fed, shed, regurgitation

[ardentglow]

So I fed my little Orchestra (amel-motley) for the second time on thursday the 10th. The next morning I woke up and found she had shed her skin during the night. I waited the 48 hours before I held her (yesterday) and today Sunday the 13th she came out from hiding and regurgitated what was left in her stomach.
Did I do something wrong? Is there any reason why she regurgitated?

Before I fed her, I did notice that she was a dull color, and there was a slight blue ring around her eyes. Should I not have fed her?

I also fed her not one but two pinkies. Was that too much? When I bought her the store clerk guessed she was two weeks old, so if that is right she would be approx 4 weeks now.

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

 

[Suzy]

Some Corns will regurgitate when they're in blue or in shed. From now on, if you see that she's in shed or in blue, wait until she sheds to feed her. She'll be ok without food for a few days in the future. (remember, this is after you do regurge protocol.)

Because she regurgitated, you need to take precautions before you try and feed her again. Take a look at this link which is a search for Regurge Protocol.

If you don't have a scale, I would definitely recommend buying one. You should take a look at the Munson Plan and use it as a guide to use. You don't have to follow it to a T, but just get a general idea of what size prey your Corn can eat.

Good luck! Keep us updated!

 

[vetusvates]

Two being too much may likely have been the problem.
Some of mine would eat as long as I offered. But as many can and will tell you, there is a point at which, if undigested, the remains will begin to decompose. To preserve its health, the snake will then regurge that that remains.
Don't get too excited, be patient. Space the feedings.

I bought, per advice of old-timers tried and true, some nutribac, and dust the rear end of the pinkie or fuzzy going to any snake that has regurgitated. I have an 08 sunglow stripe that, just when I thought everything was OK to move up to a fuzzy, he would regurge up the hair....several days after eating normally. So I dropped back down to two pinkies, dusted with nutribac, for a while.
Nutribac is normal gut flora (lost in a regurge) micro-encapsulated in a carrier medium, that replaces the flora lost with a regurge. Bear in mind, as many will also tell you, that regurgitating traumatizes the esophageal lining. So it needs recovery time, too.

Do a search and follow the links to read more in depth about others' experiences and protocols.

 

[Kokopelli]

I didn't see it mentioned, maybe it's redundant but... when I see a regurge, I immediately think "temperature".
Are you controlling and keeping track of the temps?
From my knowledge, regurging occurs when the food already begins to decompose, the acidity levels in the stomach triggers a regurgitating response... I never knew it to be a defense mechanism... I should look it up.

Anywhoo, just keep a close eye on the temps. I have had the horrid experience of selling snakes to people who kept them in room temp, when the AC was on mind you- in these cases the metabolic system of the snake is so shut down that he does he not regurge and ends up dying because of the toxins that are released by the decomposition.

It wasn't mentioned so I though I'd throw that in- I imagine it was too obvious to mention but... better safe than sorry

 

[ardentglow]

I have the temperature gages in my snakes cage set low, so that the temp reading is what it is at ground level. On the cool side it is at 79 and the warm side 82. Is this okay?

 

[bitsy]

I also fed her not one but two pinkies. Was that too much? When I bought her the store clerk guessed she was two weeks old, so if that is right she would be approx 4 weeks now.

I agree with Eric Two pinkies for a month old hatchling was just too much. That combined with the shed process would easily have been enough to cause the regurge. After following the regurge protocol, I'd stick to one at a time for at least the next couple of months and you shouldn't have any more problems.

 

[Kokopelli]

I have the temperature gages in my snakes cage set low, so that the temp reading is what it is at ground level. On the cool side it is at 79 and the warm side 82. Is this okay?

sounds okay, you might want to pick it up to 83-84 om the warm side... but nothing crucial

 

[danielle]

Wait 8-10 days to feed again this time a half of a pinked and if kept down go back to feeding one pink every 5-7 days. Between shedding and eting such a big meal it was probably too much

 

[Buzzard]

If it was that long before she regurged, She did it so not to have the food spoil in her stomach..... First thought Temp, then as I read on, probably too much or a combo of both. Double, triple check your temps with 2 different methods. Just to be safe.

Its a hatchling so I would try getting some Nutribac. As suggested earlier, and wait 10 or so days to allow stomach flora to build back up.

 

[francka]

I didn't see it mentioned, maybe it's redundant but... when I see a regurge, I immediately think "temperature".
Are you controlling and keeping track of the temps?
From my knowledge, regurging occurs when the food already begins to decompose, the acidity levels in the stomach triggers a regurgitating response... I never knew it to be a defense mechanism... I should look it up.

Probably is a defence mechanism, because the turtles die if they eat and then the temperature fall down. I know because my boyfriend loose 2 turtles in this way.