Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So I have a new, recent development. My water has been scraping her nose, to the point that it looks like typical nosewear when a snake is in a cage too small. But she's been in this enclosure for a while now with no problems, and I watch her since she's right beside the computer. She doesn't wander, but scrapes her nose along the floor or objects. I had the vet check for RI and she came up clean (I've also been keeping an eye on her mouth, it's also clean, and she doesn't show other symptoms), I thought it might be retained shed so I've been trying upping the humidity, soaking her or putting some mineral oil onto the spot, but nothing seems to be helping and her nose just slowly looks worse and worse. I was hoping a shed would fix the problem (which came off nearly complete), but no dice.
What's the next step here? Go back to the vet and ask them to look at it?

A snake that is nose rubbing is almost always doing it because it needs something it doesn't have in its cage.

Can you describe your setup and more about your snake?

In the mean time I would put a thin layer of triple antibiotic ointment on it every day.

A large waterbowl she could soak in if she wanted, hot-cold gradient that spans from 75-95 with appropriate hide availability for temp regulating, and a chunk of stationary wood furniture that's mostly used for shed help. Humidity is usually around 55-60% (before I started testing it higher to try fixing this). Bedding is paper towel.

I have several other snakes that have never had this problem in all the years I've had them (all with similar setups), so I'm a little baffled.

Have you tried another substrate other than paper towels?

Both of my waters love to burrow underneath the shredded aspen I provide for them.

Also- are you using UTH or something like a ceramic heat element or heat panel?

I use UTH for my pair, and they love to curl up right on top of it, especially after eating... not sure they would bask with something over head, being the shy types they are...

//Todd

UTH all the way. And agreed, she loves it far more than she would a basking light.

I originally had her on aspen long ago, but very shortly after discovered that the snake I'd bought was loaded with mites. So to paper towels it was, she didn't seem to mind the change and it made spotting and getting rid of them much easier. I could try giving her some substrate, but like I said this is relatively recent and she's been on paper towels for a very long time now?

If I did switch her, coconut fiber might be something to try to help the humidity...

If nothing has changed in her environment than there are two other options. First is that something changed outside her cage. Did you bring a new snake into the same room? Or maybe change where you keep your mice or something? The second is that something changed within the snake. Is she ovulating?

Like I said, I would apply antibiotic ointment. Giving the cage a full redesign can help distract her as well.

good luck and let us know what happens.

A new tank has been brought into the room to get ready for a new snake, but it's on the other side of the room and doesn't contain anything yet. Nothing else has changed that I am aware of.

Will check for ovulating, apply ointment and change the cage around. Thanks for the tips, I'll let you all know if there's any improvement.

Took her outside to inspect her a bit in the sunlight, get a good feel of her belly, etc. I think I feel the telltale lumps of follicles (evenly spaced lumps in the right location, she just hasn't started bulging), and she's juuuust starting to go into shed.

Too bad I don't intend to introduce her to any boys eh? XD

Hmmmm... maybe throw in a nice nesting box, loaded with sphagnum/peat moss?

Interested to hear if that's what she was looking for- someplace to bury/nest herself!

Nice looking fuscus!

//Todd