Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So I purchased a Splendida from show recently, I was somewhat desperate for a mate for my male desert king.
There just happened to be one.. It was posted as female and for $50 it was worth a shot.

Even though I had my doubts about its sex or health because there is a large lump right at the cloaca, the tail side.

I said, this has to be a male, probably a well gifted male!?
He said

"She's had 12 eggs this season, I don't have probes on me so I'll pop her..It's not the first time someone asked today"

Considering she is 4 ft, I know it's not good to "pop" adults so I was reluctant as doing this before possibly caused that bump..

What are the possibilities here?
bacteria infection
Tumor
Prolasped rectum from laying 12 eggs?
Male - It just doesn't seem likely from their reputation, but anything can happen.

He Promised me a full return if it didn't turn up to be female.(pretty big reputable company, no it's not LLL)

No, I can't post pics as of yet

I am betting "ding-dong"(the seller) just ruined your snake for you by crushing trauma. He should return your money for injuring the animal, nevermind what sex it is.....arrgh!

I would let him know about it ASAP!, cause then he will try to say he had nothing to do with it.

Put it this way, if it didn't have the lump there at the show, and now it does.......HE caused it!. Lots of people have probes at a show, he could have easily borrowed one instead of cruching your snake up like that.

Anyway, I would tell dude about it ASAP!. That is too bad that happened, because it could have easily been avoided. Heck, I could have told you just by looking at it.

Hope the snake gets over this somehow.

~Doug
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

my website -serpentinespecialties.webs.com

Sorry I mean to say, I was under the impression it was a male to begin with because it already had the bump.

He said she laid eggs somewhat recently.

Health wise, she has already bulked up in three week of owning her.

Her poop looks fine and healthy like my other colubrids, and has no problem excreting so that's relief to me!

Well, if the vendor told you it was a PROVEN female and you felt they were reputable, why bother with the sexing adventure? If I am selling a proven female snake, I AM NOT going to sex it at a show. I WILL sex babies I am not sure of, but thats about it. Usually that only applies to the female babies I am not totally sure about. Then I find a reputable breeder friend at the show to double check me, but thats about the best anyone can do. As far as the lump, some females do develop fat deposits at random areas of their bodies, usually near the posterior portion of their bodies. Once again, if the vendor was reputable and stated the snake had the lump but it didnt affect breeding for him, then you have to take it at faith. These days its also not unusal for vendors to be selling off their breeding stock at MUCH reduced prices, so price isnt always an indicator that something may be wrong. At this point, a vet check would not be a bad idea. It will either turn up to be a benign feature, or something treatable. Either way, you end up in better shape than letting this go untreated or diagnosed and loosing your bargain snake!!

I have been a vendor at a few shows.....and one thing I won't and don't have to do is "confirm" a proven breeder to every person who asks at the show. I'm not going to probe the same snake every time someone asks what the sex is.

What a dufus.

Kerby...
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I have had older snakes that displayed a similar look (I think) It was attributed to some fatty deposits...
:Mark
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Surrender Dorothy!

crimsonking.piczo.com/