Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a California Kingsnake that I have owned for 3 years. She has always been perfectly healthy and always eats. She is a proven breeder and has never had a problem. I took her out of cooling two weeks ago and everything seemed okay. She ate one week after coming out of cooling (small meal so as not to shock her system). I went to feed her this week and she refused her meal (is in shed) but my biggest concern is that she is now exhibiting partial paralysis of her body - in the middle 1/2 of her body. She literally looks flat in the middle showing no muscle tone or ability to control. Her head and tail have perfect control, she wraps them around your fingers and guides her body with her head without a problem.

Does anyone know anything or have any experience with this? I have read about Zonata disease and she does not have any skin problems (she is in shed, but does not shed excessively and her scales and eye caps seem normal. She does not try to lift her body off the bedding or seem to be sensitive to touch).

Any info would be appreciated!

Never seen anything like that in a cal king. As far as anybody knows only zonatas can get zonata disease. I know of one pyro that was cited in an article as "possibly" having it but I actually talked to the guy that owned it and he said he believes he unknowingly injured it when closing it's cage. He has alot of pyros and none of the others ever showed any symptoms. Is it possible your snake got injured or perhaps suffered from exposure to too cold of temps during hibernation? Green rats are known to suffer from nervous system disorders when exposed to very cold temps.

I don't believe that she got too cold, the lowest temp she experienced was 54 degrees. I cooled another 25 kings and 60 corns in the same place and she is the only one with these symptoms. She also has had no trauma or injuries.

Thanks for the reply
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2.3 bearded dragons
0.1 uromastyx cross
0.2 leopard geckos
1.3 Red Tails
1.0 albino red tails
0.2 het albino red tails
8.15 corn (various morphs)
4.8 cal king (various morphs)
2.3 arizona mountain kings
1.1 black mexican kings
1.1 grey band kings
1.1 albino applegate sandiago gopher snake
1.1 ruthveni
1.1 albino nelsons
1.1 pueblans
1.1 tri colored hogs
1.1 yellow rat snakes
1.1 hypo vanishing pattern hondos
1.0 cal king/hondo cross
1.1 muleri sand boa
2.2 het balls
0.1 felis catus - snake wasn't interested

sorry typo only 30 or so corns.
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2.3 bearded dragons
0.1 uromastyx cross
0.2 leopard geckos
1.3 Red Tails
1.0 albino red tails
0.2 het albino red tails
8.15 corn (various morphs)
4.8 cal king (various morphs)
2.3 arizona mountain kings
1.1 black mexican kings
1.1 grey band kings
1.1 albino applegate sandiago gopher snake
1.1 ruthveni
1.1 albino nelsons
1.1 pueblans
1.1 tri colored hogs
1.1 yellow rat snakes
1.1 hypo vanishing pattern hondos
1.0 cal king/hondo cross
1.1 muleri sand boa
2.2 het balls
0.1 felis catus - snake wasn't interested