Impaction
A gut blockage, often from swallowed substrate, oversized food, dehydration or low temperatures.
Impaction is a partial or complete blockage of the digestive tract. Common causes are ingesting loose substrate (loose sand and walnut shell are classic culprits), food that is too large, dehydration, and temperatures too low to digest.
Signs include straining, not passing stool, a loss of appetite, lethargy and sometimes a firm swelling. Prevent it with an appropriate substrate, correct hydration and warm-enough basking temperatures. Suspected impaction is a veterinary emergency.
Related terms
baskr turns the fundamentals into practice, log temperature, humidity and weight and it scores each animal against species ideal ranges, flagging problems early.
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General husbandry guidance, not veterinary advice. Always confirm details for your species with an up-to-date care sheet, an experienced keeper or an exotics vet.