| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| n/a |
Posted - 06/05/2010 : 20:15:02
Hello, i have just bought a 4 year old (4ft) carolina corn snake from someone on the freeads site and he's been fine the past two days but this morning he started acting weird diving in his water and hiding under the wood shavings.
When i looked closely, he has swallowed them and wasnt breathing. He was cold, and mouth was full of bedding. My GF managed to get it all out and slowly get him back to life after 2 hours but this evening he suddenly tried eating sand and was lying on his side, all cold again.
He's fine now, but i dont understand why he's doing it, and i'm not scared that over night he will do it again and he'll be dead. The previous owner said he'd never had any troubles.
Can anyone help? The internet isn't showing much for me to go on.
Thank you
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| 20 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| eeji |
Posted - 08/05/2010 : 13:29:48
i think before 'stargazing' is tossed around too much a visit to the vet is needed. SG is still thankfully rare in the UK.
Its not a chromaosomal disorder in that it isn't caused by additional, missing or abnormal chromosomes. It is however genetic and is passed down from parent to baby and is a recessive trait the same as most cornsnake colour morphs are. |
| hillzi |
Posted - 07/05/2010 : 20:04:43
No scare mongering is meant by this, but this is my gut feeling I gotta say.
Unfortunatley, if Stargazing has been confirmed, and I think it maybe, there is no cure...
I cannot say for sure it is a SG, but if it is and the vet confirms this, I hope you do whats best for your snake.
 |
| n/a |
Posted - 07/05/2010 : 19:38:28
Dont Worry Danny!
xXx
ANY news on the Snake??
xXx |
| DannyBrown91 |
Posted - 07/05/2010 : 17:39:37
quote:
Originally posted by Sammysnake
quote:
I believe i have heard it described as downsyndrome for snakes.
I know this isn't the point of the thread but wanted to say I don't see the link between a neurological disease and Down Syndrome which is chromosonal, not a disease and does not involve a human being going loopy or rolling on their side or whatever stargazing is. I'm not having a go Danny, I certainly don't think you meant to cause offence, I just think it's a completely invalid description that I wouldn't want other people repeating. I've worked for four years with a wonderful little girl with DS and she is definitely not sick/ill.
Right, preach over now back to the thread.... sorry. Good luck Ben.
I think it was on here that i heard it described as that. I don't know much about it, wether it is neurologial or chromosonal, but was merely repeating as i said "i have heard it reffered to as" something i have read. Wether they are similar or not i don't know.
Sorry if i did cause any offence, it really wasn't meant that way. |
| Sta~ple |
Posted - 07/05/2010 : 17:33:02
I thought stargazing was more compared to virtago and other problems balancing. Doesn't harm the snake in anyway but the motor sensor's, specially the fine one's aren't right. But in anycase, a snake diving with his mouth open into stuff is not good. How does he respond to being fed? All I say say is look at stargazing cornsnake on youtube or something and see if your snake is doing a similar thing. One of my snake does have her random moments where she will be throwing her head and body everywhere it seems but she's not a stargazer as her fine movements are perfect. |
| Sammysnake |
Posted - 07/05/2010 : 17:07:57
quote:
I believe i have heard it described as downsyndrome for snakes.
I know this isn't the point of the thread but wanted to say I don't see the link between a neurological disease and Down Syndrome which is chromosonal, not a disease and does not involve a human being going loopy or rolling on their side or whatever stargazing is. I'm not having a go Danny, I certainly don't think you meant to cause offence, I just think it's a completely invalid description that I wouldn't want other people repeating. I've worked for four years with a wonderful little girl with DS and she is definitely not sick/ill.
Right, preach over now back to the thread.... sorry. Good luck Ben. |
| Mouse |
Posted - 07/05/2010 : 15:44:09
Hope it all gets sorted.
Again, where are you? If yo're down south I know of a fantastic specialist. |
| DannyBrown91 |
Posted - 07/05/2010 : 15:35:30
quote:
Originally posted by punumbear
the stargazing sounds like neuro issues.
Stargazing is actually the name for a neurological syndrome found in some snakes.
I believe i have heard it described as downsyndrome for snakes. |
| punumbear |
Posted - 07/05/2010 : 15:14:19
agree with kehhlyr new papaer down till he ceases the odd behaviour. the stargazing sounds like neuro issues.,. but obviously rep vet can hopefully give u answers. let us know what happens. |
| Sta~ple |
Posted - 07/05/2010 : 15:03:24
If you do find out he's stargazing or you can't find out what's wrong with him return him to the breeder and demand your money. It might seem harsh but it's not fair on you as a first time owner to have a snake from a breeder with such health problems. I really hope that man doesn't breed stargazing snakes.
Plus he would have lied about the condition of the snake before you bought him. |
| HannahB |
Posted - 07/05/2010 : 13:07:24
i agree with kehhlyr but please get rid of the substrate and just use newspaper or kitchen towel,
phone round some vets - im sure one of them will be able to help or recommend a vet who can - where do you live? someone on here may be able to recommend a vet |
| n/a |
Posted - 07/05/2010 : 08:46:38
no matter wat the answers are to above am sure they would shed some light but sounds like a trip to vets asap ! |
| Kehhlyr |
Posted - 07/05/2010 : 00:03:36
quote:
Originally posted by benwaters
Hi, it turns out he isn't eating the wood, he's twisting himself around and going upside down.........
That sounds very much like stargazing.
As it is, i'd do what's been recommended for now, remove all the substrate out of the viv and just have newpaper in the bottom.
Could you answer the questions above (and repeated below) please.
How big is the viv?
What's it made of?
How is it heated?
How are you checking the temperatures?
Where is the heat source situated? |
| Sta~ple |
Posted - 06/05/2010 : 23:54:18
Check if the wood pellet have pine in them, it can be toxic to them. Although not all pellets seem to label what wood they are from :( How big are these pellets? It's plausible that small pieces may get caught but if they are like over a cm long there's no way :/ In any case, it's not normal for them to dive into pellet with their mouth open. he only thing I can thing of why he would have his mouth open and dive into pellets is some sort of mite and RI combo but then again, it could be anything.
I know this might sound silly but is the bedding actually in his mouth or just around around it?
Did the thing he pass look kinda like bird poo or like a slimy mouse?
If in doubt please get a vet check. |
| DannyBrown91 |
Posted - 06/05/2010 : 22:58:11
quote:
Originally posted by benwaters
Hi, it turns out he isn't eating the wood, he's twisting himself around and going upside down then the wood is getting caught in his mouth.
He goes all lifeless and cold, then 20mins later starts getting strong and warm again. So confused!!
Snakes are cold blooded so get their temperature from their surroundings. If your snake isn't on the warm side of the viv then he won't feel warm to the touch. |
| n/a |
Posted - 06/05/2010 : 22:53:29
Hi, it turns out he isn't eating the wood, he's twisting himself around and going upside down then the wood is getting caught in his mouth.
He goes all lifeless and cold, then 20mins later starts getting strong and warm again. So confused!! |
| DannyBrown91 |
Posted - 06/05/2010 : 21:43:29
quote:
Originally posted by SexyBear77
Sounds like a regurge, in which case I would be more worried about an impaction. Please go to the vets.
This.
Also, you want a reptile specific vet. Most regular vets only really have knowledge of regular domesticated pets such as dogs cats rabbits etc. and only have very general knowledge if any about reptiles. |
| SexyBear77 |
Posted - 06/05/2010 : 21:32:09
Sounds like a regurge, in which case I would be more worried about an impaction. Please go to the vets. |
| n/a |
Posted - 06/05/2010 : 21:15:29
hi everyone, my gf and i are pretty new to all of this so some of the nams are confusing.
I didnt meant wood shavings sorry, i mean like wood pellets, it was what the owner used before, he came in the same viv with the same stuff, and temp not changed. We keep the light on from 7am-7pm.
The sand is now out, but it was the wood pellet things he suddenly dived into with his mouth open.
He had passed something which looked very lumpy and gooey and smelt disgusting, which im guessing was his food from saturday. The owner before fed him once a week on a Saturday.
Our nearest vets is miles away, and we're worried that the previous owner may have been lying and knew there was a problem with the snake. He was very quick to say he'd had no problems but never offered to help whilst on the phone (and he breeds snakes).
Any more questions you need answering please let me know, i'm worried he'll be dead by morning :o(
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| Sta~ple |
Posted - 06/05/2010 : 20:48:09
Wood shavings? What kind of wood shavings? Maybe it's best that you put him in a RUB of his viv with no substrate at the moment or maybe kitchen towel with hides and newspaper. I suggest going to a vet to check him out especially his mouth and stomach.
There shouldn't be sand in his viv or sawdust wood shavings. Lying on his side is a worrying thing. Did he seem fine when you got him from his previous owners? Is there any chance the previous owners could be lying? |
