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I have recently branched out from Corn Snakes and picked up my first Milk Snake trio. They are some well-patterned, nice colored Nelson Albino ’03 hatchlings. They have acclimated to their environment and while very feisty when picked up, they calm down within a minute and become complacent to be held. One question concerns the male. Approx. 1.5 inches up from the vent there is a black protrusion centered on its belly. It is hard and appears to be connected well – slight pulls with tweezers show this. Way too big for a tick and looks like a splinter, sort of. It doesn’t go straight in but angles in under its scales. My guess is it where the yolk sack attached, kind of like a humans umbilical cord stub that hasn’t fallen off yet. My questions are:
1.) Is it where the yolk sack attached?
2.) Will it work itself out or be there permanently?
3.) If it is an unusual deformity/condition, will it impact the snakes’ health/reproduction in the future?

Thank you for any input……

It could very well be where the umbilical cord was attached. If you could post a picture of the snakes bottom it would be much easier to be sure. Usually when there is some of the cord still showing it will come off with the first or second shed if the substrate the snake is kept on is kept moist enough. If the snake is already several months old it might be more of a problem. I would keep it on moist substrate (like moist paper towels) as it is approching its next shed and see if it will shed it off. Good Luck, Randy W.

Thank you for the input on this post. The photo (hopefully) shows the condition I explained yesterday. The yolk sac 'stub' is rigid and anchored very well. The shed that I got off it last week clearly shows the scales in the immediate area are growing around it. I am most concerned about:
- long term health impact.
- complications upon breeding.

Any input of similar cases would be appreciated..

Thank you

Although I cant tell by the picture where on the belly it is, it is bound to be where the umbelical cord was attached. I would keep it on paper towels until it sheds next time. Keep the paper towels semi moist and when you think it's nearing its shedding cycle I would start keeping the paper towels very moist. When it's eyes clear and you know it will shed in the next day or two I would make sure the paper towels are moist enough that you could wring water out of them. Hopefully it will then shed it off. This has worked for me a couple of times in the past. As long as that is what it is I think it should be able to shed it off with this process.
I have always caught it early but I still think it should come off even if it has been there for a little while. It shouldn't cause the snake any long term harm. Good luck. Randy W.

Thank you for the constructive input. I’ll switch its bedding from Aspen to moist towels as indicated. If it is like my hatchling Corns, it’ll shed in about 5 weeks. I’ll also put in a thin piece of sandstone – may be the sandstone surface will help gently abrade it off upon shedding. It is in a clear shoe box now and there is no friction at all.

When I feed it (likely tonight), I’ll see if the pinkie bulge is at the inclusion. If not, I’ll post another picture showing the location of the bulge/stomach and the inclusion. My guess now is the inclusion is between the stomach and the vent…..

Hi!

I have had very similar case this year.
This is the pic:

This is exactl what the colubridman told you.
I did the same thing with paper towels, and it healed very well after 2 sheds. After 3 months it's completely not visible anymore.

Best regards
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snakes.pl

Thank you very much for the additional input. The size of your ‘inclusion’ is about 3x what I’m dealing with – may male Nelsonis is 2 scales long and approx. ½ as wide as your situation. I switched from Aspen to damp paper towels and will do what we are to do best – be patient…
The inclusion is not at the belly. He fed last night so I got a read on where his belly is. The inclusion is approx. 2/3s the way towards the vent from the pinky bulge (stomach). Was your inclusion at the belly or not? Do you have any idea what this is since the sac is connected at the belly (I think??)
I’m also going to the Nat’l. Breeders show in Philly on Saturday and ask around to some of the breeders there. If I get any thing in terms of cause/solution/problems that this is I’ll post the info.

Thank you again – you are very encouraging……..

The cord attaches about 2/3 of the way down the belly and should be below where a fresh meal would show so just go with the damp paper towels trick and hopefully it will come off with the next shed or two at the most. Good luck. Randy

Hi!

This is the cord - connection with the egg. I am not so good in english - so sorry if I use not right words.
In your case it is the same thing - just smaller. Keep it clean, and keep the snake on little moist paper towels.
After the first shed - it shoud go off.

In my case - after the first shed, this disapeared almost completely. I could see it, because I knew that this was there.
But after the second shed - it is not possible to tell where this was placed.

Just keep it clean, and keep the snake on clean, little moist paper towels within next couple of weeks.

Best regards
Lukasz
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snakes.pl