| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| BILMAN |
Posted - 26/05/2013 : 17:31:30
Can someone show me pictures of the differences of male and female snakes?
When I bought Snakey, the woman said that all the eggs were kept at a certain temperature where you wouldn't know if they would be male or female. She said a higher temperature would be one gender and a lower temperature would be the other gender, and in between would be where you won't know until they hatch.
We thought Snakey was a female, but then after about maybe a year we gave a description of his tail and we were told Snakey was a boy.
I kinda want Snakey to be a girl, but a boy is okay too.
These pictures will actually let me know for sure which gender Snakey is.......hopefully.
I don't want to probe my snake or do all the stuff, and only am interested in pictures.
Also, some pictures of an overweight snake would also expand my knowledge on snake weight.
Thanks people :) |
| 20 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Kellog |
Posted - 15/06/2013 : 10:06:31
quote:
Originally posted by BILMAN
........Also, it turns out that I have been feeding it mediums, not larges as I thought. Probably my new pet shop owner's mistake :P
Well at least it's not an issue with Snakey that he's been getting less than you thought  .
Xxx
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| BILMAN |
Posted - 13/06/2013 : 15:52:19
Kellog, they are pretty cool with what they do and all the different species :) Also, it turns out that I have been feeding it mediums, not larges as I thought. Probably my new pet shop owner's mistake :P |
| Kellog |
Posted - 10/06/2013 : 19:28:27
That sounds like a good plan  .
As for a snake being hurt when it goes backwards on its scales, I guess it depends on how tight a situation it is 'squeezed' into. Most of the time it won't cause an issue, they are designed to be able to move like that. Very occasionally if they've got themselves into a very tight squeeze it can 'ruck up' some scales, but if that happens they will often do an early shed to 'heal' them. They truly are amazing creatures  .
Xxx
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| BILMAN |
Posted - 09/06/2013 : 13:22:31
Kellog, wow, pet shops seem pretty bad all of a sudden.
I think I'll feed Snakey once every two weeks then. Hopefully, he'll lose weight.
I was also wondering if it hurts a snake when it goes backwards on its scales? Because it can get caught on some stuff, but would it hurt them in anyway? |
| Kellog |
Posted - 07/06/2013 : 12:28:03
Unfortunately it's far too common that people are given wrong advice by pet shops, and even reptile shops and breeders  . It's why I check everything I'm told on here. My nearest reptile shop says that thermostats aren't necessary as a heatmat will never heat up to a temperature that could burn a snake and doesn't even stock them  !! I'm so sorry about your friend's snake. I 'kennelled' one of my snakes with this shop while I was away and when we brought him home he was riddled with mites....and the shop refused to accept that it came from them when I rang them to warn them to check all their snakes.
You don't want Snakey losing weight too fast as that isn't healthy for him. I haven't dealt with an overweight snake myself, but it needs to be a slow process and is going to take time. There isn't any rush and all that's important is Snakey's health and 'happiness' .
Xxx
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| BILMAN |
Posted - 06/06/2013 : 15:56:59
Moppet, smart bunny, Kellog, I was told to feed those amounts by my old pet shop guy. I guess he was wrong :P I had a friend form school who used to have a Corn Snake but his family went on holiday and gave it to that same pet shop guy to look after till they got back, and when they returned to pet shop guy, my friend held his dead snake in his hands. I guess that should have been a clue that that guy was pretty bad, with advice and caring.
I guess Snakey is going on a diet then, and extra handling and I'll need to get to work on his bamboo ladder as soon as my mother cuts the bamboo down :P
Does anyone know how quickly Corn Snakes will lose weight? |
| Kellog |
Posted - 01/06/2013 : 10:30:30
quote:
Originally posted by Moppet
quote:
Originally posted by Kellog
...
That's such good example of 'hips' Smartbunny, if I can get permission can I steal it to add to the thread on overweight snakes?........
Do you mean me? 
quote:
Originally posted by smart bunny
Lol Moppet, I noticed but didn't want to say anything, didn't want to embarrass our new mod, she might start using special powers on us ;)
*sighs* I'm never going to live this down am I.....constantly confusing people  . You are safe from my special Mod powers....I only use them when it's to my advantage .
What BOTH SMARTBUNNY AND MOPPET have said is right Bilman, you are probably over-feeding Snakey at the moment. The problem is that snakes are opportunistic feeders and will eat whatever is on offer if they feel like it, whether they need it or not. The weeks when he doesn't eat may be down to breeding season but I think it might be that he's just full. Generally large mice weigh 19 - 25g, so if you weigh them you'll get an idea as to whether they are larges or mediums. I'm the same at Smartbunny and Moppet .....I feed my adult a large every 10 days. He no longer needs the food to grow, so it's just enough to maintain him. How old is Snakey? It's a good idea to keep a record of his weight, it is a good indicator of health and whether there are any problems. I weigh mine before each feed, because then it's regular and I know they are 'empty' of poo that will add to their weight.
Sorry, I know I've rambled and hope I've made some sort of sense. English is my first and only language but my brain fog makes it seem as though it isn't !
Xxx
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| smart bunny |
Posted - 01/06/2013 : 08:48:31
quote:
Originally posted by BILMAN
smart bunny, i feed Snakey one large mouse every week in Winter, and in Summer I feed him two large mice every week, but these "large" mice look pretty medium to me. And sometimes he won't eat fora a week or two, I think three weeks at maximum.
Oh, erm that sounds like quite a lot! The advice for an adult snake is one large mouse every 10-14 days, so 2 a week and your snake is probably overweight to be honest.
Corno was on 1 large weekly, and she is not yet 2 so is still growing, but I was worried that she was starting to get maybe slightly too rounded, so I dropped her back to 1 large every 10-14 days to prevent her becoming overweight.
Also it is normal for males to go off their food for a while during breeding season, anything up to 4 months.
Lol Moppet, I noticed but didn't want to say anything, didn't want to embarrass our new mod, she might start using special powers on us ;) |
| Moppet |
Posted - 01/06/2013 : 00:27:13
quote:
Originally posted by BILMAN
smart bunny, i feed Snakey one large mouse every week in Winter, and in Summer I feed him two large mice every week, but these "large" mice look pretty medium to me. And sometimes he won't eat fora a week or two, I think three weeks at maximum.
If Snakey is overweight then you would need to reduce the amount you are feeding him. My adult Kali normally gets one large every 10 to 14 days when I'm not breeding her.
I think the easiest way to tell if they are overweight is to imagine that you cut them in half. The shape of the crossection (the bit where you imagine that you cut) tells you if they are overweight or not. It should be the shape of a loaf of bread or an upside down U. If it is a circle then your snake is overweight. If it is more like a triangle then they are underweight. |
| Moppet |
Posted - 01/06/2013 : 00:06:20
Most corn snakes don't have hips.
Not all corn snakes which have hips are overweight. Usually it is females which get them and from the research I did into it, they are not always overweight. In fact, from the small section of the snake that is visible in the photo I put on here, that snake doesn't appear to be overweight apart from the hips. I think sometimes snakes which have been overweight in the past then lost weight do keep the 'hips'.
I think it is more common for females who have laid eggs to get hips and they sometimes just never go away.
I have lots of 'normal weight' snakes. I am more than happy to put photos up for you
This is Kali, my adult. She is what I would call a normal weight, maybe at the top end of normal as I was fattening her up to breed
mjpeters - I guess if a snake has lost part of their tail then the count wouldn't be normal. All of my snakes have one scale at the end of their tail which is longer than the ones before it and slightly 'pointy' looking but you have to look very very closely. I don't know whether a snake who has lost a little of their tail would be missing the last 'pointy' scale or if the remaining scale would appear to be that shape. |
| Moppet |
Posted - 31/05/2013 : 23:53:00
quote:
Originally posted by Kellog
...
That's such good example of 'hips' Smartbunny, if I can get permission can I steal it to add to the thread on overweight snakes?
...
That's very interesting about the scale count Smartbunny, I'll have to remember that as its a good way for people to get a good idea of what sex their snake is without putting it through the stress of probing....as long as they are aware that it isn't foolproof.
...
Do you mean me? |
| BILMAN |
Posted - 31/05/2013 : 23:25:41
smart bunny, i feed Snakey one large mouse every week in Winter, and in Summer I feed him two large mice every week, but these "large" mice look pretty medium to me. And sometimes he won't eat fora a week or two, I think three weeks at maximum.
I was born in Malaysia and lived there for seven years, but moved to UK for a better education. I'm half English and half Malay. My English I know is very good, but I still make mistakes when it comes to questions and answering :P In fact, I would say that English is a joint first language :)
Kellog, I'm not sure about Snakey's weight as I haven't weighed him for some time. He has a climbing structure I made from bamboo and string for him which he almost never uses, and I'm going to make a bamboo ladder for him when my mother cuts some fresh bamboo down. He also has a few cardboard rolls, with more to come.
I'll get a picture of him when I can.
Also, can someone show me a picture of a normal weight snake please? Just so I can get an idea.
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| Kellog |
Posted - 30/05/2013 : 11:09:38
Sorry, should have explained myself better. I always use more words than necessary . As Smartbunny has said, yes that snake is overweight....and her question about feeding is important. If Snakey is overweight then not only will he need exercise but also a change in his feeds. How much does he weigh?
Exercise can be anything you can think of....as much handling as possible, stairs are really good, getting the snake to climb furniture or even make obstacle courses for it to explore on the floor, etc....
If you're concerned then posting a pic may help us judge better....although you can't always tell from a pic.
Xxx
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| smart bunny |
Posted - 30/05/2013 : 08:38:35
The snake in Moppet's picture is very overweight, yes! Another favourite exercise is climbing stairs. How often and what size mouse do you feed Snakey?
Oh, and your English is amazing, I'd never have realised it's not your first language! May I ask where you are from? |
| BILMAN |
Posted - 30/05/2013 : 01:16:37
Kellog, so does that mean that the snake Moppet showed is overweight then, because of the 'hips'? So then Snakey is overweight too :P How do I make him lose weight? I read on that overweight snake topic that you should play with it so it has to climb in your hands, and also the cardboard rolls. Any other more techniques? |
| mjpeters |
Posted - 29/05/2013 : 14:37:00
quote:
Originally posted by Moppet
I like the scale counting technique to decide if a corn snake is female or male. It isn't as reliable as other more invasive methods but it has been 100% accurate with my 6 corn snakes and if you don't want to breed then it isn't important to be as certain. All you do is count the scales from vent to tail tip. It is easiest to count them on a shed skin than trying to do it on a snake. Count one row of scales then double it. If the number is over 140 the snake is most likely a male. If the number is under 130 it is most likely a female. If between 130 and 140 then it isn't possible to tell using this method.
I guess thats not going to work with snakes that have lost part of their tail?Thought I'd mention it because our dear Georgey saw the vet(a snakey vet)and he told me that he'd never know that George had a bit missing.There must be others out there with bits missing too |
| Kellog |
Posted - 29/05/2013 : 09:23:35
Most snakes shouldn't have 'hips' like that, it should be a smooth tapering down to the tail, unless the snake is preparing to do a large poo in which case there might be a bulge  .
When laying eggs a female snake can become egg-bound. This is where an egg gets stuck and needs to be 'helped out' by baths and gentle massages, I think, or it may even need surgery. Snakes do die from this, it's one big reason why I'd never breed. The other issue is 'the incredible drain on body resources that egg production places on the female. If not in perfect health, a female can become severely weakened and may succumb to renal failure or disease'.
Unfortunately you can't do anything about a female laying infertile eggs, but from what I can work out its not 'the norm' for them to do so....a few do but the majority. The only thing you can do is make sure your female is as healthy as possible and keep your fingers crossed that she won't lay slugs....and if she does that it won't be an issue. I know that having laid out all the dangers it seems scary , but my Silvi is stunted in her growth because she wasn't cared for properly before I got her. She's very short and I struggle to get her to 400g, even though she's an adult. Despite this she's survived laying 2 clutches of slugs over the last 3 years. Yes, I was worried I would lose her, but only because I know she's not as strong as normal females her age....so if she can do it then most other females can .
Xxx
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| BILMAN |
Posted - 28/05/2013 : 23:56:29
Haha, I have noticed that my English is a lot better than most of the English people I know, in spelling, pronounciation (THink and not Fink, and knowing the difference between there, their and they're, and to and too, etc.
Moppet, will all corn snakes have those hips? Snakey does and after browsing this site more, I have a feeling that that doesn't mean he is overweight. He also just shedded his skin a couple of weeks ago and so I'll count the scales tomorrow or so.
Kellog, can you tell me how laying an egg could be dangerous for a female please? Also, how you can tell if it has hurt or damaged the snake, and what you can do (before going to a vet) to help the snake? |
| Kellog |
Posted - 28/05/2013 : 09:24:10
I'd never have known English wasn't your first language, so don't worry about that . You're making more sense than I do a lot of the time !
That's such good example of 'hips' Smartbunny, if I can get permission can I steal it to add to the thread on overweight snakes?
My Silvi has laid slugs, infertile eggs, twice now. She's never been with a male and its something that some females will do, but there's nothing you can do to stop it. As long as the female is healthy and of a good weight it hopefully isn't an issue....but obviously that isn't a guarantee, as laying eggs, whether they are planned, unplanned or slugs, can be dangerous for females.
That's very interesting about the scale count Smartbunny, I'll have to remember that as its a good way for people to get a good idea of what sex their snake is without putting it through the stress of probing....as long as they are aware that it isn't foolproof.
Xxx
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| Moppet |
Posted - 27/05/2013 : 23:04:29
You are doing very well if English isn't your first language. I've heard English people that make less sense 
This is where the 'hips' would be on a corn snake 
Some female corn snakes lay infertile eggs when they are older even when they don't reproduce but not all do.
I like the scale counting technique to decide if a corn snake is female or male. It isn't as reliable as other more invasive methods but it has been 100% accurate with my 6 corn snakes and if you don't want to breed then it isn't important to be as certain. All you do is count the scales from vent to tail tip. It is easiest to count them on a shed skin than trying to do it on a snake. Count one row of scales then double it. If the number is over 140 the snake is most likely a male. If the number is under 130 it is most likely a female. If between 130 and 140 then it isn't possible to tell using this method.
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