Alright... so here's the deal... everything has seemed to be going well with my baby boa although about a week ago it got in its water and pooped a strange looking poop... this was my first poop experience and it seemed to look alright but I wasn't sure.

Then..... today I came home and floating in my boas water pan was an entire mouse with somewhat of a bloody/brown looking head (i'm not sure if this is just part of a decaying mouse or what)..... basically the defecated mouse looked like it hadnt been eaten at all except for its head area. The water was an almost pink/red color. I mean I could see feet tail... fur body... etc....


I'm afraid something is seriously wrong because I did get it at a reptile show and it was in the same tank as a dozen other boas..... I've heard that it wont digest if the temps are wrong but I'm pretty sure they're not... I have a hot side at about 90 and the cool side at about 78.

I know a good herp vet and was wondering if I should get it checked out or if any of you had any good advice...


I'm very worried and want to make sure I can do everything possible to help...

It sounds like a Vet Check would be in oder. Especially seeing as how you just got the snake and it would be good to know what the health is of the snake overall...

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sounds like a regurge? How many days ago was it fed?

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

My thought as well. Give us the events and timeline between the last feeding and the regurge.

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

Wow... i think you guys could be right. I fed it about 2 days before I found the mouse in the water pan. Is that too much time after a feeding for regurge though?

Not at all. If something disturbed the snake or the temps weren't warm enough back it comes!
What are you using to measure the temps? If they are off and it isn't warm enough the snake can't digest and will regurge to prevent the mouse from rotting in its stomach.

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

You probably shouldn't have fed it so early, either. If you only got it a week ago, it really hasn't had enough time to adjust to you and it's new home. It's probably still very stressed, especially coming from a reptile show. You should definitely get it to a vet, but then make sure you put the cage in a quiet area of the house, and don't mess with the snake at all for a little while. (Unless, of course, the vet tells you to administer medicine or something.)

Edit: Nevermind. For some reason I read that you only got it a week ago, and now that I re-read, it seems you've had it longer. Sorry.

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I wouldn't be too worried right as of yet, if all other feedings have gone well and the temps are good. It could have been just a little to much mouse for one meal or handled too soon afterward.

Try leaving the snake alone for the next 8-10 days and then feed a smaller than normal mouse. Don't handle her at all after feeding till the next week. If all goes well feed another the next week of the same size. Then move back to the normal size feeder. If things don't go well after the next feed really get her to the vet. But sometimes some young snakes regurge for next to no reason, it seems to be more commen in boas though.

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i have a feeling that the mouse was a little too big...
i usually feed it hoppers (usually meaning the past 3 times)
but last time the mouse looked a little bigger than usual....
when do you think I should try to feed it again?
i've been on the once a week schedule....

i'm still thinking i'll take it to the vet because I haven't taken it yet since i've gotten it.... (to check overall health)
but thanks everyone for the advice and making me feel a little better about the sitation

You want to feed something about the same size as the snakes body at the widest point.
Is it possible that someone went mucking around in the cage in the period after feeding? Or rambuctious kids (or grown ups!) in the proximity of the cage?

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!