Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My eastern king has a problem. He is about 26 inches. I was showing my wife how to pop them (he is always easy to do this with unlike my corns of like size) but the one hemi did not go back in (and still hasn't). In fact it really doesn't look too good at all. The other hemi had the red on top but this one did not. It appeasrs to be infected and actually looks as if the tip of it has come off!! So far he is acting normally. I have a trip to the vet scheduled and am thinking that he will get some anti-biotics to fight any infection until it heals.

Has anyone ever had this happen before? I am assuming he will still be able to breed once any infection is cleared up even with the one hemi down.

Maybe I'm mis-informed, but 26" seems way way way too big for popping.
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3.3.3 L. getula californiae
1.1 L. getula nigrita
1.0 Boa constrictor constrictor (suriname, fostering/rescue)
2.3 Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata

I agree. He is the only one that I have ever been able to do it with at that size.

If your snake damages one of it's hemipenes it can still breed with the other without any fertilization problems.

Kerby...
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Lonesome Valley Reptiles
www.lonesomevalleyreptiles.com
Specializing In California Kingsnakes

Thanks!

You shouldn't try to pop at that size, the muscles are too well developed and I would imagine if he resisted you, that you could hurt them pretty easily by pushing hard enough.

Until you get to the vet the best thing to do is lube up the hemipene with vaseline, KY, anything sterile, even some antibiotic ointment. Clean the cage well and put him on clean damp paper towel. Re lube him every few hours.

thanks!