how long does it take to digest?

[tizzle89]

alrighty so this is my first post so bear with. i just bought my bp about 20 days ago i fed it an adult mouse the first day i got it... its been almost a week now and i haven't seen any droppings .. wondering about how long does it take to pass an adult mouse... dont know if this was a mistake but i fed him this morning another one.. tank temp 80 under his rock 85 on the right and 78 on the left side .. humid is 40 atm cant keep it above 50 for longer then 4 hours.. under tank heater is being used..

[Kyle@theHeathertoft]

I had exactly the same concern not long ago, lol! I haven't had a BP in years so I had kindof forgotten their quirks...and I have two other resident snakes, colubrids, who poop like a day after eating, so I kindof panicked when my new BP hadn't gone in a week since eating.

I asked around and have been reassured that the lack of poop isn't something to be too worried about...they seem to hold it forever, lol! My boy's last mouse hasn't produced a poop either, and unless he rejects due to being in shed right now he's getting another mouse tonight.

[Egapal]

alrighty so this is my first post so bear with. i just bought my bp about 20 days ago i fed it an adult mouse the first day i got it... its been almost a week now and i haven't seen any droppings .. wondering about how long does it take to pass an adult mouse... dont know if this was a mistake but i fed him this morning another one.. tank temp 80 under his rock 85 on the right and 78 on the left side .. humid is 40 atm cant keep it above 50 for longer then 4 hours.. under tank heater is being used..

Welcome. A couple things. Your time line doesn't make since. If you got your snake 20 days ago and you fed it on day one then then its been almost 3 weeks. Each BP is different and they are going to defecate when they defecate. Unless you start seeing a large bulge at the vent you should be fine. You should feed on your schedule and not worry about bowel movements so much. My BP will often save up a few mice and leave me a great big surprise when she sheds. I would not start worrying for at least another week.

Next is temps. Can you show us a picture of your setup. You should have two identical hides that are tight fitting, one on the warm side one on the cool side. The warm side should be a bit warmer. I shoot for 89 to 91 although lately I am thinking about dropping that to 88 to 90 based on my snakes use of her hides. Your cool side doesn't seem to bad and if you bring up your temps on the warm side just a little you should be perfect.

Humidity, if we see a picture of your setup we should be able to help. If you are using any lamps that give off heat you could stop as they suck out humidity. I use a florescent fish tank light for my lighting. BP's are nocturnal so the lighting is all for you not for your snake. Also you could try reducing the ventilation. If you have your snake in a tank you could easily cover 75% of the top and have great ventilation.

[tizzle89]

Welcome. A couple things. Your time line doesn't make since. If you got your snake 20 days ago and you fed it on day one then then its been almost 3 weeks. Each BP is different and they are going to defecate when they defecate. Unless you start seeing a large bulge at the vent you should be fine. You should feed on your schedule and not worry about bowel movements so much. My BP will often save up a few mice and leave me a great big surprise when she sheds. I would not start worrying for at least another week.

Next is temps. Can you show us a picture of your setup. You should have two identical hides that are tight fitting, one on the warm side one on the cool side. The warm side should be a bit warmer. I shoot for 89 to 91 although lately I am thinking about dropping that to 88 to 90 based on my snakes use of her hides. Your cool side doesn't seem to bad and if you bring up your temps on the warm side just a little you should be perfect.

Humidity, if we see a picture of your setup we should be able to help. If you are using any lamps that give off heat you could stop as they suck out humidity. I use a florescent fish tank light for my lighting. BP's are nocturnal so the lighting is all for you not for your snake. Also you could try reducing the ventilation. If you have your snake in a tank you could easily cover 75% of the top and have great ventilation.

guess your right on the time line it has been atleast 10 to 15 i live in alaska so the days flow very nicely together lol.. ill upload a pic soon. its nothing spec just a reg snake starter kit 20 gal i do believe with 2 lights on top of a screen lid since my room temp is useally 60 degs i use a 100 wat basking light on 1 side and a 100 wat night light on the other side depending on what my room temp is max light i use is 2 hundred wat basking lights < but thats if i dont have my space heater going in my room. i put some moss in his cool side next to his wood cuz to me it looks like he might shed.. top of his head is turning a blueish color in the light <grey> and his belly is turning pink instead of the norm tan...

[mason]

The vast majority of royals (young ones anyway) will only defacate when they shed.

Kept at the correct temperature the meal takes 24-72 hours to be digested, but they can hang on a long time before they need to 'go'

[tizzle89]

alright lets see if this works







he has his night lights on atm 60 watt black light and the 100 watt red light

under his hide is the 81 degree the back gage shows the over all temp in the cage and the humid .. leting it drop atm since im about to clean the cage and re hydrate his dirt ... using eco earth

[Vypyrz]

The norm for my guys average about 3 in, 1 out...

[zantedeschia]

A comment on your hide. I wasted a lot of money on about 4-5 of the hides that have more than one opening. (small ones when my snakes were small). They really seem to prefer the exo-terro ones that only have one opening. I would recommend that (your brand of choice certainly, but the type of cave with only one door).