Poop question - please advise!!

[SinLA]

I’ve been away for a week, and am trying f to wind Fezzik (adult WC Russian, I’ve had for 2+ years) down for brumation (first time). He had been outside with access to weeds but did not seem to be eating, and had very little Poole I soaks. About a week and a half ago he did have a lightweight poop tho.

This last week he’s been inside with no access to food. Today was his first soak and he delivered this and I have no idea what to make of it. Normally his poop is green, I’ve never seen orange poop like this before.

Maybe it’s just mucus but would love advice. I was going to put him back outside since the weather is nice again (tho he’s not getting much sun outside she it’s probably high 60s in his enclosure.

Any thoughts?

 

[SinLA]

*and had very little Poole I soaks should be “and had very little poop in soaks”

 

[SinLA]

Bumping. @Yvonne G ? @Tom ?

 

[Yvonne G]

My first thought was urates in a strange form.

 

[EppsDynasty]

Could it be watery like that due to not enough solids?
We had some torts come to us with poop very similar to that. We increased the amount of solids and reduced the amount of soaked Mazuri and foods with a high water content and viola ... in just days their poop became more firm and less water.

 

[SinLA]

Could it be watery like that due to not enough solids?
We had some torts come to us with poop very similar to that. We increased the amount of solids and reduced the amount of soaked Mazuri and foods with a high water content and viola ... in just days their poop became more firm and less water.

Except he’s had no food for a month now to prep him for brumation

 

[SinLA]

My first thought was urates in a strange form.

Is it concerning enough I should not brumate him?

 

[Yvonne G]

Is it concerning enough I should not brumate him?

no. I would not be concerned.

 

[Tom]

That is just the gut emptying out. Have you ever done a colonoscopy?

The time for sunning in warm SoCal weather is done. Time for Fezzik to take a cold slumber.

 

[SinLA]

Happened again today. Definitely mucus-ey

 

[SinLA]

That is just the gut emptying out. Have you ever done a colonoscopy?

yes, nothing like that came out of me (I won't go into what did...)

The time for sunning in warm SoCal weather is done. Time for Fezzik to take a cold slumber.

meanwhile its sunny and 74 degrees here, and more light is making it into his enclosure so he's enjoying himself. He's back to being outside so sleeping in 50s again at least.

I want to wait until no more of this comes out of him during soaking, so I was thinking of giving it another week, unless you think that's a bad idea?

 

[Tom]

yes, nothing like that came out of me (I won't go into what did...)



meanwhile its sunny and 74 degrees here, and more light is making it into his enclosure so he's enjoying himself. He's back to being outside so sleeping in 50s again at least.

I want to wait until no more of this comes out of him during soaking, so I was thinking of giving it another week, unless you think that's a bad idea?

If he's been fasting for a month and you intend to brumate him, I wouldn't put him back outside in the warm sunshine where he might eat something. I'd put him in the fridge tonight or early tomorrow morning.

This is the problem with Southern CA and brumating reptiles. It gets way too cold to function, and then it gets way too hot to brumate. And then it gets cold again, and hot again, etc... This is why I advocate that we have control of the temperatures. If we can control the temperatures, it doesn't matter what the weather does.

 

[SinLA]

If he's been fasting for a month and you intend to brumate him, I wouldn't put him back outside in the warm sunshine where he might eat something. I'd put him in the fridge tonight or early tomorrow morning.

This is the problem with Southern CA and brumating reptiles. It gets way too cold to function, and then it gets way too hot to brumate. And then it gets cold again, and hot again, etc... This is why I advocate that we have control of the temperatures. If we can control the temperatures, it doesn't matter what the weather does.

Ok thanks. Do I need to wind him down to the 39 degree fridge over a few days of no heat inside? I don't want to shock his system...

 

[Tom]

Ok thanks. Do I need to wind him down to the 39 degree fridge over a few days of no heat inside? I don't want to shock his system...

It's always tough here bridging that gap from 50-60 degree night down to fridge temps. I've done it both ways. I've put them straight into the cold fridge and had no issues. I've also put them into the fridge set to 45-50, and then gradually dropped them over the course of a few days. I don't think it matters either way.

What does matter is that he's not out in the sun warming up and eating.

 

[SinLA]

@Tom Fezzik is officially in the fridge now. I've been monitoring the temps for the last 24ish hours before putting him in and it seems to be fluxuating between 37 and 40 other when after the door is opened. He hadn't moved inside much for the last 24 hours and it was about 57 overnight in the garage before i put him in the fridge.

Any idea how long should it take before he actually goes to sleep? I can see he's still moving around a bit, like trying to dig into the substrate but not being hugely successful. He's not trying to get out of the bin fortunately.

 

[Tom]

@Tom Fezzik is officially in the fridge now. I've been monitoring the temps for the last 24ish hours before putting him in and it seems to be fluxuating between 37 and 40 other when after the door is opened. He hadn't moved inside much for the last 24 hours and it was about 57 overnight in the garage before i put him in the fridge.

Any idea how long should it take before he actually goes to sleep? I can see he's still moving around a bit, like trying to dig into the substrate but not being hugely successful. He's not trying to get out of the bin fortunately.

Some take a few days and others just conk out right away. I don't worry about it either way. Keep it cold and dark, and try not to fuss over him.

 

[SinLA]

Some take a few days and others just conk out right away. I don't worry about it either way. Keep it cold and dark, and try not to fuss over him.

I have a camera on him to make sure he doesn't try to get out of his bin and accidentally flip over, going to try to keep the door closed as much as possible other than opening for air exchange once a week ish (yes I know you think its not necessary but there's no way I'm not doing that, putting him in the fridge is hard enough