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I have a racer that's lately been showing signs of calcium deficiency (weak scales cracking easily) and I've put it under uvb lighting in case this is the reason since they're a diurnal species and it may be that some need it. But recently I was running my fingers along the tail of the snake and just after the vent it felt like several of the "rib" bones just snapped and I heard a soft cracking noise. I wasn't pressing terribly hard but I'm afraid that the bones were fragile because the snake's calcium deficient. It feels like a length of maybe half an inch is softer and you can feel where the normal ribs are not broken. I don't think the bones in the vent are hurt at all but I'm almost positive the bones after the vent broke. The tail doesn't seem to be caved in or irregular at all like you'd see with a broken rib in the body. The snake is acting perfectly normal but that's not much of an indicator. It's not like the vertebrae were affected and it was just the riblike bones. Is there any chance the bones will heal back to normal? And could the broken ribs have hurt the snake internally because they were around the hemipenes? I'd hate for him to be hurt permanently and be unable to breed. Should I take him in to a vet or is there not much they'd be able to do? I feel terrible about it.
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1.0 sumatran short tailed python
1.0 ball python
1.0 woma
0.1 rosy boa
0.1 corn snake
1.1 mexican king snake
1.1 buttermilk racers
0.0.1 texas rat snakes
0.0.2 broadbanded watersnakes
0.0.2 yellow bellied watersnake
0.0.1 diamond back watersnake
0.0.1 blotched watersnake
0.0.1 ribbon snake
0.1.1 Texas brown snake
0.1.1 western cottonmouth
0.0.2 southern copperhead
0.0.1 rattlesnake
1.0 bearded dragon
1.0 leopard gecko

I don't see any real reason to believe that this snake has a calcium deficiency. What are you feeding it?

You said it's behavior is normal, so the only symptoms are cracked scales and a cracking sound when handling the tail; correct? Is the tail held abnormally? Painfull reaction when touched? Snakes in pain often go off food, and/or act abnormally defensive.
The sound/cracking that you heard could have been, as you described, breaking bones, but unlikely. FYI, it would be the lateral processes of the vertebrae as there are no ribs caudal to the vent. There are other possibilites, but the most common that I can think of would be a simple case of vertebral re-alignment. Kind of like when a chiropracter adjusts your neck, or you crack your knuckles. Some snakes seem to exhibit this phenomenom more often(arthritis?).

If your snake shows signs of pain, or other symptoms, then consider a vet visit for proper diagnostics. If the skin condition worries you, a vet will also likely be able to help. It could be anything from a bacterial/fungal infection, to dehydration, malnutrition, or more discreat problems like hormonal imbalances. A good rule of thumb is to see a vet's advice if it has not greatly improved after the next shed.

Good luck and take care,

Ian

Thanks for replying. When I say cracking I mean more in the physical sense as in the scales are brittle and the edges get cracked and brown. They always heal with next shed but within a couple weeks start returning to previous condition. I have another racer that does not have this problem so I'm not sure why this particular male does. Both are feeding on mice regularly. I'm pretty sure that the bones in the tail are broken since I have felt his tail a couple times since and it still feels soft and I can notice a subtle difference when his tail is curled. He doesn't seem to feel any pain based on his activity and he shows no sensitivity when I touch his tail. I doubt the bones have had long enough to heal since they were broken though. I know of the "cracking" sound you are speaking of and I have heard it with snakes but never with this particular snake and the sound I referred to was not of the same nature. He's defecating fine and health seems perfectly normal but I just don't want to breed him until I know the bones are properly healed (if this could cause a problem since the break is right over the hemipenes).

Since putting uvb on the snake I believe his scale condition is improving a bit but it'll take longer until I can be sure of it.

Thanks for the insight!
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1.0 sumatran short tailed python
1.0 ball python
1.0 woma
0.1 rosy boa
0.1 corn snake
1.1 mexican king snake
1.1 buttermilk racers
0.0.1 texas rat snakes
0.0.2 broadbanded watersnakes
0.0.2 yellow bellied watersnake
0.0.1 diamond back watersnake
0.0.1 blotched watersnake
0.0.1 ribbon snake
0.1.1 Texas brown snake
0.1.1 western cottonmouth
0.0.2 southern copperhead
0.0.1 rattlesnake
1.0 bearded dragon
1.0 leopard gecko