Regurgitation Syndrome

[Rust316]

I have an observation that I want to share on this topic, and perhaps start a discussion with respect to regurgitation syndrome in BCCs.

Following a regurgitation, we often hear that we should wait two weeks, and feed a smaller size food item. After that, we can increase the size and feeding frequency to a more normal schedule gradually over the next few weeks.

I'm not sure I completely agree with this type of advice. What I've noticed is that a second regurgitation is quite possible 4 or 5 meals later even under a conservative schedule. I think this happens because we rush too quickly to get our animals on a normal schedule again and do not appreciate the stress and toll that regurgitation inflicts on a boa's digestive system. My experience has been that if you resume a normal feeding schedule too soon, a second regurgitation will follow at some point down the road. It seems like it can take as many as six months to a year for a boa to recover from a regurgitation. A second regurgitation slows the recovery process down even further. A third often means death.

Now, assuming that the conditions that triggered the regurgitation have been corrected, the cage has been cleaned, the boa has rehydrated and has been left undisturbed (no handling), and the temps and environment are perfect, I think that a second regurgitation can still occur based on post-regurgitation feeding errors.

Fortunately, these days, I rarely experience this problem. But, it does happen every now and then for a variety of reasons (I listed them in Rex's regurge thread recently). I have also had to deal with a second regurgitation with two animals over the past two years. I waited two to three weeks to feed again in both instances and fed a pink rat or mouse, then followed that again two weeks later gradually stepping the animal back up to a normal size item every two weeks until it was back on track. The second regurgitation happened each time after I stepped up to the prey size the animal was eating prior to the first regurgitation.

In both instances, I believe that the second regurgitation was a direct result of feeding too much too soon, even though I was feeding on a two week schedule and the animal had spent weeks eating under-sized food items.

It is hard to starve a snake to death. We probably feed them way more than they need to maintain a healthy growth rate. Based on this reality, I have taken an even more conservative approach to dealing with regurgitation as it pertains to resuming normal feeding activities. I now wait 3 weeks to a month to feed again depending on the situation and age of the animal. I feed a hairless food item, and then wait another 2 to 3 weeks to do the same. After that, the animal is gradually boosted back up to its pre-regurgitation food size over a six month period with no food being offered any sooner than two weeks from the date of the last meal. I have not had a second regurgitation under this approach. My feeling is that it takes time for a young BCC to recover from a regurgitation, they will not starve to death, and if the triggering cause of the first regurgitation has been cured, and you give them plenty of time (i.e. months) to recover, they'll bounce back.

	Boa Constrictor Constrictor Red Tail Boa Constrictor (Boa constictor constrictor). Refers to "true" red tail boas such as the Guyana and Suriname locales.

[mpgt]

Sounds good to me Rust. Thanks!!

[richardduckworth]

a lot of people fear having a runt and we know that first year of growth is the most explosive, and i think that gives people a sense of urgency.

[Xeikeness]

I think, and this is my own uneducated opinion, that lots of times regurge is somehting that happens because of something WE did wrong. Namely, feeding too often. So many people feed their adult boas ona weekly/bi-weekly/monthly schedule... More of what we need to be doing, imo, is trying to mimick their life in the wild best.

How many wild snakes regurgitate, then go, 'oh man I better sit this out a few weeks, and start fresh with a pink!' (Which is a good idea, I'm not razzing that, because it's the method that works best) Or every second Tuesday crawling out of the hide to kill and eat an Adult Male Rat(no white spots, please, and not too small, and be sure it's not too big.)

I think on the whole, almost everyone is overfeeding their adult snakes. In the wild, snakes eat when, where, and what they can, often going over a month before eating again.

I use sporradic feedings. I do feed every weekend. But... not often the same prey, and not often the same snakes. Some snakes I wait 3 weeks before feeding, then 2 weeks, then 4 while altering the size or type of prey.

It keeps things interesting, and except for Mozart(who was regurging long before I got her) I have never had a snake regurge on me. Whether this is luck, good solid genes, or what I'm doing I don't know. But I do know that for me, it's working. I have healthy happy snakes.

	In My Opinon IMO = In My Opinion and IMHO = In My Honest Opinion

[ssjsmits]

Originally Posted by Xeikeness

I think, and this is my own uneducated opinion, that lots of times regurge is somehting that happens because of something WE did wrong. Namely, feeding too often.

Yeah I think the same thing. A healthy boa isn't going to throw up it's meal for no apparent reason (setting aside the possibility of poor rodent feeders).
I would think that it would be very difficult to under feed a healthy boa. Another issue in regards to feeding too often, is that a lot of novice keepers (from what I've seen) want the "biggest" boa. Perhaps for bragging rights, or maybe insecurity issues .
That's just me 2 cents.
Thanks Rust!

	regurgitate Throw up. Reptiles will regurge when they feel they are in danger or if they have some sort of health issue. If your reptile has regurgitated his/her food please seek help!

[Stargazer]

I am bookmarking this information, but hopefully, I will never have to find out. So far, no regurges in my 2 y.o. Guyanan. A little anorexia maybe, but no bulemia.

	regurgitate Throw up. Reptiles will regurge when they feel they are in danger or if they have some sort of health issue. If your reptile has regurgitated his/her food please seek help!