Post Compaction Advice

[jaleely]

I'm already a worried snake-mama. I have seen the hair in feces of my all of my snakes, and i have 7 different species (ball, garter, boa, corn, hognose, kenyan, carpet). I have to say i was under the general impression that ball pythons did digest the whole prey item, however. But, i *have* seen the hair in the poo, so it can't be denied.

Garters eat mostly fish.
One hognose has taken to the fish, as well. Little brat bit me because he wanted fish *lol*

[EasternGirl]

You know...I've been going over this post and while I do not have any experience with obstructions in snakes...I do have experience with blockages in humans. I used to take a medication that caused me to get blockages. Sorry to be detailed here...but I wonder if it can shed any insight. I would not be able to go to the bathroom for days, then I would be in a lot of pain...and like Honda...I would become extremely hungry..which would cause the blockage to become worse. Then I would start vomiting violently. I would end up in the hospital on IV fluids until the blockage worked itself out on it's own. Surgery would be necessary if the blockage would not pass. I am wondering if all of these signs would be something to watch for in garters. We have already discussed the snake not being able to defecate...I would think that you could also watch for a surge in hunger and vomiting. Hope this helps.

[ConcinusMan]

i was under the general impression that ball pythons did digest the whole prey item, however. But, i *have* seen the hair in the poo, so it can't be denied.

They don't digest it. No snake does. It's just that some snakes are "designed" in such a way that they collect and then pass loads of undigested material without any major issues. They're "built" for dealing with it. (They have the physical attributes necessary) Garters, generally speaking, are not.

[Stefan-A]

It's just that some snakes are "designed" in such a way that they collect and then pass loads of undigested material without any major issues. They're "built" for dealing with it. (They have the physical attributes necessary)

What way? Which attributes?

[ConcinusMan]

Nevermind. I was obviously mistaken. They're exactly the same.

[Stefan-A]

Wow, what a convincing argument!

[ConcinusMan]

Bad argument or not, I still say it's a bad idea to constantly shovel hair covered rodents (exclusively) into a garter. That's just tempting fate. I take it a step further, and avoid giving them hair at all. Besides, most garters I've had will instantly drop a hair covered mouse but will gladly take naked ones.

A partial blockage, injury, etc. alone isn't the problem, but introduce wads of undigested hair and you got yourself an issue.

[Stefan-A]

Bad argument or not, I still say it's a bad idea to constantly shovel hair covered rodents (exclusively) into a garter. That's just tempting fate.

Not interested in superstitions.

[ConcinusMan]

It's not a superstition that rodent hair does not digest and must somehow pass out of the snake.

[Stefan-A]

It's not a superstition that rodent hair does not digest and must somehow pass out of the snake.

That's not what the post was about, and you know it. Are you perhaps suggesting that snakes that aren't shaped like ball pythons don't have cloacas?