Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My kingsnake won't eat (it ate two frozen mice and a live one before Christmas), and now presently I have a small mouse in his cage and he just is not going after it at all. He looks skinny and these past two days has been sneezing a lot.

I had not fed him live in a great while, but I threw a live one in there before I left college for Christmas break. When I came back he had eaten it. I failed three times to feed him frozen so I thought he lost the tatse for it and threw in a live one two days ago. It's still in there. I am confused because if he is sick, why is he being so active, roaming around the cage quite a bit; yet he doesn't seem hungry.
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Mark Martinez
University of Florida

I would never leave a live mouse in a cage unsupervised
they can harm a snake. i would take it to the vet.
it sounds like it may have a upper respiratory infection.
what kinds of temps do you keep in it in. try for 80-85 in the day and around 75-77 at nite.

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The mice it eats are still very small, not harmful. The mouse has just been sitting there. I'll take it out later. What can I do to help the infection until I get to the vet?
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Mark Martinez
University of Florida

What kind of temperatures are you keeping him on? usually cold temperatures can cause a respiratory infection has the snake shed recently?

john

Hasn't shed recently, and its 70 degrees in the house, but he has an undertank heater. I don't have a basking light, here in Florida the house never goes below about 65.
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Mark Martinez
University of Florida

thats the problem i suggest getting an undertank heat pad. if a snake eats then gets cool temperatures like in the 60s or 50s its stomach will rot out. also get a thermostat. i keep mine in the 85-86 range at day and 76-77 range at nite. I hope its not too late for your animal.

john

I said it has an undertank heater.
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Mark Martinez
University of Florida

even with an undertank heater the temperatures could still not be right..they need high temps as someone said before so the snake does probably not have the right heat do u know what the temps are in the cage? because 70 in the house and an undertank heater might not do it...i'd get it to the vet...and try to raide the temps and find something to read the temps in the cage...also i wouldnt ever leave live food in the cage again unattended its a big risk..

I live in Broward county where it is warmer than where you are. I still need heat for my snakes. What you are being told is correct.

Frank
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"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."

I'll leave the ceramic heater on there permanently if need be, I'm getting a halogen for the uros I have, so they can give up their heater.
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Mark Martinez
University of Florida

I'd hold off on the vet. I consider a vet visit for a reptile a last resort. Vet visits are helpful but possibly the most strsssful thing you can put a snake through. Any animal that I've ever taken to the vet has taken 3-4 weeks just to start feeding again. Work on raising the temps somehow although really your temps sound ok to me. As long as the basking area is in the mid eighties. Also, don't leave live food in with the snake for the simple reason that it stresses the snake. Even if the mouse is just sitting there. Oh, and as soon as a mouse grows teeth it's dangerous. Try only leaving the mouse in for an hour, and don't try to often...no more than once every 3-4 days. Depending on how old the snake is, health is more important than feeding. Sneezing doesn't necessarily indicate an RI but it may indicate the beginning of one. What your really looking for is bubbling from the mouth and nostrils. Also watch for the snake gaping a lot.
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Martin Whalin

"It is foolish to let singleness of purpose deprive one of the joy and delectation of the many wonderful sights and sounds incidental to the quest."
-Carl Kauffeld
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I agree about not taking him to the vet, that would be stressful. I removed the mouse because I think it was agitating him for sure, he wouldn't sit still. As for the temps, I haven't taken a reading; but in my estimation, having lizards as well who I moniter much more closely in that regard, the undertank heater provides a large spot that is about 85 degrees F.

There is no bubbling from the mouth and nostrils, or gaping of the mouth. But man, is he sneezing a lot. Like once every five minutes. For an animal that doesn't breathe much, I'd say that's a lot. Maybe it's actually a form of a cough, I can't tell.
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Mark Martinez
University of Florida

I'd take him to a vet. What kind of sustrate do you have in there? Maybe he's allergic to that. Anyway, my snakes haven't had a respiritory infection but that sounds like it could be one. Why wait or guess any longer...take him to a vet.

But man, is he sneezing a lot. Like once every five minutes. For an animal that doesn't breathe much, I'd say that's a lot. Maybe it's actually a form of a cough, I can't tell.

That sound you hear is the snake wheezing when it tries to breathe through its congested respiratory system. It isn't going to eat until you clear this problem up.

You should check the temperatures at the cool end of the tank and at the warm end (on top of the heat pad as well). It could be that the cool end is too cool and the heat pad is too warm so the snake can't find a comfortable area.

In regard to the infection. I would suggest warming the whole cage up to about 80 degrees and keeping it there. That will help the snake fight the infection.

Also, NEVER leave a live mouse in with a snake for more than an hour or so. Live mice can (and have) killed snakes.
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Chris Harrison

then your cage should be in about the right temp., IMO, with a house that stays in the "70"'s. It's called thermal heating guys. Just to get some backup on your side- what size exactly is that mouse and your snake? It does sound like a respiratory prob., though. Take it to the vet if you can, and I hate to say this; but, if you can't, then get an accurate temp. reading, if its low- warm it up. Make sure the humidity is OK. I hope the snake is all right. If this just recently started happening, then you most likely still can save it.-Brett

i still personally havent found a message where he says his temps...either im not reading it all or he hasnt said it...in my opinion a heat pad doesnt give 15 degrees of heat which would raise the tank from 70 room temp to 85 unless it was super hot and enough to burn the snake so it stays away from it..as people have said before get it to the vet...i havent had any snakes with RI but ive heard alot about it from friends and on here and it does sound like it..so do u have the actual temps or warm nd cool in the tank? not just aguess? and i wouls suggest u get the snake to the vet ASAP and raise the temps in the cage, possibly get a basking light to raise the temps even with just a bulb because it doesnt sound like the temps are right...just my opinion tho cuz my heaters dont give off that much heat and my house is also about 70 maybe a bit below 70 and i still use a 50 watt for my corn and 75 for my king with heat pads on low and it gives them the right temps.also like someone stated before i wouldnt ever ever leave a live mouse in the cage again and wat king of substrate do u use? of aspen and the snake would have eaten the mouse and the mouse had aspen on it can be very harmful along with other substrates being injested
Chuck

Ok, here's what I've done. I took the mouse out (as I've said), and I've thrown a heater that I have (ceramic) on top of the cage. I'll just give it rest till I can get it to a vet. It seems to be getting better, and in my estimation it can make it 10 more days without food no problem. It's currently on aspen. I've also determined that it got a little water up its nose a few days ago and that's why it's sick.
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Mark Martinez
University of Florida

ok correct me if im wrong but a ceramic heater is a.....hotrock right? if im wrong i take back what i said in this message but...hot rocks u DO NOT use with a snake, a snake can sit on them, and burn themself because it takes them longer to feel the burn then humans would, also your heatpad must be runnin really high if its the only heat source so check the glass too...how do u know that the snake got water up its nose? did u see it happen? from what your describing it really sounds like a respitory infection...dont listen to me if u dont want to but i would seirously take that thing to a vet and do your research before u choose an animal. ALSO what good is a hotrock going to do ontop of the cage? not that they are meant for snakes anyways but come on....u need a lamp to raise your temps...you need a thermomater to read your temps...your snake needs a vet and higher temps ...i hope its not too late for it..i dont mean to be rude by what im saying in this message but honestly....think about [bleep] before ya do it

No hotrock friend, its a light bulb looking things that emits heat. It's pretty cool. It's sorta like an electric stove coil upside down. I think it got water up its nose as it striked out at a live feed attempt. I take very very good care of my uromastyx and hedgehog as well, so don't worry abuot negligence. He seems to be getting much better. He's hardly coughing anymore. I just wanna give it another day because vet visits are expensive and stressful.
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Mark Martinez
University of Florida