| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Seraea |
Posted - 26/08/2011 : 22:59:41
Hey guys,
So, all I seem to do is ask advice about my corn snake gaia. She's about 2 and a half years old, and i've had her about 3 months now. She's only eaten once in that time and she regurged that.
She's severely underweight and no matter what I do, she wont eat.
I've given her many different sizes of mice to try and encourage her, I've tried warming, braining, feeding different times of the day, marmiting the mouse..I'm at a loss and I'm really scared that she's just going to die.
My other corns are happy and healthy, it's just her.
When I get her out, she's alert and seems happy, not stressed..She isn't at all lethargic, and just loves being held..Unfortunately, while holding her, I can clearly see and feel her spine, and can feel her ribs, and her underbelly just feels hollow.
If anyone has any suggestions to try and help me, I'd be forever grateful. I don't really have the money to take her to a vet right now, so it's really a last option for me. If I absolutely have to, I will, but I'd like to try everything first.
2 days after I got her, she laid slugs, and I just assumed her lack of feeding was stress from being in a new place, and then having a false pregnancy..Now I really don't know.
Sorry for the ramble, and thanks for reading x |
| 5 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| mikerichards |
Posted - 27/08/2011 : 10:48:48
there are a few things you can try, but tbh i think you need to start saving for a trip to the vets for a faecal float test. The lump on her tail is in the wrong place for a fatty lump, where it is is around her cloaca, so could potentially be an infection of some sort. Snakes have a huge tolerance for pain, well, some snakes have a huge tolerance for pain, and they dont tend to show any outward signs until its pretty much too late.
When you say she wee;s and poos a lot, what exactly is she passing?
My first thought is something like Pin worm, a parasite, and thats where a float test will tell you what you need to know, its worth ruling it out sooner rather than later, because if it is pin worm, it will kill her, if its not a parasite, then you have peace of mind! |
| kdlang |
Posted - 27/08/2011 : 10:47:26
Poor girl, she sounds like she has really been through the mill. What kind of thermometer are you using and where is it positioned?
To be quite honest I would seriously think about getting her to a vet. It does sound like there is something untoward going on. The vet can do tests to check for any internal parasites that could be effecting her and might be able to find out what that lump is and if that is contributing.
In the meantime, a powerade bath might help to perk her up a bit and could stimulate her appetite. Make sure you rinse her off in clean water afterwards otherwise she will get sticky. Also you need to check the temperature of the water with a thermometer as it needs to be between 27 and 29C. It wont necessarily feel warm to you as our body temperature is above that. |
| lotabob |
Posted - 27/08/2011 : 00:30:33
You'll need to get it checked out, an unexplainable lump is worth a trip to the vets just to be certain its nothing serious.
Though the not eating is quite likely to be due to not have your heat source controlled, they shuffle from side to side as they regulate their body temperature, its not an every two seconds thing but to avoid the hot side completely is the biggest sign its too hot your snake can give you. How are you measuring the temperatures? |
| Seraea |
Posted - 26/08/2011 : 23:25:38
Thank you for your fast reply.
She's currently in a 50 liter RUB, but i'm hoping to move her into a melamine viv in the next month or so. The heatmat issnt actually in the RUB, but underneath it attatched to the shelf that her RUB sits on.
I don't currently have a stat for her, but one is on its way in the post.
The temperature on the cool end is 22degrees and the warm end is sitting at 29 at the moment. Is this too close together perhaps?
She has 2 hides, one each end, but she only ever stays in the cool side.
She was in with another snake when I purchased her, and there is a suspicious little lump at the end of her tail (Pics in the link below)
http://www.thecornsnake.co.uk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=18162
Problem is, the lump is the 'wrong' side of her vent, and I spoke to a woman in my town that owns over 50 snakes and she said that it's more than likely just a fatty lump. If I tough it and prod it, it doesn't bother her at all so I don't think it's causing her any pain. It could be an abscess, but again, I would have thought that would have caused her some pain?
Also, she seems to poo/wee a LOT, drinks a lot, but wont eat. I don't think anything's stuck there, there are no lumps other than the one behind her vent, and she's so think, i'd definately be able to feel something.
I haven't measured her accurately as she wont stay straight for me, but i'd say she's around 3foot, and she only weighs 208grams |
| lotabob |
Posted - 26/08/2011 : 23:07:40
What is your setup like?
Size?
Heat source?
Stat?
Temperatures?
Hides?
Snake size & weight?
How do you know it was just a few slugs and not a previously mated female that is egg bound?
Reptoboost bath or powerade if your skint (its 2 for £1.80 at Sainsburys at the moment) gives them a boost and can get them eating again but if you dont know if she has been with a male then I would suggest a trip to the vets to ensure she isn't egg bound is a must. |
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