Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a female couperi that was hatched in '02. She has not been bred. She has developed a large swelling just anterior to her cloaca extending forward about 4 inches. She is active and fed a few days ago. The area of the swelling is stiff when she moves, but she looks normal above and below it.

Gentle palpation of the lump doesn't reveal any hard mass like an egg, but I may be pressing too lightly to feel it.

I observed her trying to defecate, she lifted her tail and opened her vent and some semi-liquid urate type stuff came out, but no real stool.

Could she be egg bound this late in the year and without mating? Might she just be constipated? I've tried soaking her in warm water but no luck as yet.

I suppose it could be a tumor, but the swelling is very symmetrical, as though she's been inflated with air.

My problem is that I'm working 12 hour shifts the next few days and will not be able to get to a vet until Friday. Does anyone have any suggestions as to other potential causes and/or first aid treatments until then?

Thanks,

Mike

Mike,

Your description could indicate several things, as such instances can be difficult to determine from only a description, though you have presented such in a well detailed manner.
First thing that comes to mind is impaction, due to your descriptive of her trying to defecate. If this is the case, exercise and soaking will help. Another issue could be ovulation, though such rarely causes the swelling you have indicated, unless there is an underlying infection. Eggs are generally soft and pliable while within oviduct, as they must conform to the duct while moving through it. I would not say it is too early for follicular development and such could be a concern. Personally, I would consider taking your girl to a veterinarian well versed in herpetofauna and seeing about getting an ultrasound or x-ray of the enlarged area, as only close examination by an experienced eye and perhaps a radiology workup will tell for certain…

Best of luck to you and keep us posted,

Jeff
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Jeff Snodgres
University of Arkansas
snodgresjeffreys@uams.edu
501.603.1947

One really large one at the vent waiting to come out and a normal sized on right behind it.

The vet inserted a catheter and used it to deliver mineral oil around the "stuck" egg in hopes it would be delivered naturally over the weekend. If this doesn't work we'll try another tact on Monday.

The vet insists that she is in no immediate danger and that the less we have to do to assist the better of she will be. I hope so!

Good luck with her Mike. She is a real beauty!
John

The snake shed Saturday and became active again and was obviously trying to expel the first egg.

Sunday I squirted some more mineral oil in try to help her.

This morning (Monday) I found that she had passed the large egg! She looks normal now, but I know from X-rays that there is another egg to go. Since it is of more normal size I hope she will pass it on her own and avoid surgery. The first egg is soft and doesn't have the normal rough textured surface of an indigo egg, so i'm hoping the second will be similar and won't adhere internally.

Here's the slug. I never thought I'd be so happy to see such an ugly egg!

I weighed the egg and it was 92 grams. I then noticed it was starting to "peel", so I removed a rubbery outer layer that revealed a more recognizable egg underneath. The "egg" itself weighed 76 grams, and does appear to have some texture, although it is not sandy as the whole thing is quite rubbery.

The coating was quite thick at one end and more skin like elsewhere.

Here's the clean egg and its coating.

Here is a lousy image of the x-rays, but I think you can make out the two eggs with the larger one at the vent.

Wow.

That's great she passed the big egg. Hopefully the second one will follow soon.

Have got any idea if there was an embryo inside either egg?

Best Wishes,

John D
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I am so not lesdysxic!

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