Digested Food?

Ok, weird question.....so our redtail boa finally passed the mouse we gave her on Thursday last week, but it looks....only partially digested?
In comparison to our BP, which has regular-looking stools, the RT's had hair and an obvious tail. Very strange to see for me, it looked like a mouse-pellet.
Is this normal??? Did I feed her something too big?

Some hair from time to time is normal, but the tail is
a little unusual.

At this point I wouldn't be concerned about it though.

I agree with Larry. I wouldn't worry too much about it this time. The tail may have had some issue that caused it not to be digested as well.

Tandy

Thank you... it's that "new mom" worry, especially since it's the first time I've seen her pass anything besides the calcium/bone/whatev material. We've had her about a month, I believe.
She has yet to shed, so we're patiently waiting for that too.

Thanks again! If she passes something like this again, should I become concerned?


EDIT: I'd like to make clear that there was very little "dark matter" to her stool, like the BP's. It looked like a mouse got flattened into a pellet shape, if that makes any difference.

"If she passes something like this again, should I become concerned?"

I still wouldn't be concerned as long as there's nothing else unusual going on.

What's the temp(s) in the cage ?

My only question, at this point, would be if she doesn't have a place warm enough where she can go and lay to help her digest her meals.

My speckled king has this issue, sort of. Her poo is mostly white hairs every now and then. She seems fine though.

Yeah, after doing some research, I think it's a regurge. I think her temp gradients have fluctuated too much since we've been moving cages around this week.
I'll let her off the adult mouse we've been giving her once a week and perhaps try again in a week or two, just to let her recover. And to be sure, I'll try something smaller until she gets a little "girthier".

Thanks! I just needed to make sure I wasn't crazy. Well, it is a boa...maybe we are....



P.S. Because of the scientist in me, I'm going home to pick the mass apart and see what I get, just to make positive that it's not poo.

When you first posted, I almost ask if you thought it might not be poop at all, but decided to wait.

If it is "regurge", you're right.

I'd wait AT LEAST TWO WEEKS before you try to feed her again.

You don't want her to get into a pattern of not being able to keep her meals down.
(Then you do have a problem.)

Try a smaller prey item and watch the temperature gradient in her cage.

She really needs a warm spot (belly heat) where she can lay and digest her meal.

After she eats, don't bother her or handle her for AT LEAST 24 hours and in her case, I'd wait even longer.

Yes. Planning on it! I said a week or two because it's actually been 7 days today since her last meal.
We will try to figure out some sort of heat setup to keep her from doing it again.
Heaven forbid I get a boa that eats like a champ, but pukes like one too!

I'm sure you'll get it worked out.

Off subject but once you get this figured out id also start feeding your boa appropriate sized rats. Imo, I think they get more out of a rat then mouse.

OK, Zak on the subject of RT's and rats, I'm feeding mine small mice. What would be a size comparison from that to a rat? He's actually big enough to do a medium mouse probably. A pinkie rat? I've never bought rats before but I was planning on changing over eventually. I guess the sooner the better. And the Dum's are on Large mice and which might be able to do a little bigger. I'm always a little paranoid about getting something to big for them. But I feed them one a week so trust me, they ain't starved!

Sorry for hijaking your thread for a minute

He could probably do a rat pup eyes closed. That's pretty close to a small mouse.

To all: Please don't forget to keep regular weights on your herps. A weight scale at Walmart if only like 15$ and measures in grams up to 2500 I think. Its very useful in determining if you have a problem. Regurg happens but snake is still gaining weight ot maintaining weight -ok no big deal . Happens a few times and your herp is losing weight, not good. Please keep regular weights documented to detect issues quickly. You old hats already know this but new herpers, please keep weights at least monthly for adults and more often the younger your herp is.

If you start posting questions on most forums about eating, etc: Some of the first questions they'll ask you are:
1. what is the temp of the hot spot and cool spot? - not what is the thermostat set for but what actually is it in the enclosure (tempgun.com $25)
2. Is the herp losing weight?