milksnake

Question
i have just got a milk snake and had it for 2 weeks it is about 18 months old i fed it for the second time yesterday and it has regurgitated both fuzzies is there signs for any concern not sure of sex

Answer
Hi Alan,

The two most common causes of regurgitation in snakes are sub-optimal temperature and overly large prey size. Excessive handling too soon after they have eaten can also trigger it.
You didn't mention the species but as a general rule milks should have a hot spot in the tank of 85 - 90F or 29 -32 C for efficient digestion to occur. With lower temperatures the food item starts to decay in their system rather then being digested and regurgitation is the result. Provide a hide spot in both the warm end of the tank and the cool end so that your snake is not sacrificing proper temperature in an effort to feel secure. Overly large prey items also cannot be efficiently digested and have the same regurgitation result. Snakes can safely take prey items that are about 1 1/2 times their own girth. In other words the thickness of the rodent's body can be slightly thicker then the thickness of your snake's body at its thickest point. Because of the regurgitation history with this snake I would suggest your next feeding attempt be with a rodent that is actually a bit smaller then your snake would normally take, such as a pinkie. Giving the snake a few days after the last regurg. to recover and replenish his stomach fluids is also recommended. If you are using frozen/thawed rodents make sure the rodent is at least room temperature or just slightly warmed.
These are the most common causes of regurg. and the ones that are easiest to remedy. If the problem continues you are best advised to to check with a vet to investigate the other possible causes such as parasitic infection or intestinal impaction. Good luck.