| Member |
Message |
|
#63462
Charmer
View Profile
|
Tail not gripping.... 
Hey all,
I’m new to the site, but you’ve all given such great advice that I felt the urge to get an opinion on something that has caught my attention recently.
I’ve had my RTB, Ophelia, for about 3 almost 4 months, she leaves stools pretty regularly, and is a very wonderfully tempered snake. She had a bad first shed in my care but got it off after a bit of soaking and then went almost immediately, after rubbing off the random bits, into another shed which she got entirely off her head and halfway off, she is still working on it... but took a mouse eagerly about a day and a half ago. Not counting that lump of mouse in her belly, I’ve recently noticed that she is a bit bloated, looks like she is ready to leave digested mouse behind at any time, but has not recently stooled and in addition has not been gripping as well as usual with the last 1/4 of her body/tail, but has instead been using her midsection. She is very alert, healthy, no wierd excretions, no mites, has seen a vet before her 1st shed about a month ago to be sexed and checked up on... the only difference in behavior is almost unnoticeable, she was moving a little quicker. Should I be worried that she isn’t using her tail to grip as much as usual... could it be a problem with constipation? The reason I’m wondering about constipation, is because of her somewhat bloated appearance within the last few days, the lingering shed on her rear end and tail, and if I had to go, I wouldn’t be using my lower half as much either! So I’ve read that it is good to soak your snake for 20 to 30 min a day, for a couple days to ’loosen them up’ if constipated, and a little humidity would do good for her shed too, but is that really the problem?
I kind of let that deion draw out, but wanted ya’ll experts to have an idea of her health status as well as the possible problem. If I should worry, please let me know...
-Stephanie-
|
|
04/20/04 7:53pm
|
|
|
#63573
WildWilly
View Profile
|
Message To: Charmer In reference to Message Id: 63462
Tail not gripping....
I use a big rubber maid container for them to soak in in the cage. They always poop in it. So i suggest if you dont have get a big enough water bowl for her to soak in. It will also help in sheds cuz she’ll soak we she needs too.
|
|
04/21/04 12:03am
|
|
|
#63651
DavidAg02
View Profile
|
Message To: Charmer In reference to Message Id: 63462
Tail not gripping....
Stephanie - I wouldn’t worry too much at this point... wait a little longer before conisdering another vet visit.However, it is obvious to me that you have a humidity problem. As soon as you see your boa’s eyes go cloudy you need to get that humidity up! Some good tips for raising humidity are to mist the cage several times daily with luke warm water, if your cage has a screened top then cover it about 3/4 with towel to help hold in the humidity, also you can try placing a moist paper towel inside the cage. Do those things and that should raise the humidity to about 75% inside the cage. Your boa should have no trouble shedding in those conditions.
|
|
04/21/04 10:12am
|
|
|
#64033
Snakedangler79
View Profile
|
Message To: DavidAg02 In reference to Message Id: 63651
 Stephanie
when my snakes look constapated i always give it a bath becuse the muslcels ther using to swim with loosons em up but be prepaird to be cleaning poop out your bath the water needs to be luke warm and regards to the shedding the same what the others said your humidity is the problem how bigs your cage i also keep high humidity snakes i have a moss box its just a container with a lid on and cut a hole in it big anoth for the snake to get throgh and fill it with moss which u can get from your pet store spray it with a little water and that will help your humidity hope ive helped
|
|
04/22/04 6:02am
|
|
|
#64682
Charmer
View Profile
|
Message To: Charmer In reference to Message Id: 63462
Tail not gripping....
Hey and thanks to everyone..
I knew my humidity was a little low when I got home after the first shed, I had left for a week and a few days and had to give her a little sprizting when I returned, my boyfriend was supposed to keep an eye on her and do it for me, but is rather forgetful. I’ve been keeping an eye on her and have raised the humidity back to normal since then... her eyes have been clear, never milky... and she is pretty healthy, I would have been worried otherwise as I am a semi-paranoid pet owner. The sheds came so close together that I was surprised a bit and the humidity was just a little low for the second shed, my fault definitely. I have done the 1/4 inch of warm water and a wet paper towel in a container with holes for her before when I found out about that first shed, but was a little confused about the recent tail issue, although today she was using it again. She was very active and curious while out also, as she usually is... rather than hiding in my shirt and pouting ;p I am glad for all your supportive comments, thank you and I know where to go if I have any questions!
-Stephanie-
|
|
04/23/04 8:23pm
|
|
|
#65397
Snakedangler79
View Profile
|
Message To: Charmer In reference to Message Id: 64682
Tail not gripping....
no worries stephannie thats what this is here for ive kept snakes for 7 years now and i still ask people things everyone does things diffrently and you learn things new every day 
|
|
04/25/04 4:19pm
|
|
|
#66154
Charmer
View Profile
|
Message To: Snakedangler79 In reference to Message Id: 65397
Tail not gripping....
Woohoo... she was totally constipated... she left a stool almost as big as my room-mates puppie’s!! She is so happy now, as would I be relieved also! It’s been nice and sunny here finally too and she’s been riding me around in the sun and while cleaning, using her tail again with gusto!
Thanks all! I loved hearing from all of you and to snakedangler79, it definitely is always nice to learn something new!
stephanie
|
|
04/26/04 11:15pm
|
|
|
