Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi.

This is my ghost corn. got him from a retile show couple years ago from kathy love as a baby. He just shed last night and appears healthy cept for this swelling or whatever it is. Is this normal?? What is it? He's had this for a while only not as noticable. Its becoming more noticable. First thing i think of is respiratory problem but i dont' see or hear any wheezing. he is housed in a 40 gallon breeder size tank. with a light. i used to have an UTH pluged in but he always seemed to go away from it so turned it off. he's been eating and active all summer. do they get like this when they want to hybernate? not sure if i can afford to take him to a vet but i will make a way if need be. thanks for any info / advise....

I dont know if its the same but a similar case was discussed in the ball python forum. You should check that out.

2nd page in Ball python forum under the name "OMG! Going Downhill FAST!". Hope its not the same.

http://forums.kingsnake.com/view.php?id=1591364,1591364

take the snake to a vet ASAP!!!
~kin
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~Sober Serpents~
www.freewebs.com/soberserpents
Corns, Creamsicles, A Black Rat, A pair of Leucistic Black Rat X Leucistic Texas Rat Intergrades, Thayeri, Cal Kings, A Jungle Corn, Ball Pythons, A reverse Trio of Candoia, Leopard Geckos, Green Anoles, a Snapping Turtle, a White Cheeked Mud Turtle, a Bearded Dragon, an Adult Rescue Iguana, and A Baby Iguana

Thanks for replying.

OMG! That ball python looks terrible. Reading all the test they did an all.....I dont' know if I can afford it other then have an exam and get an idea.

He's very sweet. has never ever tried to bite at all. he wont' even constrict the f/t mice (my others do with gusto even though they are already dead). just starts eating them.

The only way to know what it is would be to get a biopsy. I would check his mouth and see if it is red at all. Infections increase blood flow causing redness and swelling, I don't know if you would be able to see it in his mouth or not, so a pink mouth may not rule it out, but a red mouth would definitely indicate an infection. If he does have a red mouth... for sure get him to a vet, or at least get the best advice you can afford on the proper antibiotic to give him, how to give it and how much to give. If not an infection, the only other things I could think it could be is a benign cyst, a tumor, or a swollen lymph node, you never know... until you get a biopsy.

These would be my courses of action, I am not a vet, just sharing what I would do.

Good Luck!! Keep us posted!!
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7.22 BRB
10.20 BCI
1.1 Mandarin Rat Snakes
0.1 Kenyan Sand Boa
0.2 Corn Snakes
2.8 Leopard Geckos

Not that all gular swelling like that indicates URI (Upper Respiratory Infection), but nearly all the snakes I've seen with the condition your's has, ended up having URI. Your snake's body temperature must NEVER be below 79F. Even that is too low for optimal metabolism.

If your snake was not utilizing the UT heater, it often indicates that the buffer (substrate) between your snake and the heater was inadequate, thus resulting in excessive heat. Hence, the snake emigrates to cooler spots in the cage. When given the choice, your corn will choose COOL over H O T. That decision is often deadly. They know TOO HOT will kill them, so they go to COOL, and that results in immuno-suppression. They get sick in the cool zone, and slowly die.

Bottom line: I'm not a vet, so I will not diagnose what could be wrong with your snake, but I will tell you that not having a heater under your corn usually results in a dead snake, regardless of the room temperature. Put a thermometer next to your snake. After ten minutes, if you do not see a temperature between 79F-85F, you must do whatever it takes to correct that. Increase or decrease substrate depth. Your snake should have a hiding place in the cage that is 80F-84F at all times. No exceptions!

I recommend that you immediately take your snake to a qualified reptile vet for evaluation and treatment. In the meantime, get a good thermometer that can either stay INSIDE the warm-side hide OR one you can put in there when you suspect something is wrong. Something will BE WRONG when your snake spends less than 80% of the daytime hours IN the warm-side hide.

Good luck, and let us know what happens.
South Mountain Reptiles