take on a new job, so the snake isn't in her usual home (even though her cage setup is the same and the temperatures/humidity are virtually identical). But she's stayed in their home before while I visited on vacation, etc. and has never had any digestive issues while here in the past. I've been here since the start of June, so she's gone the bathroom once (the 9th) on this trip. In a couple of weeks I'll be leaving once more to start work, so she'll have a different home then.
I've done some research on people having success by giving their snake a bath, which I'm more than comfortable doing. Does anyone have a recommendation as to how long I should wait before resorting to this method? I'm thinking of trying it tomorrow evening as two weeks (and more concerning, three mice) seems like an inordinately long time based on her past experience.
I'd be really appreciate if the group could provide advice on this problem. Thank you so much in advance. |
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stotty01
Sub Adult
United Kingdom
1168 Posts |
Posted - 24/06/2012 : 10:21:25
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| I wouldn’t worry if it’s only been two weeks, one of my corns poops every two weeks and is fine :) maybe give a shallow bath with some warm water (more cold to warm) massage the belly and it should hopefully come out. I have noticed it depends on how active your snake is such as my royal poops once a month and my other corn poops every week :) |
my aunties, bestfriends, hairdressers, friends boyfriend had a snake and it stretched out to measure him to eat him......true story.....
1.0.0 tortoise
1.0.0 sinaloan milk snake
1.0.0 jack russel
0.1.0 anery corn medusa
1.0.0 snow corn abomninable
0.1.0 royal python priscilla
http://www.youtube.com/user/stotty01 dads youtube channel
Tail n scales, Linton, Cambs, CB21 4XN, Tel no 01223 893 508 http://www.tails-n-scales.co.uk/
wish list: boa! |
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ashby_steve
Hatchling
United Kingdom
258 Posts |
Posted - 24/06/2012 : 11:30:55
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I've read on here about taking the snake for a 15 minute drive - apparently that can help get the stomach turning.
Other than that as you and stotty01 said its gonna be a bath job, 10 minutes or so is fine provided they seem unstressed,
my male seems quite happy in the bath but my female tries her best to get out
Once again - it all depends on the snake lol
best of luck |
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lotabob
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
4334 Posts |
Posted - 24/06/2012 : 12:54:28
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Unless it is looking particularly bulged at the vent then I would say its nothing at all to worry about. Just handle her over your favourite trousers, its guaranteed it will drop the biggest load known to man.  Just have a feel, if it was constipated you would feel her all backed up down the bottom of her but sometimes they just dont go, it takes just over a week to fully digest their foodn so a few extra days if its not been in the hot end etc is nothing to worry about at all. You could bath her and this may encourage her to go but I think she will go when she is ready. My corn holds when due a shed, he will hold it for 2 to 3 weeks while he goes through the shedding process and then will stink the entire room out when he drops his load.
(the drive thing is a technique for getting a non feeding snake, eating) |
Anery Corn snake SPOT. Royal Python, DUKE. Hogg Island Boa, SANKE. Albino House Snake, HAL.
Harlequin Crested Gecko HARLEY
Albino Horned Frog WAKA
Chilean Rose Tarantula TRIXIE. Brazilian Salmon Pink Bird-eating Tarantula SAM. Orange Baboon Tarantula BORIS.
Giant Asian Forest Scorpion, SALLY.
Giant African Land Snails, SHELDON & MICHELLE.
Budwing Mantis, MAIA
Dubia Roach Colony. Silkworm Colony. Mealworm Colony. Waxworm Colony. Fruit Beetle Colony.
MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL http://www.youtube.com/user/alocheeky |
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gbernst
Snake Mite
3 Posts |
Posted - 25/06/2012 : 04:43:25
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So I've posted this topic verbatim on several corn snake forums and the responses seem to be split between "try the lukewarm bath" and "two weeks isn't that long, wait it out a bit". So now I dunno what to do :p haha.
Does anyone have an opinion as to how long I should wait before trying to force the issue (i.e. either by giving her a bath or taking her in the vet)? Somewhat related question - am I doing the right thing by holding off on feeding her any more until she poops? |
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tera2year
Snake Mite
1 Posts |
Posted - 25/06/2012 : 10:35:13
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hi i have a female corn and i find she can sometimes get a bit backed up,but she still feeds and is drinking plenty,if she is looking a bit backed up at the vent i let her stretch out on an old towel that always seems to get her going, i will message her a wee bit as well, as with my first corn snake had this problem really bad due to health problems, my vet suggested that his would help, its always helped,
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lotabob
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
4334 Posts |
Posted - 25/06/2012 : 22:43:26
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Haha typical, the answer is both are perfectly acceptable. If it will make you feel better then a warm bath does tend to make them go if they need to but if you are happy that nature will take its course in time. I wouldn't worry upto about 4 days after a third feed, it would be very unlikely that nothing would have come out in that time.
As its only eating fuzzies its only going to be a small snake, it is quite possible it has dropped a stealth poop under the substrate or up the back of some of the decor or even into the runners of the door (if you can think of it, my corn has pooped on it/in it/up it/through it/round it).
If you are bathing though dont go too hot, about 27 degrees max, and rather than a bath as such, about an inch of water in a tub will be sufficient, wouldn't want you losing a snake down the plug hole. I also find more than 20 minutes out of the viv will also cause a bowel emptying session. |
Anery Corn snake SPOT. Royal Python, DUKE. Hogg Island Boa, SANKE. Albino House Snake, HAL.
Harlequin Crested Gecko HARLEY
Albino Horned Frog WAKA
Chilean Rose Tarantula TRIXIE. Brazilian Salmon Pink Bird-eating Tarantula SAM. Orange Baboon Tarantula BORIS.
Giant Asian Forest Scorpion, SALLY.
Giant African Land Snails, SHELDON & MICHELLE.
Budwing Mantis, MAIA
Dubia Roach Colony. Silkworm Colony. Mealworm Colony. Waxworm Colony. Fruit Beetle Colony.
MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL http://www.youtube.com/user/alocheeky |
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Tasha89
Hatchling
United Kingdom
257 Posts |
Posted - 27/06/2012 : 16:57:49
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| Hold the snake for a while or place it in the bath, my female corn was constipated once and i out her in the bath for about 15 mins and she done the bigest poop ever and now she is fine and never had another problem since. Definatly try the bath if your worried the swimming around gets the bowles moving. |
Tasha
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4.0.0 - Corns - Hypo-Lavender (Lucifer), Bubblegum Snow (Houdini), Striped Carolina (Sarafino) and Black Cat (Ralphie)
0.2.0 - Corns - Anertheristic (Valentina), Lavender (Aiyana), Lavender (Di-nixi) |
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gbernst
Snake Mite
3 Posts |
Posted - 28/06/2012 : 16:45:40
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| just wanted to provide a brief update - my corn finally went to the bathroom on Sunday night, one night before I had decided to give her a bath... it's like she knew or something :p haha. I was expected a supersized poop but it was on the average side, so maybe there's more to come. I'll keep you guys updated on how things progress. |
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Corn snake not going to the bathroom - help!
