Reptile & Amphibian Forums

About a year ago I noticed a large knot in one of the vertebra of my Great Basin rattlesnake (Crotalus lutosus). The knot is between the snout and vent, about 9 inches anterior to the vent. I was measuring the snake last night and while I had it in a tube I noticed a series of smaller knots in the vertebrae between the larger knot and the vent. I’ve never felt anything like this in a snake before. The larger knot is a little smaller than a ping pong ball and the smaller knots are maybe a quarter this size.

The snake is male, 27 inches total length, and weighs 320 grams. It was wild caught as a juvenile and I feed it frozen thawed mice and provide no vitamin supplements. The snake appears completely healthy other than these knots.

Has anyone experienced this or have any ideas about its cause?

This is an interesting case and would really benefit from an Xray. I don't think it's a nutritional problem. How old is this snake? Cancer? Gout? Either way, the only way to find out is with some proper diagnostics. Do you have a hot herp vet?... lol, that's a whole different ball game than just finding a herp vet isn't it!

Ian

Thanks for the reply. I do have a vet that is willing to x ray the snake. I'll post pictures of the x ray when I get them.

Wouldn't gout be painful for the snake?

I collected the snake in 2005 as a young of year, so he is between 3.5 and 4 years old. He is just now large enough to feed on adult mice and his growth rate is really taking off.

Yes I'd imagine gout to be painfull but seeing this in a snake is often difficult, especially if they are still eating. (anorexia is often the only sign we see of pain)

However with the age of the snake I wouldn't expect gout or cancer, though both are still possible. Abcesses? Any injuries? Do you feed live? Parasites? 2-3 years is kind of late to first be seeing such encapsulation/cyst formation.

Definately post pic's of the Xray if you can and ask your vet to post them on www.vin.com if they have access to it.

Ian

Here is the X-ray of the knots. It seems to be a kyphosis but the cause is still a mystery. Its really strange how the vertebrae and ribs are normal anterior and then the "kinks" undulate back towards the tail.

Does anyone have any idea if this is a treatable condition?