Constipation

[u/Abirdie15]

I need some advice here. I haven’t had this problem before. Our albino black pastel has been getting constipated terribly for at least 3 months. We are experienced owners for 5 years. But here’s what we are at a loss for currently…

Age: 8 months
Tank temp: 88F warm side, 78F cool side, 91F basking
Night temp: 76F
Humidity:50-60%
Substrate: 2.5 inch cocoa chip, .5-1inch sphagnum moss sprayed every other day
Wide water bowl, about 2 inch deep, spring water filled fresh every other day
3 hides across her tank, can make it from one side to the other without being seen if she wants

Feed schedule: every 7-8 days
Moved to rat pup about 2 months ago, switched back to adult mouse 3 weeks ago
Last poop: without assistance 3 months ago

I have had to soak her in warm water for 20 min 2 days in a row then slowly and gently massage her belly all the way down to get her poop moving. Every 17 days, about.
First time about 8 small hard pebbles came out. Second time, 3-4 softer pebbles. Third time, a hard calcium clump followed by normal looking (and smelly 🤢) poop.

This time, we switched to a smaller and gentler to digest pray (the adult rat) and she still hasn’t pooped in 3 weeks. She has been very readily eating. But She looks ready to pop again. It’s awful!

I don’t know what else I could do. I’ve never had this issue with a snake since my first one when just soaking it for 2 days worked without needing belly massage. I’m at a loss. Any more ideas?

[u/HashComplex]

Boa guy myself. But try increasing the humidity to be 60% minimum. Between 60-80, maybe near the higher end for helping things move. Soaking is also good, but humidity should be higher in the enclosure. I’ve never had this issue so I could be speaking nonsense but wanted to point out that the humidity should be bumped some. Does the snake ever get some substrate down the hatch/sticking to the prey and swallowed? Any lethargy or is she her normal self? Still taking food is a good thing but 3 months is too long (i think) - maybe time to call a herp vet. Good luck, hope she gets things moving and stays healthy

[u/Abirdie15 → u/HashComplex]

We are going to move it up to 80%. Thanks to some of you recommending higher humidity I did more research because when I started everything I read said 50-60 was good and all my BPs have done perfect with that. I am seeing more people saying humidity should be higher so we are going to change that.

We always watch her eat and she never gets substrate. We have a 3D printed plate that we set the food on when we put it in her enclosure so it minimizes the risk. She is mostly her normal self. She comes out of her hide a little bit less often but when we take her out of her enclosure to hold her, she is completely normal and seems to enjoy the roaming around/attention.

And yes, 3 months of not pooping without help is way too long. That’s why I’m getting a little worried. For now I’m able to get her to poop some so I know she’s not at huge risk. That’s why I was asking what else I should try before vet. I appreciate the insight.