Yet another urgent feeding post...

[d_virginiana]

I've noticed my blacknecks seem to be way more in tune with changes in temp and humidity than my easterns. Like, the power can go out for a couple hours and the cool down doesn't even affect my easterns, but my blacknecks will act off for several days; just being generally more anxious and bitey than normal.

[EasternBlackNeckedGarter]

Well, two days ago I set a 75w ExoTerra infrared basking spot lamp on top of her cage. Seemed to go well, she's been very active. However, when I measured the temps just now the high was around 91 and the low around 78. It's turned off for now. Should I keep the bulb, but put the lamp on a stand? I do have one spare.

Also. When I checked up on her, I found this nasty looking defecation (Pics should be attached). What does it indicate? Could it be rotted intestinal contents that didn't finish digesting? Like I said, it's been over two months...

EDIT: I bagged/fridged a small sample just in case, since it's relatively fresh.

[guidofatherof5]

What was fed at the last meal?

[EasternBlackNeckedGarter]

Honestly, I can't remember. I usually record her meals but I didn't have a chart handy at the time... It was either pinkies, live rosy minnows, or a mixture of the two.

[EasternBlackNeckedGarter]

(Sorry for posting twice in a row) Just wanted to say that I went ahead and put her lamp back on last night. It's hanging from a stand about six inches higher than before. I'll record temps when I get home.

[guidofatherof5]

Keep us posted.

[EasternBlackNeckedGarter]

Temps are relatively stable. Most of the cage is in the low 80s, and the coolest point is 78. The branch I use as a basking spot was 90, but nothing else was that high.

[d_virginiana]

Don't feed rosy minnows. They contain thiaminase which can cause serious brain problems over time and eventually death. If you want to include fish I'd recommend silversides, but pinkies or nightcrawlers are a preferable staple IMO.

[EasternBlackNeckedGarter]

I'm aware of the issues with minnows. I threw some silversides in a dish yesterday and left them in there with her. Still uneaten as of now. Did you guys ever come up with a hypothesis about the poop?

[EasternBlackNeckedGarter]

Well, she finally ate tonight! Decided to skip fish altogether and thaw a pinkie. It did the trick! I guess she just needed a more constant temp. I'll try again in 5 days or so. Thanks to everyone who responded!

(However, if I should be worried about the defecation, let me know.)