Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I bred two of the snakes in my class today. I just went back to check on them tonight. There was blood everywhere. On the water bowl, plastic window, and sides of the cage. The mouth of my male was covered in blood and he keeps opening his mouth. It seems like he has been opening it a lot lately. There are no cuts on either snake and I see nothing in his mouth. Any thoughts?

open mouth breathing is not a good sign.
My first thoughts about the blood was just breeding. Blood has been known to happen during random breedings. But if the blood was in the males mouth and he was previously having mouth issues, I would go to a vet. Is there any marks on the female? My male king snake bites the female during breeding, but I have never noticed any damage to the female.
If you had pictures, it might help.this is what a bloody breeding could look like on news paper (but it would not explain the blood in the males mouth)

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****Misty****

www.sneakyserpents.com

"Life is Killing Me"

Take it to a vet, and bring the female that was with it, too!!!

I've seen that in snakes where "mouth rot" (not exactly, but I'm sure you at least know what that term means) developed internally up into the skull with no readily visible signs in the mouth until bleeding started. The case I am aware of was with a ratsnake that had NO signs except a some rare open mouth breathing for a few seconds at a time - until it started bleeding a LITTLE from the mouth and died within 24 hours. No chance for treatment in that case. Necropsy showed the infection from the inside of the mouth up into the skull. I was amazed that it never even developed any visual swelling.

Bring yours to a vet.
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KJUN Snakehaven

I am sorry I realy dont mean to sound rude I realy am nice but what the heck is the problem? If somone came hope to find a loved one covered in blood wouldnt you rush them to the emergency room? Comon!
Foot Hill Reptiles

snake that have copulated can be covered in blood.....there are no problems....

vets do not know squat about snakes.....

now the open mouth.....give him a bath and look at him again.......there is no reason for him to be gaping.......??.........you have to see where the blood came from........the problem is that when snakes here have left huge amounts of blood....there was no sign at all ON the snake,.....not a drop on the vents at all.......all was on the cage floor...on the paper........

....as I said......why would male gape???.........is there something IN the cage that could harm / stab him???......

........if he stops gaping they might have just left blood from copulating......

.........as said.vets don't know squat......they will charge more than the nskae is worth.....*(to some people)........and they may actually do nothing.........so to some it's not worth the vet visit........

..........corns and kids/ wives/ parents/ etc,,, aren't the same..........

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I have a couple things to say about your post. I am not sure if I read it wrong or if it came across wrong.
It Sounds to me like you are in the snake business, but saying it is not worth taking a snake to the vet. You say vets dont know anything....Do you not believe there are reptile vets out there. I dont think anyone compared a snake to a family member, but another family Pet...like a cat or dog.
It sounds like you are discouraging a vet visit, brushing it off like its no big deal. There seems to be more to the problem than the blood. Mentioned also was the breathing. Yes, I think the owner should look for obvious reasons for the problems, but if none are found, I think it wise to at least get a check up.
Please correct me if I am wrong.
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****Misty****

www.sneakyserpents.com

"Life is Killing Me"

Misty, Im with you ... anything like blood that is inexplainable is worth going to the vet. yes it may cost more then the snake is worth but the connection is worth it. people get attached to their pets.....