Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Do I feel like [bleep] right now.. I took my 3 foot california king out to clean his cage and on the way bringing him back to his cage I didn't realize how high I was carrying him (looking at his underscales) and his head hit the room fan. I pulled him back close and he had his mouth stuck open, put him in his cage and he moved a little leaving some blood behind (from his mouth) then stayed completely still, but managed to close his mouth. I went to take him out again to check on him and he put his head away from me (usually he comes right into my hands when I put them in his cage) but let me pick him up, he stayed completely still in my arms, so I put him back in his cage and he began moving around a little (bleeding stopped) and is flicking his tongue frequently.

Even though I've only had him 5 weeks now if I had lost him that would have really hurt, to the point of me almost having tears in my eyes. (Hey I'm a guy but I love animals!)
He's moving around the cage still.. but my question is, is there anything I should do from here? Given the situation, does it sound like he'll be alright?
I can understand why he's scared of me now but I hope he'll be alright and learn to trust me again..

Well from what you described he does not sound in great shape. Snakes are pretty tough and can take a good wack, but from your decription (which you did rather well), it sounds like he is really hurt. Time will tell if he expires or has permanent damage. If he comes out of this in s a day or two with normal neuorel functions you can count your lucky stars.
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"Yeah ya told me, and ya wrote it down too. But how the hell am I supposed to remember!"

What are you waiting for? Get him to a Vet and have him checked out. From what you said he got messed up one way or another.
Don't put it off, get him to a Vet today!

It would be a shame for you to wake up to a deceased animal. You obviously care about the snake, you should really consider having it looked at.

SShane

didnt mean to post the photo. I tried to delete it, sorry folks
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SShane@
SSuperiorSSerpents
http://s63.photobucket.com/albums/h127/SSuperiorSSerpents/

Thanks for the replies, I called up our 24 hour vet down the street last night when it happened but they said they didn't deal with "exotic animals". Unfortunately I work 8am-8pm (tues, weds, thurs off) and our nearest vet that works with reptiles is about an hour drive. I was debating taking the day off of work today for it but he seemed to be back to normal in the morning.

He's moving around the cage normally, flicking his tongue, and climbed my arm to my shoulder when I put my hand in the cage. It's almost like it didn't even happen.

If any here still think that there could be an immediate problem, I'm willing to miss work to take him to the vet.

Just as a side note.. sometimes it takes something stupid like this to happen for you to realize just how much you really appreciate your animals. While a snake obviously doesn't know how to show emotions or "understand" you care about them (as a dog would), it's still quite easy to become attached to one.

Lesson well learned here!

I say why risk it. The vet that I use only charges $15 for a visit. I would not imagine your vet would be to much more or maybe even less. I would still take it in.
Foot Hill Reptiles

I had a E milk get loose and found it by HEARING the window fan going " pinkity-pinkity". It lost most of its vigor, it had blood coming from its mouth, and it was only a 2' milk to begin with.....but it made it back no problem, it really pays to keep you snakes in good shape for incidents like this. Its good to remember how much trauma they are built to withstand and that their internal organs are of differing priorities than say a mammals. Jeff

I agree whats the hold up. Get to a vet ASAP. We can not communicate with our snakes no matter how close we feel we are to them. Only an educated vet can help a hurt snake.
Foot Hill Reptiles

i agree (although no expert) a visit to the vet can only be a good thing, and with Jeff snakes are built to withstand a fair amount of trauma but they are also very good at hiding health issues too.

Maybe a friend could take the snake to the vets for you.
regards and hope its ok
mark

Agreed snaked can handle there fair share of trauma but they were not designed to spar with fans or cars or kids with good intentions or any of the number of things we hear about pet snakes going through. My intention here is not to sound rude, quite the contrary, my intention is aimed more at an educational level. I am sure a lesson has been learned here albeit a lesson that could and should have been avoided all together. I simply just get excited when I here things like my snake is half dead what do I do "Exaduration of course" what would you do if your head hit a fast moving fan and you felt half dead? I am sure the thought would not cross your mind. You would be in the E.R. getting a CAT scan ASAP, the same care and respect should be offered to our pets.
Foot Hill Reptiles

here here

Wellllll... I saw a friend do something similar to another friends 4 month old son. (He wasn't hurt). No fan was involved.. Just the ceiling. My point is that it could be worse!