I've always done this when I've soaked my herps for shedding issues. But he wouldn't swim if he had something to sit on.

The thing is, he has had impaction for quite a while and I saw it but didn't no what it was. I thought he was just getting thick. I've heard a lot about impaction over the last year or so. I suppose I knew about what it is but not how to look for it or indentify it.
when I held the snake just above the vent it felt like a jelly pouch with little lumps in it. I assumed that was his stomach and the little lumps were just little bits of rat that were still being broken down. Nope.
I don't know what the correct term is but I can describe it as calcium balls or clusters . One woman at the store told me he was full of gravel. She's an old country woman and doesn't use the proper terminology and doesn't care to.

He just ate 7 days ago! He's been eating one proper sized rat every week for at least 3 months now. My logic so far has been ,If they're eating, they're good to go.

At least now I KNOW what impaction is. The thing is, you can see it in the photos, if you look close enough.

I'm grateful for what I know now but am humbled at the same time as to the price that has been paid for my "education".

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Git'er Done!

Sorry to hear about another loss. You can't blame yourself. Its not like you ignored the problem, or just hoped he would get better. You tried. Beyond surgery you did the right thing.

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My name is Liz
Do what's best for the animal, not what's best for you.