| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| nick43 |
Posted - 10/06/2010 : 21:47:56
My wife has kept a young corn snake for some months now. It is about 12-14 inches long and has shed sucessfully twice now.
Tonight my wife unfortunately fed it two small pinkies almost one after the other....I think this was a mistake.
The snake is not actively moving around, however, I think it is still alive....it is gaping however.....
What can we do?
We don't want to lose this beautiful reptile.
Regards
Nick |
| 6 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| mikerichards |
Posted - 10/06/2010 : 22:34:36
It shouldnt be gaping certainly, but 2 pinkies is not life threatening, although it might be an idea to wait till hes a little larger in the future.
Hes probably just doing what i do when i have eaten too much, digesting with no energy to do anything else!
Normally i would say he would be fine, but the gaping is not a good sign. If you pick him up, gently mind, and see if he supports his own weight.
Only handle after food if absolutely necessary, i think this qualifies. Make sure you support the food, dont let his belly hang on its own weight.
Just handle for long enough to see if he supports his head, if he hangs his head then its not a good sign, also worth a look to see if he has anything stuck in his mouth.
fingers crossed. |
| elament |
Posted - 10/06/2010 : 22:12:46
quote:
Originally posted by nick43
quote:
Originally posted by elament
when you say it is gaping is it gaping or yawning. There is a difference some snakes have to relocate their jaws after a big meal. Technically if the meal is too big it will regurge one or both the pinkies. If it can keep them down it will but being inactive is not really suprising after such a big meal. Thing is now it has fed it shouldnt really be handled for 48 hrs to allow it to digest them. If its anything like my two it will curl up on its heatmat for a good long while. To be fair when feeding double meals you should wait until the first one is well down before offering the second but then saying that one of mine ate two in quick succession and it didnt do her any harm but then she is a snake dustbin.
Thanks for this info...
This is the first snake we have ever kept...
I guess you might panic a lot when you have never seen this type of behaviour before. Just after the snake swallowed both pinkies, there was a series of 'bubbles' and the snake seemed to be struggling to get them down.
The snake is very still and it's mouth is still gaping...not yawning as to reset its jaw etc.
We'll keep an eye on it.
Thanks again
Nick
Oh I am sorry Nick I have never experienced anything like this before I do hope someone on here has the requisite knowledge to guide you sounds very worrying.
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| nick43 |
Posted - 10/06/2010 : 22:07:59
quote:
Originally posted by elament
there was a series of 'bubbles' and the snake seemed to be struggling to get them down.
The snake is very still and it's mouth is still gaping...not yawning as to reset its jaw etc.
We'll keep an eye on it.
Thanks again
Nick
Yes, keep a close eye, bubbles and gaping would immediately flag 'RI' if it doesn't go away. |
| mozacchio |
Posted - 10/06/2010 : 22:04:04
Many people when they feed their corn on two pinkies they give the corn one pinkie after the other. If It doesn't regurge the meal then it's fine. Watch out for the temps to be right. |
| Blackecho |
Posted - 10/06/2010 : 22:01:40
Why do you think your wife made a mistake?
It sounds like your snake is now settled to digest its food.
|
| elament |
Posted - 10/06/2010 : 21:59:42
when you say it is gaping is it gaping or yawning. There is a difference some snakes have to relocate their jaws after a big meal. Technically if the meal is too big it will regurge one or both the pinkies. If it can keep them down it will but being inactive is not really suprising after such a big meal. Thing is now it has fed it shouldnt really be handled for 48 hrs to allow it to digest them. If its anything like my two it will curl up on its heatmat for a good long while. To be fair when feeding double meals you should wait until the first one is well down before offering the second but then saying that one of mine ate two in quick succession and it didnt do her any harm but then she is a snake dustbin. |
