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Ok this is not a kingsnake but still a snake and it is a must see! I placed a young corn in a delicup with a pinky overnight and today I found this!

I managed to free the little guy after wetting his tongue and working it loose. This is how he looks now. His tongue looks dried out and I suspect he will end up loosing it. Has anyone ever seen this before?

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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra

I had a corn do that for the first time just 2 weeks ago. Never saw it before but it was exactly the same thing. The snake is doing fine still but I'm not sure how feeding will go. I might need to put it down if it doesn't want to eat, just waiting a few weeks to heal before trying to feed it.

Mine lost a good bit of it's tongue.

Wow that's incredible that it happened to someone else just recently!
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra

I don't know why mines got stuck either. He was in a deli container just like the ones I have used for a few years now, wasn't in shed, and wasn't recently fed. It just looked like he tongue flicked thru the hole and it got stuck on the outside for some reason?

I use deli cups and gladware containers for shows and to house hatchlings and have never had it happen before.

If you cut the holes with a hole punch, the edges are sharp and will cut the tongues off when they are retracted.

This was known many many many years ago. Thats why you melt holes in the cups.

Cheers

They weren't aware of it. I had no idea about this either and I'm sure it goes for many others. I mean, who would want this to happen to any of their snakes?

Although it was nice to shed some light about this, that sounded pretty condescending.

Tony
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You can never have only one snake!

>>Although it was nice to shed some light about this, that sounded pretty condescending.
>>

Hey Tony that's just FR, He can't help it. I am starting to get used to it and I actually think he means well,.....I think? Lol!
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra

>>If you cut the holes with a hole punch, the edges are sharp and will cut the tongues off when they are retracted.
>>
>> This was known many many many years ago. Thats why you melt holes in the cups.
>>
>> Cheers

Yes this is true FR, but this one was not the case. Though the holes were pre-punched and I have noticed some with burrs on them, this one was pretty clean. The tongue was almost glued.
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra

Dang guys, you sure are sensitive. You asked if anyone had seen that and I answered.

A friend of mine lost the tougues on many corns and a few kings before he figured out what happened. On some, the tongues were on the outside of the hole.

You do have to forgive me. i see no reason to pat you on the back. It really could of happened to anyone. I could of happened to me but I did not own a hole punch.

I would imagine when your older and if you still have an interest in kings, you will fine it sad and odd that the young people at that time will be making the same mistakes as you.

If I were you, I would contact the manifacturer of those cups. The one who cut the holes and tell them what happened. When I was first saw that tougue thing, there was nobody selling prepared deli cups for herps. So we had to do it.

I am from a generation that actually met with eachother and knew eachother in person. So to come to a flat screen and talk to a computer that could have and does have anyone on the otherside, is not personal to me. I did not know your suppose to act like a politician, you know, act in a public speach way, so people will like me. Then return to my normal persona after I log off. I am missing that. I act like I am talking to a machine. Cause I am. I do treat the people I have met much differently. Sorry

I'm not a spring chicken either, maybe not as fermented as you are, lol. I just follow the golden rule, tear others as you would like to be treated. Thank you for your advice! Although I really don't think it was the hole that was at fault here. Do you think there could have been some stickiness to the tongue that kade it get stuck? I am going to look at the cup again, if I can remember which one it was and check all the holes just to be sure. We don't need pats on the back just helpful information with out the "know it all" attitude. Oh and yes I am very sensitive, lol! Thanks again FR, really!
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra

.
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra

I may be wrong but, I never said I know everything, in fact, very much the opposite. But I do know what I know.

having been around kings(bred them from 1964 until now. I have come across lots and lots of STUFF. Not all, just some stuff.

And snakes loosing their tougues in deli cups was something a friend had occur many many years ago. We all learned what hole punchs can do. I do not know how yours was made, but without question a like injury occurred.

Then is was seconded by another poster, who recently had the same problem.

TROUBLE SHOOTING. tougue caught in/on hole made in deli cup. Its not the tougues fault. Look at the hole.

Whether it was a sharp edge made by a hole punch, or a burr made by a grinder, the problem is the same, its a problematic hole. hahahahahahahahaha don't think about that.

And yes, I love when someone can instruct me and its of help. Rude or not. I love to learn. I like learning the easy way, the hard way, oh any old way. So yes, I am treating folks like I like to be treated. If the information is of value, hit me with it, 2/4 or what ever. Cheers

Whats funny is, anyone who appears to know more then others, is a know it all. At least to those that think that person knows more.

It's all in the presentation I guess? I'm getting used to it.
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra

tougue caught in/on hole made in deli cup. Its not the tougues fault. Look at the hole.

FR, surely you will have seen some VERY stupid snakes kill themselves in ridiculously stupid manners right? Babies drown in 3/4" of water in the bowl? I had a adult female coastal plains milk move her water bowl til it was right on top of the heat strip, crawl in, and got stuck and died! I tend to not think its the "holes fault" either, after all 1000 other snakes could have lived in that scenario without doing the same thing. When snakes do ridiculously stupid things I say they win the Darwin award and dont get to reproduce! How about you? What are some "stupid snake" stories you have?? If you claim there are intelligent snakes you have to give equal time to the short bus/flat landers dont cha??

I know what he's gonna say, and you do too, lol.
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra

If you claim there are intelligent snakes you have to give equal time to the short bus/flat landers dont cha??
I have a stupid snake story: my cabin is inhabited by several cats, as well as my collection of pyros and pituophis. ALL the snakes can see the cats (although the cats don't bother the tanks, they are just in the room) and ALL the snakes will try to escape into this room full of cats if given the opportunity. The animal that has to be the intelligent one is me; I make absolutely sure that no snake can escape into this dangerous place.

I think man made conditions are more likely to cause problems for snakes than things out in the wild. I have found snakes and other little reptiles trapped in five gallon buckets outdoors, but what would be like a five gallon bucket in nature? Basking on a warm rock is another thing that snakes like to do, usually close to a crevice to zip into if they see a hawk, etc. Basking on a warm stretch of asphalt generally has dire consequences. Snakes just don't seem to have it in their instincts to know about automobiles.
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Bob/Chris
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire

The sharp holes is what my partner thought when I mentioned this topic. The little plastic deli cups are very thin plastic and it is conceivable that sharp edges of any sort could have unforeseen consequences. I have re-examined my feeding jar lids with the drilled holes in the plastic lids, but they are not razor sharp and so I feel safe using them.

I have a bunch of deli cups from past shipments but I think I will just toss those with cut holes, instead of ever reusing them.
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Bob/Chris
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire

I am considering using a thin tipped soldering iron to take the edge off all my cups from now on. If I can find a tip thin enough to to the job.
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra

If I'm not mistaken Shannon built a multi soldering iron rig for melting holes in his shoeboxes etc. If you look close at some of the pics he posts you can see how the holes almost look like the have some sort of plastic grommet.

Jorge you could possibly use a standard soldering iron just fit it will a small washer as a stop for how deep you want to go.
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BigT
There is a difference between ignorance and stupidity. The ignorant can be taught, stupidity is beyond our control.
1.2 P. m. melanoleucus B/W N. J. Northern Pines
1.2 P. d. deppei Mexican Pines
2.2 P. l. lineaticollis Linis or Lined Pines
1.2 P. m. lodingi Black Pines
0.3 P. c. sayi Kingsville X Stillwater red bulls
1.1 Drymarchon melenurus Blacktail Cribo
1.2 D. corais Yellowtail Cribos
1.2 M. s. cheynei Jungle Carpet
2.6 L. p. pyromelana Arizona Mt. Kings
1.1 L. g. californiae B/W Cali kings
0.0.3 M. f. flagellum Eastern Coachwhips
1.2 G. m. bottegoi Western Plated lizards

Yeah I use a soldering iron to make holes in my plastic boxes. I even purchased a heavy duty one for my bigger tubs which makes much bigger holes. The washer thing might work. I find something. This is a subject that effects all of us cause I think we all use the deli cups for shipping small snakes! Most of us buy them pre-punched too! Can you imagine getting a call from your customer saying the snake arrived alive but it's tongue is stuck in the air hole?
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra

Now that is something I would have never thought about even if it had happened to my own. We should all appreciate information that helps us help the snakes, especially easy, inexpensive solutions that we have complete control over.

Why folks are sensitive to information stated as information I do not know. Keep the info coming.
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Mark

What the heck is it stuck to?
The hole in the side of the deli cup?

I have never seen anything like it at all.....
I don't feed in deli cups for other reasons, but now I have another.....

Sorry....I don't know if he'll make it but that is certainly a freak accident.
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John Lassiter
Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part...
www.coastalbendcaptivebreeding.com

John as you know I use brown bags for feeding my snakes, I only use the deli cups for problem feeders. This is just weird!
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra

I have seen them with their tongues stuck to tape that was put over deli cup holes. Once was given a snake that had lost much of her tongue in a similar accident. She went on without a hitch for many years....
:Mark
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Surrender Dorothy!

crimsonking.piczo.com/

>>I have seen them with their tongues stuck to tape that was put over deli cup holes. Once was given a snake that had lost much of her tongue in a similar accident. She went on without a hitch for many years....

I closed a deli cup lid on a snake's tongue once but opened it up right away with no damage that I know of being done......That's gotta hurt though.....LOL
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John Lassiter
Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part...
www.coastalbendcaptivebreeding.com

I did that too ones john! That snake was also fine afterwards though it freaked me out, lol.
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra

LOL! I did that as well a year ago but re-opened the lid quickly and the snake was fine too!!!

Tony
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You can never have only one snake!

Yeah Mark I think if it will eat it will survive. The big question is will it ever want to eat again?
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra

I was like WTF? Is his tongue pinned by some sort of weird insect, and if so how did the insect get in the deli cup...did it come out of the pink, like some sort of strange parasite?!? Then I read the rest of the posts and the tape over the hole in the deli cup makes sense.

The poor little dude!
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Bob/Chris
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire

No tape was involved Bob. It truely is a freak accident.
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra

No tape was involved Bob. It truely is a freak accident.
Hmmm...quite the mystery! His tongue looks like it went through the hole and somehow got glued to the outside of the hole. Could there be something even slightly sticky on the outside of the deli cup? Or some little bit of irregularity in the plastic hole edge that snagged his fork?

One of my feeding jars. A 2.5 pound Costco cashew jar with holes drilled in the lid. Nobody has ever got any body parts stuck in anything even though they can reach the lid. The lids screw on tight so no escapees. None the less I will watch for tongue accidents from here on out.

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Bob/Chris
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire

It seems to have gotten stuck from moisture or something. The hole looks clean. I think your animals will be fine even if it did ever happen. I am sure what made it worse was the lentgh of time the poor thing was in that position. If I had caught it quickly it would probably not even damaged his tongue. I left it overnight so, it could have been many hours?
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra

I mentioned this accident to my partner, and he thought the edge of the plastic hole could have been sharp enough to cut into the tongue just behind the fork, and lacerate it. When the snake felt the cut instead of moving forward to give himself some slack, he pulled away and set the plastic edge deeper into the cut. This would be such a tiny cut that it would be hard to see.
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Bob/Chris
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire

>>I mentioned this accident to my partner, and he thought the edge of the plastic hole could have been sharp enough to cut into the tongue just behind the fork, and lacerate it. When the snake felt the cut instead of moving forward to give himself some slack, he pulled away and set the plastic edge deeper into the cut. This would be such a tiny cut that it would be hard to see.
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>>Bob/Chris
>>Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire

That's what I had kinda thought too, but the tongue was stuck like glue. I had to wet it and work it pretty good to get it loose. Maybe the snake was sick and it had sticky spit?
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra

Blood is like glue . If he cut his tongue and bled onto the plastic while snagged he could have gotten glued on with his own blood. It wouldn't take much, just a drop.
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Bob/Chris
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire

If I had given him a split brained pink, I would be convinved that was the source. I will check the hole again when I get back in the snake room later today, thanks.
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra

Thank you for starting this most informative thread! This problem with the deli cup holes is something I would not have thought about in a million years, or until it happened to one of MY snakes.

I forgot, did the little snake ever eat the meal he was left with overnight? (too tired to sort through past posts to find out...)
I hope he makes it. He looks so pitiful. Baby corn snakes always look sort of frail and feeble to me, anyway. Not to say I don't like them; I do, but just don't have the space now for another species.
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Bob/Chris
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire

No he didn't eat that pink. He looks like he might have started going into a shed cycle but I didn't notice it. After cropping and zooming the pics it is obvious that his face looks darker like he was about to peel or something. I am giving him some time to settle down before I mess with him much, but he's still alive and the tongue is the same.
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra

I actually can't read anymore - it just makes me feel so bad for the poor snake.

Was there any real gummy tape goo on the outside of that hole?

Hmm, I have to wonder if this snake will ever have a feeding response since the tongue in conjunction with the "Jacobson's organ" is how they would discern their prey?

Now if the snake was an adult, and was pretty much already used to keying-in on the prey by site ass well as scent, it might be a different story. But since it is such a young hatchling that doesn't really have it's feeding cues set, this could very well lead to it never wanting to eat voluntarily.

All you can do is let it be for a while and see what happens. I would guess the tongue will dry up the rest of the way and fall off. But as much as I hate to think it, be prepared that this guy might not live because of this unless you assist feed it for at least another long while.....who really knows...(shrug)

That sucks!

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

my website -serpentinespecialties.webs.com

Nothing unusual with the cup Doug! It's really bizzar. All I can think is that it's tongue had to be sticky then dried out from being out overnight? Maybe it was sick and I didn't notice? Looking at the close up pics he does look like there is something wrong with his face? Maybe just getting ready to shed?
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra

That's sad. I know it probably made you feel like dirt. Hope he survives and does O.K. Sometimes it''s surprising what they can endure.

--Dennis

Now I will have a fear of deli cus, lol. Especially if it's a very expensive snake. I normally use brown paper lunch bags, and I never had any problems with them. Snakes can even work their way out if something happened and you forgot or couldn't get back to them quick enough. Many times I find they push a hole in the bag and get out anyway, but not untill they have eaten first.
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra

I can tell you are scared of the deli cups, you couldn't even spell it right lol you know I'm joking. My...that is devastating and I bet you feel real bad. Sorry that this incident ever happened and lets hope he still will be able to feed. I learned from this and have never seen anything like it! Freak accident is the definite right word!

Tony
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You can never have only one snake!

.
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra

Well, its definitely going to lose part of the tongue, but I think it will be OK, especially if it is an established feeder. If on live, it will still see the motion, and if on F/T I would still think the Jacobsons organ would pick up enough odor to recognize prey. probably wont eat til the tongue is healed up, but thats to be expected. And No, I have NEVER seen this before. I did see a large boa in a pet shop once that was missing its tongue due to a rat bite incident, but nothing like this!!

Good luck with it Jorge!!!

Thanks Kev, I don't have high hopes for this little guy since he was a stubborn feeder already.
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra

" I don't have high hopes for this little guy since he was a stubborn feeder already"

Yeah, that's basically exactly what I was thinking too.

You thought it was finicky before?, I imagine now it will be finicky to the 100th power!..LOL!

I hope I am wrong though of course, but I'm sure you are aware of the possibilities there.

Good luck bro!

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

my website -serpentinespecialties.webs.com

I'll keep you posted in what happens!
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra

I think I may know what might have happened. I think? I only use delicups for snakes that either eat split brained or scented pinks. The snake looks like it was about to shed and so it wasn't hungy. It may have gotten some moisture from the pinky somehow and..... hell I don't know what the heck happened. The pinky wasn't split brained which would have explained maybe sticky blood on his tongue. I've seen snakes flick their tongues thru the holes many times before. I don't know why it got stuck? There didn't seem to be anything there for it to get snagged on. This snake had just started taking scented pinks and had been a problem feeder since it was born. I don't have high hopes for it doing well, but we'll see?
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra

OMG!!! THAT IS FUGLY. Poor little guy...and yeah, what a freak thing to happen. Hopefully he'll heal up, and get hungry and decide to eat anyway, but I'm thinking only time will tell.

Geezlaweez - never seen anything like that before.

Good Luck.

Yeah thanks for your concern! I can only wait and see what happens.
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra