Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was wondering if anyone can tell me what happened. I had her for a few monthes, and she always ate, though somewhat reluctantly at times. I saw her drink and even thrust her whole head into her water dish and thrash around like she was hunting fish. She seemed a healthy baby, but never really grew. She only shed once in the time it took my other same-aged corn to shed 2-3 times. I started to notice she slithered over my hand more on her side than her belly and she never had the muscle tone my other one had, though i thought they were just maturing differently. Suddenly one day she completely refused to eat. I tried everything, including peircing the brain of a live pinky and squeezing some out. she went for 2 weeks like this, and I was looking into force-feeding, as the vet said to give it a few weeks, when suddenly she died. I want to know what happened to ensure it doesnt happen to my other baby. I was using Forest Floor bedding, a ten gallon tank, and a heat light on one end and misting her tank at least once a day. My other baby is now up to 2 feet and doing fine.

How often were you feeding? sounds like a genetic defect. I would get a necropsy if you want to know the exact cause of death.
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-David Harrison-
.1 Snow Corn "Hope"
1. Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Chunk" (Goonies)
.1 Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Peaches"
.1 Ball Python "Rocky Ballboa" (Didn't name her!)

"Have you ever tried simply turning off the T.V., sitting down with your kids... and hitting them?"

First, I am very sorry to hear about this. I offer my condolences on the loss of your snake, and I completely understand how frustrating it can be to lose a snake to reasons unknown.

My guess is that she was just born as a weaker snake and perhaps was not meant to live longer than she did. They can be born with all sorts of internal problems that we would never know about. Getting a necropsy on her would be a good way on finding out exactly what the reason was that she died.

Do you know how warm her cage was? I ask cause you say you use a heat light on one side. Heating a cage is good but always remember that they can also get too hot. Also, I wouldn't bother misting the cage, as corns really do not need misting.

Again, I am so sorry and I hope that you are doing ok.

Take care!

Billy
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Genesis 1:1

I disagree.... If you are using a heat lamp then it is drying the tank pretty thoroughly and a misting would be welcome I'm sure.
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-David Harrison-
.1 Snow Corn "Hope"
1. Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Chunk" (Goonies)
.1 Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Peaches"
.1 Ball Python "Rocky Ballboa" (Didn't name her!)

"Have you ever tried simply turning off the T.V., sitting down with your kids... and hitting them?"

Then my question would be, " why is there a need to mist a cage that a corn snake resides in? "
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Genesis 1:1

To supplement the humidiy that the bulb is taking out....?
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-David Harrison-
.1 Snow Corn "Hope"
1. Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Chunk" (Goonies)
.1 Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Peaches"
.1 Ball Python "Rocky Ballboa" (Didn't name her!)

"Have you ever tried simply turning off the T.V., sitting down with your kids... and hitting them?"

>>To supplement the humidiy that the bulb is taking out....?
>>-----

I'm kind of with the don't mist camp on this one.
I use a lower wattage bulb, larger water dish and cover part of the top if I need to keep humidity a little higher.
I don't really like to mist. It keeps the substrate moist which can promote mold/mildew and other problems.
but that's just me
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Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"Resistance is futile"
Jimmy Johnson
(Draybar)
Draybars Snakes

_____

I do not mist either. The only time I worry about humidity with corn snakes, is if I notice one having issues shedding. Then I put a moisture hid in.
I agree with draybar. If you do not mist properly, you are causing more prolems than you are solving.
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****Misty****

www.sneakyserpents.com

"I try to take one day at a time but sometimes several days attack me at once"

Do you guys not mist even when blue?
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-David Harrison-
.1 Snow Corn "Hope"
1. Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Chunk" (Goonies)
.1 Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Peaches"
.1 Ball Python "Rocky Ballboa" (Didn't name her!)

"Have you ever tried simply turning off the T.V., sitting down with your kids... and hitting them?"

Hey David,
Nope, I never mist, even when they are in the blue.
I will know by the first shed if conditons are correct in an enclosure.
If there is a problem shed I make the changes I think will correct the problem.
bigger water bowl, lower wattage bulb, cover top just whatever works.
I just don't like getting the substrate wet if I don't need to.
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Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"Resistance is futile"
Jimmy Johnson
(Draybar)
Draybars Snakes

_____

I agree. I have the conditions set in the reptile room. I have almost never had to add a humidity hide for my snakes. The rare times that I have, were for new snakes that were shedding when I got them. That leads me to believe the problem in the humidity was prior to me getting them. I think the snakes are fine without misting. I have not seen any problems to the contrary.
Then again, I may live in an area that has air that is more moist than yours.
Too frequent of misting can cause URI, or scale rot as well as formation of mold.

Mind you, I am not discouraging it. I am merely saying it is not required in my collection. Done properly, and I am sure it is a good thing.

i keep water bowls in all my tanks that are large enough for the snake to soak its whole body in. It is one of my requirements.
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****Misty****

www.sneakyserpents.com

"I try to take one day at a time but sometimes several days attack me at once"

>>I agree. I have the conditions set in the reptile room. I have almost never had to add a humidity hide for my snakes. The rare times that I have, were for new snakes that were shedding when I got them. That leads me to believe the problem in the humidity was prior to me getting them. I think the snakes are fine without misting. I have not seen any problems to the contrary.
>>Then again, I may live in an area that has air that is more moist than yours.
>>Too frequent of misting can cause URI, or scale rot as well as formation of mold.
>>
>>Mind you, I am not discouraging it. I am merely saying it is not required in my collection. Done properly, and I am sure it is a good thing.
>>
>>i keep water bowls in all my tanks that are large enough for the snake to soak its whole body in. It is one of my requirements.
>>-----
>>****Misty****
>>
>>www.sneakyserpents.com
>>

Misty made a good point.
I'm not saying its wrong either. I just don't do it.
I guess with paper towel as a substarte it could be ok.
I use aspen and wouldn't want the extra moisture. I just feel it can/could promote mold, mildew or bacteria.

but that's just me
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Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"Resistance is futile"
Jimmy Johnson
(Draybar)
Draybars Snakes

_____

When I notice they are going to shed, I just put a folded up paper towel or t.p. under a hide and mist it daily. I never knew you could not mist during shedding... There have been a few times I have missed a shed on Hope (easy to do on a snow) and she shed pretty well. Usually it would tear into 2 pieces but still come off OR the very tip of the tail would remain but easily come off with help. We constantly have the heat or air on and I am sure that dries it out a bit. I just never realised that some people never misted.... And it seems obsurd that Misty wouldn't! (pun)
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-David Harrison-
.1 Snow Corn "Hope"
1. Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Chunk" (Goonies)
.1 Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Peaches"
.1 Ball Python "Rocky Ballboa" (Didn't name her!)

"Have you ever tried simply turning off the T.V., sitting down with your kids... and hitting them?"

And it seems obsurd that Misty wouldn't! (pun)
>>-----

LOL funny
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Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"Resistance is futile"
Jimmy Johnson
(Draybar)
Draybars Snakes

_____

To the OP:
I'm very sorry about your loss. Sometimes they just aren't cut out to make it, and I'm guessing that is the case rather than husbandry - since your others are doing fine.

-=- Regarding misting -

My Okeetee had two bad sheds in a row until I started misting his cage once a week. They weren't terrible sheds, just not complete with a little sticking to him.

No heat lamp - we just have much drier air here in Redding than in native corn range.

Air conditioners in homes also dry out the air.

My kings OTOH never need misting. The Corn does.
It will be interesting to see if my new florida king needs it.
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11.14 L. getula californiae (Cal. King)
2.3 L. getula nigrita (MBK)
1.0 L. getula floridana (Brooksi)
1.1 Pantherophis guttatus guttatus (Corn)
0.1 Pituophis catenifer catenifer (Pacific gopher)
0.1 Heterodon nasicus nasicus (W Hognose)
4.2.14 Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata - (Cal. Alligator Lizard)

Oh yeah, I completely see misting your cages if a snake had some bad shed problems. I was just curious as if misting the cage, without any shedding problems, for a corn snake, is something that should be done on a normal basis.
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Genesis 1:1

ooooops..hit the Post button first before I typed anything else...

Funk, I also see what you are saying in regards to your air being different, in that it may be drier than other parts of the country, and your particular corn snake may benefit. Misting, in general, unless it is a tropical species, etc., like a Mandarin Rat, I would usually not promote misting, as too much moisture can lead to other things. A well filled water bowl usually, from what I know, can give all the humidity it needs.

Take care!
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Genesis 1:1

He doesn't seem to need much.
I also have covored the screen on his tank to keep humidity in.
I suspect once I move him into my rack it won't be a problem at all.
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11.14 L. getula californiae (Cal. King)
2.3 L. getula nigrita (MBK)
1.0 L. getula floridana (Brooksi)
1.1 Pantherophis guttatus guttatus (Corn)
0.1 Pituophis catenifer catenifer (Pacific gopher)
0.1 Heterodon nasicus nasicus (W Hognose)
4.2.14 Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata - (Cal. Alligator Lizard)