Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello,

I just recently received a new kingsnake a few days ago. He has developed these odd spots on his body that look like abrasions/bruises. It almost looks like the scales have blood at their base from being accidently bent forward or something like that but there are also other areas where it looks like bruising below the skin (second picture closest to the camera).

Is it possible that he got a bit of frost bite in transit? It was hot here during shipment so a large cold pack had to be included.

I'm kind of at a loss here. Any thoughts/ideas would be much appreciated. He is otherwise outwardly healthy without visible mites, active, and has already eaten for me.

I'm sure he'll be fine after a betadine bath or two but I'm just really confused as to what happened to create the situation.

Thanks,
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Kyle R. Mara

Common sense is genius dressed in its working clothes. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

http://scaledvertebrates.weebly.com/

Some of those spots look like bite marks.Did the previous feed live mice? Just a guess.
Jeff

I wondered that myself. I was told at the time of purchase that it was eating f/t and it readily ate a f/t mouse for me last night just prior to those pictures.

The weird part is the number of spots has increased since I got him out of the bag. He had a few areas that looked like abrasions but nothing too bad when I received him on Tuesday and then by Thursday he looked like this. He is still in quarantine obviously, but I am hoping it isn't anything skin related. If it is, I have not ever read about it or seen pictures that look like this.
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Kyle R. Mara

Common sense is genius dressed in its working clothes. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

http://scaledvertebrates.weebly.com/

Was the cold pack secured down in any way? It could be from the handlers tossing the box around or a rough ride in their truck/van with the cold pack flying around and hitting the snake. That's all I can think of. I doubt its frost bite, though. The snake probably looks ten times worse because normal pigment would cover most of that up.
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Hey Ross,

Yeah, I agree that the lack of pigment certainly contributes to the appearance of the marks. The cold pack was not secured in the package and was quite large so it is possible that it got tossed around with some rough handling and resulted in the injuries. IF that is the case, I'm hopeful that there are not internal injuries that may start showing symptoms.

As long as he is good internally, I'm quite certain that he will recover just fine. Kingsnakes are tough snakes for sure! I was just curious if others had seen this type of thing before or not.
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Kyle R. Mara

Common sense is genius dressed in its working clothes. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

http://scaledvertebrates.weebly.com/

Yes, hopefully he will be fine. I think I know where you ordered it , and I'm surprised it was shipped like that. Its always good to assume the box will be tossed or jump around at some point. The snake would have been better protected in an appropriate sized deli cup, if the cold pack was not going to be secured in place.
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The seller and I have been in contact about it and if it takes a bad turn I'm sure there won't be any problems working out a solution. The thread isn't meant to accuse the seller of anything. I'm just tying to figure out why the injuries are there is all.

I don't have the experience that many of you do here, but I'm also not completely new to the scene. I had never seen this before in any of the rescue work I have done or any of the snakes I have ever received and was just curious if there was something I was missing.

Other than this small issue, I am VERY happy with the snake and it's potential genetics.
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Kyle R. Mara

Common sense is genius dressed in its working clothes. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

http://scaledvertebrates.weebly.com/

Well, that's good to hear you are in contact with him and I'm sure he'll make things right if there are any problems. You did the right thing by coming here and trying to get a second opinion. These guys know quite a bit.

Yes, the genetics are really cool on that king. Lavender and Mosaic on the same animal.
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is the animal showing any signs of a respiratory problem or other sickness? those red spots and the more diffuse red areas could be a sign of a septicemia. if he seems to worsen i would get him to a vet. an antibiotic may be needed. good luck Rin

hopefully the snake recovers from whatever is wrong with it, I didn't even hear about that lavender mosaic until a month or so again, it's a good looking snake.
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www.kingpinreptiles.com

Personally, I would send it right back to whoever sold him to you. You don't know that he will get better. Just my opinion. Why should you be stuck with a problem snake. Have no clue what that is. Mike

I would give it a really good once over for mites. Maybe you have ? my other suggestion is getting a stool sample to a vet. Internal parasites can cause sores.
I doubt a bumpy ride even with an ice pack is going to cause sores like that. I guess it could be frost bite if that ice pack was on him early in the ride?

Hi Kyle. Did you purchase a snake from an online ad? If so, I am guessing there were no sores in the photo? Again, if it was from an ad, any idea how old the photo was? Just trying to get a time line, as this is very new to me.
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Shane@SSuperiorSSerpents.com
http://www.ssuperiorsserpents.com/

Hey Shane,

It is also completely new to me!

I did purchase him from an online add and the photo did not show signs of obvious injury. Unfortunately, I don't know exactly when the photo in the add was from but I have had him now for just over 1 week. I noticed odd abrasions when he came out of his boxing (not at this scale of course) that appeared to be from being caught on the tub as he was taken out and having his scales pulled the wrong direction. By day 2 in my care he looked like the photos posted. He still ate for me and has been getting betadine baths along with Baytril orally. He is about to go into shed now so I should have a better idea of what is going on with him in a week or so.

I will note that as time progressed the spots became more numerous initially, and now they are starting to change color to a darker brownish color (almost like a bruise). Many of the spots have raised areas around them that is likely localized swelling. I'm not sure if it is a systemic infection or if injuries from transport. Once he sheds I should have a clearer picture of what the spots are. I'm still hopeful that I can save him and his genetics!
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Kyle R. Mara

Common sense is genius dressed in its working clothes. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

http://scaledvertebrates.weebly.com/

Thanks Kyle. I will try and keep up as I am curious. I hope it sheds out for you. Lots of future potential there.
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Shane@SSuperiorSSerpents.com
http://www.ssuperiorsserpents.com/