Making sure that your snake is healthy includes ensuring that their digestive system is healthy. Quite often a sickness, parasites, etc. can be noticed simply by keeping an eye on your snake’s poop – or lack thereof. It may not be glamorous, but it is important.
In this article we’ll look at everything you need to know about your snake’s poop – the good, the bad, and the gross. We’re starting with what to look for in healthy snake poop before moving on to things that can lead to your snake’s droppings being abnormal and what to do about it. Keep reading for a handy infographic to print and keep!
Table of Contents
What Does Normal, Healthy Snake Poop Look Like?
Snake excrements consist of two parts. While the snake droppings are dark brown or even black and log-shaped, the urates are just a white tip that looks like chalk. Snake poop is usually solid, but many snakes also excrete fluids while defecating.
A little mucus or fluid isn’t something to be worried about as this will just be a bit of liquid urine.
Your snake’s feces can also contain fur, nails, and/or teeth. These are leftovers from their prey that weren’t fully digested before being passed.
Is It Snake Poop Or Regurgitation?
Regurgitated
There are many reasons why your snake may regurgitate their
How To Keep Your Snake From Regurgitating Their Food
Regurgitation in captivity usually has to do with husbandry (the way you’re keeping and caring for your snake).
So, for example, if your snake’s immediate environment isn’t right for their breed and it’s too hot or cold or too humid or not humid enough, they will find it difficult to digest their
You, therefore, need to be very careful with your snake – even though they look very tough they need a lot of TLC to keep them happy and healthy in captivity.
Here is a video that thoroughly explains regurgitation and what you need to do about it:
Let’s look at the reasons why your snake may not be pooping and what you can do about it.
Why Is My Snake Not Pooping?
There are various reasons why your snake may not be pooping. The most common reasons are:
- Your snake is digesting its
food - Your snake is constipated
- Your snake is impacted
- Your snake has an upcoming shed
- Your snake is about to go into brumation
It’s important to know why your snake isn’t pooping – or isn’t pooping as often as they usually do. If you know what their routine is and if they struggle with pooping, you’ll be better equipped to know what will help and when you need to visit the vet.
Tip: Keep reading to find out how often the breed of snake you have usually poops.
1. Your Snake Is Still Digesting Its Food
Snakes can take anything from a few days if it’s a small snake eating a mouse, to a few weeks, if it’s a large snake that can eat, for example, an antelope to digest their
It’s therefore important to know about how long your snake will take to digest their
After all, it’s only after fully digesting their
What To Do If Your Snake Is Still Digesting Its Food
If it’s been more than 48 hours, you can start to handle your snake if you need to – it would then be long enough that they don’t regurgitate their
However, if it’s only been a few hours or a day or so, just leave your snake alone and let their digestive tract get to work.
2. Your Snake Is Constipated
Just like humans and other pets, snakes can sometimes get constipated and struggle to poop.
Snakes usually go quite regularly along with their feeding schedule, so if you find that they suddenly stop pooping or are taking longer than usual, your snake may be constipated.
There are a number of reasons why your snake may become constipated, including husbandry issues or a diet that consists of frozen-thawed
The husbandry issues that could leave your snake constipated is a tank that is kept at the wrong temperature – especially a tank that’s too cold, a tank that is kept too dry instead of at the correct humidity, or not giving your snake access to fresh water all the time.
Because dehydration plays such a huge part in constipation (and impaction, but we’re still getting to that), it’s very important to ensure that your snake doesn’t get dehydrated. Not only is it bad for their gut health, but their overall health as well.
What To Do If Your Snake Is Constipated
If your snake is constipated, you must act swiftly to prevent the constipation from becoming impaction.
One of the most successful ways in which you can help your snake go, is by soaking them in warm – not hot! – water for 10 to 15 minutes.
Your snake should be able to pass the snake excrement while they’re in the water or within a day thereafter.
It’s very important that you don’t give your snake any medicine or an enema on your own unless your vet has explicitly told you to do so. You could cause more damage to your poor snake and even lead to its untimely death.
If you’re worried that your reptile may be sick or have parasites, take the snake droppings to your vet.
They’ll make sure that your snake is free from illnesses and parasites, especially since parasites can build up in your snake’s intestines when they’re constipated.
If the warm-water trick and changing the environment don’t work, your snake could suffer from impaction and not “simply” constipation.
Keep reading to find out more about impaction and what you need to do if your snake is impacted.
3. Your Snake Is Suffering From Impaction
If you find that your snake isn’t pooping at all, it could be that they are impacted – severely constipated – and aren’t able to pass their poop on their own. This is very dangerous and you should waste no time in checking your snake for symptoms.
There are only a few symptoms if your snake is impacted, and they’re easier to spot if you’ve had your snake for a while and know them well.
The symptoms of impaction in snakes are:
- lethargy
- doesn’t pass a stool for weeks
- eats very little or, most likely, nothing at all
- may regurgitate their
food if they do try to eat
You can also look for swelling around your snake’s cloaca, as the impacted lumps of feces (fecalith) can be so large that it distends their body. On some snakes, the skin may even look bruised.
What To Do If Your Snake Is Impacted
If you suspect or know that your snake is impacted, you may need to get them to a vet immediately as they may need a medical intervention of some kind or your snake could die.
Your vet will try various interventions after taking some x-rays to see if they can dislodge the fecalith without surgery.
Should the other interventions not work, the vet will need to operate on your snake to remove the fecalith matter in that way.
As you can imagine, this is really a last resort and is very dangerous to do even though it can be a life-saving operation. (Keep reading to find out how you can keep your snake’s poop healthy.)
Tip: If there is no reptile vet in your area, we highly recommend booking an online vet. Vetster, for example, offers 24/7 video chat appointments. Check them out here!
4. Your Snake Has An Upcoming Shed
Snakes shed their skin as they grow and age. Various factors have an influence on the amount of time between your snake’s sheds, but the most important thing is to note when a shed is about to happen and to ensure that nothing goes wrong during or after the shed.
Snakes usually stop eating before they shed their skin and may even stop pooping for a time before they shed their skin.
Depending on the age and size of the snake, this could mean no pooping for weeks. It’s therefore very important that you know your snake and know what’s normal and what’s not.
Signs that your snake is about to shed its skin, are:
- Their eyes will go cloudy and turn a bluish color
- Their skin will start looking dull and faded
- They may use their hides more than usual, especially the cool, damp hide
- They may bathe in their water bowl
- They may lose their appetite
- They may start brushing against rough surfaces in their
tank to loosen the old skin - They may stop pooping and only go after they’ve shed their old skin.
What To Do If Your Snake Has An Upcoming Shed
If you see signs that your snake is going to shed their skin, first wait to see if they poop after shedding their skin before getting worried that they may be impacted.
Keep an eye on any swelling around the cloaca, but otherwise, you can just leave your snake and let nature do its work. Just remember to give them enough water to drink and bathe in – it will help with the shedding.
5. Your Snake Is About To Go Into Brumation
Snakes from more temperate climates with cold winters – for example, corn snakes, milk snakes, and garter snakes – may brumate even in captivity.
During the colder months, this brumation will leave your snake “asleep” for most of the time and they will only drink water every now and then.
They will not (and should not) eat as they shouldn’t have any
Note! Snakes from temperate climates brumate, not those from tropical climates. If you have a snake from a more tropical climate (like some pythons and boas) and they go off their
food and become lethargic, you need to get them to the vet as soon as possible.
What To Do If Your Snake Is About To Brumate
If the months are getting colder and your snake is getting ready to brumate, it’s extremely important that they be in good health before starting their brumation.
You should, therefore, get them looked at by your vet to ensure that they are in the best health possible.
You also need to feed them the last time 14 days before they start to brumate as their digestive tract should be completely empty.
This means that your snake needs to empty its bowels before starting to brumate. If they don’t – or if they are constipated at this time – they could very easily die from an infection caused by the rotting
If you suspect that your snake is constipated, you need to give them a soak in warm water and see if that helps. Otherwise, you need to get them to the vet before they start brumating.
Tip! Keep your snake’s
You can then slowly change the temperature and light levels to resemble winter and be jealous that they get to sleep through winter and you don’t.
Why Does My Snake Have Diarrhea?
If your snake has diarrhea, you need to act quickly as it is very dangerous and your snake can lose a lot of fluid quickly. It can also be indicative of a serious underlying health condition.
The symptoms of diarrhea in snakes include:
- Runny, watery, foul-smelling stools
- Pooping more than once between meals
- Lethargy
The most common causes of diarrhea in snakes are
Parasites
Especially internal parasites like worms and coccidia. Mites and ticks can also cause problems if the infestation gets bad.
Malnutrition
Your snake should always be fed a balanced diet that fulfills their nutritional needs.
If snakes don’t get enough calcium, for example, they can suffer from metabolic bone disease, a crippling illness that leads to an awful death for the suffering pet.
Their tank ’s sanitary conditions
A dirty
Humidity and temperature inside the tank
You should have a thermometer and hygrometer handy at all times to ensure that your snake’s
Do the necessary research for your specific snake breed’s necessities and make sure that your
What To Do If Your Snake Has Diarrhea
If your snake has diarrhea, it’s important to get them to the vet as soon as possible and to take a sample of the poop to the vet so that they can check it for parasites and illnesses.
Your vet will also be able to treat your snake for dehydration, etc. and keep them for a day or two if required.
Tip! Place some of the droppings in a sealable plastic bag like a sandwich bag and seal it tightly. You definitely don’t want it opening in the car halfway to the vet or spilling anywhere!
If you don’t have a exotic vet in your area, book an online vet on platforms like Vetster. You can do so here!
What Does Strange-Coloured Snake Poop Mean?
One symptom of an ill snake is strange-colored poop – green, red, white, or yellow.
While it’s not always necessary to take your snake to the vet immediately when you see that their poop has turned a weird color, it is good to know what to change in their diet or husbandry to correct it.
Here are the common colors of feces that your snake may get if they’re under the weather.
Green Snake Poop
Although a slight green tinge to your snake’s poop is nothing to worry about when the temperatures start to drop, deep green or bright green color to the poop or urates can mean that your snake has liver problems or an infection. Bile makes the feces green.
What To Do If Your Snake Has Green Poop
If you notice that your snake has green poop, the best thing you can do is to take them to your vet as soon as possible.
That way, in case it is a problem with your snake’s liver, it can be sorted sooner rather than later. Waiting could put your snake’s life in danger.
Remember to take a sample of your snake’s poop with you to the vet (in a sealable plastic bag) so that the vet can test it for any illnesses, parasites, etc.
Red Snake Poop
If you see that your snake has red poop, it means that your snake has fresh blood in or on their feces. If the blood is from your snake’s prey, it’ll be a very dark red or black.
However, if you see bright red blood, it means that your snake is bleeding internally for some reason.
What To Do If Your Snake Has Red Poop
Red poop could mean that your snake is struggling with constipation and that they’re bleeding because they’re trying to move their bowels, but the fecaliths (pieces of poop) are too big to pass without injuring their bowels.
However, whether this is the case or if something else is wrong, you need to get your snake to the vet immediately as blood on their stools could be life-threatening.
Remember to take a sample of your snake’s poop with you to the vet (in a sealable plastic bag) so that the vet can test it for any illnesses, parasites, etc.
White Snake Poop
Snake poop always contains a part that is anything from white to off-white and even yellowish. These are the urates and are nothing to worry about as it’s a natural part of the feces.
However, should you find that the normally white urates change color, it may mean trouble – keep reading to find out what to do in those cases.
Old poop can also turn white. This can happen if your snake poops somewhere hidden and you don’t find it in your normal spot-clean (otherwise, remove the poop as soon as possible to avoid bacterial growth that can cause illness and a nasty smell).
Finally, white poop can simply be from your snake eating a diet (or prey item) that is very high in calcium. You can also check if the white piece of the poop isn’t a piece of bone, a tooth, etc. from their last prey.
What To Do If Your Snake Has White Poop
If your snake has white poop that isn’t from urates, high calcium, pieces of prey or that’s old poop, you need to take your snake to the vet so that they can do tests on the feces to find out what’s causing the white color.
Otherwise, relax and just keep an eye on their next poop.
Remember to take a sample of your snake’s poop with you to the vet (in a sealable plastic bag) so that the vet can test it for any illnesses, parasites, etc.
Yellow Snake Poop
Yellow or even orange snake poop could simply be the urates of your snake’s poop that are a more yellow color than usual.
This can simply be from their prey’s nutritional value and is usually not something to worry about if it’s just a once-off.
What To Do If Your Snake Has Yellow Poop
While some snakes always have yellow urates in their poop, if it’s a sudden color change and is not just something that happens once, you will need to take your snake to the vet.
Yellow or even orange-tinged urates may mean that there is a problem.
Remember to take a sample of your snake’s poop with you to the vet (in a sealable plastic bag) so that the vet can test it for any illnesses, parasites, etc.
Where Do Snakes Poop Out Of?
For snakes, the exit point for both excrement and eggs is a single opening known as the cloaca or vent. Located at the base of the tail, the cloaca is a critical part of the snake’s digestive and reproductive system.
Unlike mammals, snakes do not have separate openings for urine, feces, and reproduction. Everything passes through this single channel. After a snake has digested its
Do Snakes Poop Out The Bones Of Their Prey?
No, snakes don’t poop out the bones of their prey, although some hair, nails, teeth or bits of bone may be in their feces from time to time.
Snakes can digest the bones of their prey because of their strong stomach acids and the long time their
If you find that there are lots of bones in their poop, it can mean that they’re ill or that they have regurgitated their
5 Ways To Ensure That Your Snake Has Healthy Poop
Luckily, there are steps you can take to ensure that your snake has healthy poop and doesn’t get constipated or impacted. Here are five ways to keep your snake’s bowel movements healthy.
Feed Your Snake Smaller Prey
Feeding your snake prey that’s too large for them could not only lead to them regurgitating the prey, but can also lead to constipation and impaction.
Instead of feeding your snake one large prey item, you can rather feed them two smaller prey items. This is especially helpful in young snakes who still need to “grow into” their full size when they can eat larger prey items.
Ensure Your Snake Doesn’t Eat Their Substrate
Snakes don’t normally eat their substrate, but will start to do so if they require certain minerals. Then they may even consume sand.
So, to ensure that they don’t consume their substrate, make sure that you always feed them a balanced diet that contains all the nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that they need to keep them healthy.
You are what you eat! If you feed your snake live prey, you will need to ensure that they are also healthy and well-fed.
You can’t feed your snake live prey that is already half-starved, for example, and expect your snake to receive all the nutrients they need from that prey item. Think of it as gut loading for mice (or other prey).
Ensure The Correct Temperature and Humidity In The Tank
Because snakes are cold-blooded, they need to be kept at a specific temperature in order to keep their body temperatures at a level where they can digest their
If your snake is too cold, for example, they may be unable to digest their
Make sure that you do ample research about the exact breed of snake that you own so that you know what their habitat in their
This includes the temperature gradient and the humidity. You should have a thermometer and hygrometer for your snake’s
Offer Enough Water For Your Snake
Your snake should always have fresh, clean water in their
They can then also lie in the water if they need to. Fresh water in a container that’s big enough for them to lie in is necessary even for those snakes whose natural habitat is desert-like.
If your snake gets dehydrated, they can easily become constipated or impacted because the feces gets too dry to pass easily. It’s therefore really important that your snake has enough water.
Soak Your Snake’s Prey In Warm Water
If you give your snake frozen then thawed prey (for instance, frozen mice), the prey may not have enough moisture in it anymore as some of the moisture is lost when the mice or rats are frozen.
To add some moisture back into the frozen prey, thaw them by placing them in warm water (not hot or boiling – you don’t want to cook it!).
Tip! Some snakes don’t like wet
food though, so you may need to pat it dry first with some kitchen paper, for example, before you feed your snake.
How Often Do Snakes Poop?
On average, if you feed your snake once a month, you can expect it to poop once a month. If you feed it once a week, it should defecate once a week. If your snake defecates several times between meals, it might suffer from diarrhea.
Because snakes vary in size so much, it’s important to keep in mind that some snakes can perhaps poop only every couple of weeks or months as opposed to every few days.
In the table below, we’ve added ten of the most common pet snakes, how often they need to be fed and how often they poop on average.
Note that these are based on adult snakes of that breed. Younger snakes will have shorter time spans between feeds and therefore will also poop more often.
Also, note that averages are given, so if you find that your snake takes a day longer to digest their prey you don’t have to worry unless you see some of the complications we mentioned above in their poop.
| Snake Breed | How Often To Feed Them | How Often They Poop (Days On Average After Eating) |
| Ball python | Every 10–14 days | 4–7 |
| Boa constrictor | Every 7–10 days | 7–10 |
| Corn snake | Every 7–14 days | 5–7 |
| Rat snake | Every 7–10 days | 2–3 |
| Kingsnake | Every 10–14 days | 5–8 |
| Garter snake | 1–2 times per week | 3–5 |
| Milk snake | Every 5–7 days | 5–8 |
| Hognose snakes | Every 10–14 days | 3–5 |
| Rough green snake | 2–3 times per week | 2–3 |
| Ringneck snakes | 2–4 times per week | 1–3 |
When You Should Take Your Snake To The Vet Because Of Their Poop
A good rule of thumb to have when it comes to taking your snake to the vet because of their poop, is to take them whenever their poop is an abnormal color – especially when there are parts that are bright green or bright red – when they have diarrhea, or when the poop suddenly changes from how it always looked in any way.
Refer back to the article or to the infographic for more details.
You should also take your snake to the vet immediately if you suspect that they are impacted or when home remedies for constipation don’t work within a few hours (warm water soaks and belly massages).
Impaction can be especially deadly for snakes and may – even if it doesn’t kill them – require very dangerous surgery to remove the impacted fecaliths.
If you suspect parasites or worms, you should take a sample of your snake’s poop to the vet to have them test it.
You should also take a sample of your snake’s poop with you to the vet in a sealed bag if the poop looks any different than what it usually does.
If you can’t take your pet to a vet because you want to avoid the stress for your snake or because there is no herp vet near you, book an online vet here at Vetster! They offer 24/7 appointments, are affordable, and can help you avoid unnecessary trips to a vet.
Conclusion
Snake poop may not be something you want to think of, making sure that your snake’s poop looks healthy can help you to determine whether your snake is in good health or not.
And, if there seems to be something wrong, you can get veterinarian help before it’s too late.
FAQs about Snake Poop
Identification and Appearance
What does snake droppings look like? Snake droppings typically consist of a dark, solid part and a white, chalky part. The dark part is fecal matter, while the white part is urate, a solid form of urine.
What is the white part of snake poop? The white part of snake poop is urate, a solid form of urine.
What does snake poop smell like? Snake poop has an unpleasant, strong odor that is generally muskier than the feces of some other animals.
How do you tell the difference between snake and lizard poop? Snake poop often has a white, chalky part (urate) which is not usually present in lizard poop.
Is snake poop warm or cold? Snake poop is typically cold as snakes are cold-blooded and their body temperature does not warm their feces.
Health Concerns
What does a constipated snake look like? A constipated snake may appear bloated and lethargic, and may not be eating well.
Why is my snake having trouble pooping? Trouble pooping in snakes can be due to dehydration, low temperatures, or health issues. Consult a vet for accurate diagnosis.
Why is my snake pooping blood? This is a serious concern and should be immediately addressed by a veterinarian.
Can snake poop make you sick? Yes, handle snake poop with care as it can contain harmful bacteria.
Is it harmful to inhale the smell of snake poop? While the smell itself may not be harmful, prolonged exposure can potentially cause respiratory issues.
Behavior and Frequency
How do you know if a snake pooped? You’ll notice a solid waste which is dark, with a white, chalky part.
How long after feeding do snakes poop? It varies, but generally within 48-72 hours.
Do snakes poop when scared? Yes, some snakes may release feces and musk when frightened.
How much do snakes poop? It depends on their size and diet, larger snakes or those with richer diets will produce more waste.
How long can a snake go without pooping? Snakes can go for a significant time without pooping, but regularly monitor and consult a vet if you’re concerned.
How do you encourage a snake to poop? Ensure the snake is hydrated and the enclosure is at the correct temperature. Gentle exercise can also stimulate bowel movements.
Handling and Care
How do I know if my snake needs to poop? Regular monitoring will give you insight into your snake’s bowel movement patterns.
Should I feed my snake if it hasn’t pooped? It’s best to wait until your snake has had a bowel movement before feeding it again to avoid compounding digestion issues.
How do I know when my snake is hungry? Signs include increased activity, tongue flicking, and showing interest in the
What time should you feed your snake? Most snakes prefer to eat in the evening or at night.
Should I move my snake to feed it? It’s not necessary, but some owners prefer to do this to separate feeding and living spaces.
Cleaning and Maintenance
How do you get rid of snake poop? Use a scoop or gloves to remove the poop and clean the area with a reptile-safe disinfectant.
How do you clean snake poop? Remove the poop, then clean and disinfect the area. Regular cleaning of the enclosure is also crucial.
Miscellaneous
Where do snakes poop out of? Snakes expel waste through their cloaca, an opening where feces, urine, and eggs (for some species) are expelled.
Why do snakes poop on you? Snakes may poop on you when scared or stressed.
Have you ever been pooped on by a scared snake? While this is not a general question, many snake handlers have experienced this as a defensive behavior from snakes.
Will snakes poop on you? There’s a chance, especially if the snake is frightened or not used to handling.
Why do snakes poop in water? Snakes may choose to poop in water as a way to keep their living environment clean.
Will dog poop keep snakes away? There is no concrete evidence to suggest that dog poop effectively deters snakes.
How do you know if a snake is near? Look for signs like shed skin, tracks, and droppings.
How do you tell if there’s a snake in your house? Besides seeing the snake itself, watch out for shed skins and droppings.
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