Yay i got my roughie. Seeking help

[jacevy]

I have a lovely little yearling roughie and I love her to bits. I picked her up and was told she was a trouble feeder. She only has a pinkie mouse once a fortnight. No worries I have plenty of time to get her feeding better.

After watching her for 3 days I have noticed some things I need help clarifying. Firstly she did a poo and it was just all bubbles. I googled and found that this was due to only urates being present because she doesn't eat much.
Secondly she yawns and rubs her mouth a lot. She only shed a week ago.
Thirdly I have barely seen her tongue flicker. Even when checking out her new enclosure she doesn't smell anything.

So all of this could be normal? Or it could indicate something. I would appreciate others opinions please.

 

[Newhere]

I dunno about the yawning or tongue flicking but I remember reading that pinkies are mainly water so thats all she would be passing.

 

[andynic07]

Firstly congratulations on your RSP and please post up some pictures when you get a chance. There are many reasons for a snake to yawn but usually a healthy snake will flick it's tongue. I have been told that is something you should check when buying a snake. I would say that the yawning and no tongue flicking combined with not eating very well would warrant a check up from a vet.

 

[ReptiBeck]

Ive read that pinkies are fully digestable because of their size/age along with bone softness etc...

 

[jacevy]

Thanks guys.
I'll keep an eye on her today and see if she tongue flicks. I know I have seen her do it a couple of times but not often.

 

[andynic07]

Also my Rsp which I have only just got (born December 2013) is eating pinkies. Are you sure it couldn't manage something bigger.

 

[jacevy]

They said it would eat a fuzzy but if it did it wouldn't eat for a month. Eating pinkies it will eat weekly or fortnightly.

 

[PythonLegs]

I think your breeder has told you some porkie pies, she'll probably handle an upsize meal just fine.

I'd organise a vet trip first, tbh..the lack of tongue flicking combined with rubbing and yawning would have me suspicious of an issue going on with her mouth..

 

[Trimeresurus]

I don't know why any Morelia aside from chondros would be eating pinky mice.

 

[RedFox]

I would have thought hatchy RSP would be able to handle a fuzzy mouse roughly once a week.

A yearling having a pinkie mouse every two weeks sounds a bit strange.

 

[AirCooled]

A yearling RSP should be able to handle a fuzzy rat roughly once a week,mine does easily..

 

[jacevy]

I'll take a photo of her and post it up. She is only tiny. Tiny because she is not eating.

 

[andynic07]

That would be the best idea.

This is my little one who eats pinkie rats.

 

[jacevy]

Mine is all curled up asleep at the moment. She is snappy probably due to her hunger!!!
From those photos though mine isn't much smaller. How old is yours andynic07?

 

[andynic07]

Smaller? Mine was born December 2013 so only a couple of months old.

 

[jacevy]

Lol. Yeah mine is teeny.
Can I ask how quickly they can get a RI? I am now concerned that it is this. If I only got her on Sunday has it come from the breeder or me?

 

[Trimeresurus]

It won't be your fault if it has RI.

 

[jacevy]

Ok. I just saw what could be a little bubble come from it's nose. It may be a little bit of skin but I think it was a bubble. The reptile vet near me I can't get in to until Monday. Looks like I'll have to try further away.

 

[Newhere]

What happened to letting them settle for a week after bringing them home? Hovering over her enclosure looking for tongue flicking isn't going to help with the feeding problem.

 

[Trimeresurus]

Yeah I'd say it has it, the rubbing, yawning and lack of tongue flicking all point to it, if there's mucus especially.