| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Snecklifter |
Posted - 07/04/2014 : 08:04:55
Hi,
Fed snake a small rat yesterday - it was the biggest rat he's yet tackled, but I felt sure it was within his capability.
He did struggle however, and after he'd got about 2/3 of the way in, he suddenly regurgitated the rat and ran for cover.
I do know that the rat was probably too big - is this why he dumped it?
The other thing is he is obviously hungry, so how long would you leave it before offering a smaller prey?
Cheers. |
| 8 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Snecklifter |
Posted - 07/04/2014 : 12:52:36
Okay, thank you all for your help. I don't think there was a real problem and i'll wait 5 - 7 days before trying again. |
| Baobab |
Posted - 07/04/2014 : 12:29:07
Yep, doesn't sound too big. As said probably got stuck and spat out. Would more than likely have just tried again. Having said that, we do have a royal that can be funny about size. If we offer her a bigger item than she's used to (but still within her capabilities) she once did the same as yours and spat it out but now just refuses to look at them. |
| Kelfezond |
Posted - 07/04/2014 : 11:02:32
I get it happen a fair few times, no cause for major panic :) |
| Snecklifter |
Posted - 07/04/2014 : 11:01:51
There's a first time for everything, so naturally I was quite concerned at the time - but i'm guessing that spitting it back out isn't a majour issue really? Is it a relatively common thing for any snake to do? |
| Kelfezond |
Posted - 07/04/2014 : 10:50:08
I'm going to go against the grain and say it's probably not a size issue if the rat was about as thick as his widest part, while I obviously don't recommend feeding things this big a royal can normally consume something around 20% bigger than it's thickest part without much issue, I've accidentally fed a boa's rat to a royal before and all has been well - it's more likely that maybe a claw or leg go stuck on the way down and he just spat it back up to avoid any trouble. It's not a "real" regurge if the food didn't go all the way down it's normally just a complication eating and I just offer it again, normally goes down the second time.
But as above 7 days is a good time to wait to try again just incase something was wrong :) best of luck keep us posted. |
| Snecklifter |
Posted - 07/04/2014 : 10:42:51
Okay both, Trowzer is five years old but quite small for his age at ~4' long. He's lived with me from a hatchling pretty much. This is the first time he's regurgitated. He normally eats small rats, but I tend to pick out the smaller ones. The rat was about as thick as his widest part of his body, but you could see that his head and neck were at their absolute stretch limit as he tried to eat it. |
| Baobab |
Posted - 07/04/2014 : 10:34:43
What sort of diameter difference was there between the rat and Trowzer?
|
| RachandRob |
Posted - 07/04/2014 : 10:09:55
Hi Snecklifter
I would not try and feed him again for at least another 7 days (he needs time for the acids in his tummy to settle). As far as i know it could have been because the rat was a bit too big, if he was struggling.
Is he new to your home? Was he startled by someone or something moving whilst he was eating? |
