Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Some of you may think this is an odd question, but do any of you have corns with bigger heads than what seems average on most your others. I picked up a female blizzard at a show a few weeks ago that the more I look at her the more it seems odd. I know I don't have a pic right now to go with my post, but is this somewhat typical or do you think there might be something else in the wood pile? Thanks for your input. I'm a rookie at this yet and trying to learn while being thrown for a loop here and there.

Yes, head shapes and sizes can be somewhat variable with many types of snakes. If you have a white blizzard corn derived from an anery type "B"(charcoal) x amel breeding, I am quite sure it is just an individual variation that you see. Either that, or it is WAAAY under-fed that makes it's head look too big for it's body, because that can certainly add to it..LOL!

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

my website -serpentinespecialties.webs.com

I have a weird corn snake that has a strange condition. The snake is normal and eats vigorously, and has had this condition for a long time. When he has his head level or looking up his head is normal. However when he points his head down his head wil swell. It's as if it fills with liquid, probaly blood. At first I thought it looked like mouth rot, since it makes his face look swollen, but after treating it for a couple weeks it still looked the same. Like I said he eats great and looks healthy aside from that. Just thought I would share since we are talking about big heads.
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra

Not to scare you Jorge, but I have read certain infections will cause snakes throats/necks area to inflate with a bit of air, and makes it look full of air or puffy from inflation, but usually in only certain positions too. Have you treated it with Flagyl? or any other antibiotic?. This seems to happen more when their heads ar pointed down. I had an adult Yellow Rat pass away a year or so ago, and I recall he was doing that some prior to going downhill before treatment could help him.

Like say he is hanging on your arm, and about a foot of his front portion is out and slightly downward, this is when the "inflated" look usually begins to happen. It is said to be caused by when the snake is in that particular position, the glottis is more restricted so it fills some with air as it breaths, but some tends to stay to give the puffy look.

Now I'm not saying it is this for sure, but I don't want something bad to happen to one of your nice animals, know what I mean?.

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

my website -serpentinespecialties.webs.com

Yeah Doug that's exactly what it looks like! I have given him Flagyle and Panicure and even a broad antibiotic, but he seems the same. He's had this condition for about a year now, yet looks healthy and eats great! Since he is eating good I didn't ger too worried. Do you have any more info on that condition?
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra

I cannot for the life of me remember where I read about that, but I will keep my eyes open for anything pertaining to it, and google stuff here and there as well to try to come up with some more info for you on it.

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

my website -serpentinespecialties.webs.com

I will do some digging also. I don't have a clue what it's called, but I'll check the cornsnake sites. He is one of my reduced black Okeetees. I really like him but i have a brother of his that looks very similar in case anything happens to him.

The one in the bowl is puff head, the one in my hand is his brother.

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

I see what you mean. He looks pretty darn fine and healthy to me in those pics too, just maybe has a very stout, robust-built neck as opposed to most other corns I guess(shrug).

He is a very stocky looking dude for sure,....,,I like it!

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

my website -serpentinespecialties.webs.com

Yeah but it's just like you said. When his head hangs down it fills with air. I thought maybe it was blood but air is probably more like it. Then when he lifts his head upwards like as to climb on a branch it all goes away and he looks perfectly normal. He's had this condition for well over a year now, but he eats fine and shows no ill effect? It's very weird!
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra

Oh,...okay. Yeah, I think the same simptom I read about involved an upper R.I. to be quite honest, and when the snake is in that certain downward position, the glottis is more restricted because of the inflamation, and more viscous saliva etc..

Also though, the individual there "could" just naturally have a narrower glottis pipe for whatever reason, thus it might seem to show the very same characteristic of being ill, but in fact might NOT be..LOL!....impossible for me to say though. You might want to very carefully listen to him breathing in a quiet closet or something for a bit just to see if you hear something going on when he breathes if you have not done this already,....know what I mean?

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

my website -serpentinespecialties.webs.com