Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Welcome to kingsnake.com's message board system. Here you may share and discuss information with others about your favorite reptile and amphibian related topics such as care and feeding, caging requirements, permits and licenses, and more. Launched in 1997, the kingsnake.com message board system is one of the oldest and largest systems on the internet.

Click for 65% off Shipping with Reptiles 2 You
https://www.crepnw.com/
Click for 65% off Shipping with Reptiles 2 You

How do you know if your snake is dying of old age?

rudedogsurfrat Sep 16, 2003 08:55 AM

I bought a large Durango MT. Kingsnake at the Pamona reptile show 3 years ago. I bought him because he was the most perfect durango I have ever seen. My guess is that he had to be an old breeder.
This year he has went from large full grown mice to hoppers to fuzzies and then to pinkies. Now it's been a month since he's eaten!
I wonder if this is the end.

Rudy
-----
0.1 Rubber Boa
1.1 Eastern Hognose Snakes
1.4 Western Hognose Snakes
1.0 Durango Mountain Kingsnake
1.1 Woma's (new!)
Spadefoot
Black Knobbed Sawback
Northern Diamondback
Florida Redbellied Slider
Western Painted
Southern Painted
1.0 African Hedgehog
1.0 Sulcata
2.1 Leopard (Babcocki) 1.0 borrowed (thanks Bobby)
2 Plecos
2 Silver Dollars
3 Bosemian Rainbows
1 African Dwarf Frog
1 Khuli Loach
1 Cory Cat
1 Upside Down Catfish
2.0 Fire Guramis

uhh... I think that is it.

Replies (6)

meretseger Sep 16, 2003 05:11 PM

There's no way to tell... but breeding isn't as hard on males as it is on females. If you think he's sick, take him to the vet. I've talked to people with Lampropeltis that were 30 years old.

rudedogsurfrat Sep 17, 2003 12:17 AM

Every time I take a herp to a vet I get this gut feeling that the guy knows nothing about reptiles.
I go in and the place is full of dogs and cats (exotics are illegal in this wonderful state) and the other customers/patients are staring at me with my snake.
They all say they deal with reptiles but how can I be sure?

Could someone in the Southern Orange County California area please suggest a reptile expert?

Rudy
-----
0.1 Rubber Boa
1.1 Eastern Hognose Snakes
1.4 Western Hognose Snakes
1.0 Durango Mountain Kingsnake
1.1 Woma's (new!)
Spadefoot
Black Knobbed Sawback
Northern Diamondback
Florida Redbellied Slider
Western Painted
Southern Painted
1.0 African Hedgehog
1.0 Sulcata
2.1 Leopard (Babcocki) 1.0 borrowed (thanks Bobby)
2 Plecos
2 Silver Dollars
3 Bosemian Rainbows
1 African Dwarf Frog
1 Khuli Loach
1 Cory Cat
1 Upside Down Catfish
2.0 Fire Guramis

uhh... I think that is it.

meretseger Sep 17, 2003 04:08 AM

I know the feeling... and my vet SAYS they're good with exotics. I have a hard time trusting vets, they're like mechanics.

snakeguy88 Sep 17, 2003 03:51 PM

Go to www.arav.org to look for herp vets. Andy
-----
Andy Maddox
Houston Herp Key
The Reptizone

Who are you who can say it's ok to live through me? Alice In Chains

rudedogsurfrat Sep 18, 2003 12:00 AM

thanks for the tip!
-----
0.1 Rubber Boa
1.1 Eastern Hognose Snakes
1.4 Western Hognose Snakes
1.0 Durango Mountain Kingsnake
1.1 Woma's (new!)
Spadefoot
Black Knobbed Sawback
Northern Diamondback
Florida Redbellied Slider
Western Painted
Southern Painted
1.0 African Hedgehog
1.0 Sulcata
2.1 Leopard (Babcocki) 1.0 borrowed (thanks Bobby)
2 Plecos
2 Silver Dollars
3 Bosemian Rainbows
1 African Dwarf Frog
1 Khuli Loach
1 Cory Cat
1 Upside Down Catfish
2.0 Fire Guramis

uhh... I think that is it.

Lonny Sep 21, 2003 09:56 PM

About the best thing you can do as far as old age is concerned, is to try to find the most accurate life expectancy for your herp. If you know the age of your herp, you can probably tell if it is getting close to it's expiration date. Of course, there are a lot of factors that will hasten that date, which is why we are usally given "average" life expectancies. As stated before, excessive breeding will bring the end quicker (just like us!). Solitary herps tend to far outlive these averages. I know that what you are looking for is some outward sign that you critter is a geriatric, but, sometimes there aren't any. Some herps "look" old, some don't. "It's not the years, it's the mileage."
-----
How to get your wife to like toads; 1.Get a male toad. 2.Get him to hug your wifes wrist (amplexus). 3. Tickle him so he chirps in protest. 4.Say "Awww, he likes you". Note; Make sure he pees first or you may receive bodily harm during this procedure.

Site Tools