Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i got a question..

do older proven breeder females tend to carry their weight near the vent due to years of egg production?..

i ask because i picked up a big ole' PROVEN female snow corn today at a reptile show for $50.. shes massive (815 grams) and probably close to 5' long... but about the last 1' of her is kinda squishy (very soft.. fat deposits?)....where as all my other corns are nice and lean..

should i put her fat butt on a real lean diet?.. try to tone her back because i heard fat female can egg bind?..

dont really have experience with older corns.. so this is all new territory to me.. hah

does not sound right,does she hold down her meals?i bought a bunch of baby corns from a breeder in florida (about 600 dollars woth or was it 800)about half the babies had the same thing but about a third of the way down from the head,was swollen and squishy feeling on them ,they rarely held down there meals and there stools were very smelly,2 differant vets knew nothing so they had to be put down so i wouldnt contaminate my collection,was i scared and needless to say abit pee'd off,doesnt sound right but if she eats and is otherwise healthy it may be fatty deposits ON YOURS,she may have been overly fed as an adult which is not uncommon in the corn snake world,goodluck,,,,i sucked up my losses but will never buy another snake from him,especially after seeing the facility and conditions,WOW!!!! unbelievable how some people keep there animals

I am not one that usually jumps in with THIS response but here goes...
Take it to a vet!
I missed those early signs on my 5 foot sunglow and it turned out to be renal failure. He died.
If this "swelling" is from the cloaca to about an inch to inch and a half above it, I would seriously think about getting it to a vet.
Especially if it starts to darken or smell bad. By then it may be too late.
This is by no means an experienced medical opinion. This is only based on what happened with one snake in my possession.
Take it for what it's worth.
But, why not lean towards the side of caution?
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Remember, my posts are MY opinion only.
Jimmy (draybar)

thanks for the relpy jimmy..

i actally had a adult female boa die from renal failure (adoption) about 2 years ago. This is doesnt look at all like that..

every picked up a 5 week old puppy?.. you know how they are just soft n squish cuz all they do is sit around and eat all day?..

she has that kinda feeling so the last 8-12" of her body before her cloaca.. just kinda pudgyness to her that feels like fat deposits..

ill take her past a vet buddy of mine and see what he thinks, i think i might stick her into hybernation alittle earlier than the rest of my critters.. try to melt off some of those extra grams

dan

>>Hey Dan,
With the "swelling" or pudgieness you describe, it doesn't sound like renal failure to me, for what that's worth.
It may very well be just a fat snake.
I hope you find out what it is, if anything.
Good luck and keep us posted.
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Remember, my posts are MY opinion only.
Jimmy (draybar)