Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, If someone can please help me I'd be very grateful because I am worried sick about my cornsnake. About 2 weeks ago, I noticed that each of the scales on my albino corn had a wrinkled apprearance to them. I quickly rushed to my herp books to try and diagnose the problem. After checking almost 10 books I concluded that what I had on my hands was a mild case of scale rot. Since several of my books prescribed rubbing polysporin into my snakes scales, I did just so. For a few days my snake continuously shed off clear pieces of skin, with each scale shedding of a separate piece of it's own. For example, each clear piece that shed off was exactly identical to one scale. This happenned to every single scale including the ventral scales. Since the wrinkled appearance of the scales had dissappeared with each clear shedding off each scale, I figured that the polysporin was working and I wasn't alarmed. I began to get worried however, when I noticed that the belly (ventral scales) of my corn seem very raw, soft, fleshy and unprotected. Also I am double worried because my corn used to be the most voracious eater of all my snakes and has refused to eat his last two feedings. Even after going 3 weeks without eating he shows no interest in food. This is very uncharacteristic of him. I am worried sick about my corn because he is probably the most cherished of my 3 snakes since he is my oldest. If someone can shed some insight into what is going on here I'd be sooooo very appreciative. Thanks

If I were you, I would be taking it to a qualified herp vet.

I have an appointment with a qualified exotic pets vet in about an hour. I'll let you know the prognosis. I took off of work today to take care of my little girl, I was just freaking out last night.

I'm anxious to hear what the vet says. I thought about your snake all night last night. I didn't have any suggestions, or I would have posted. Hope the vet has good news, keep us updated.
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Dianne
AKA IcedGoddess
4.5 Cornsnakes
1.3 Cats
0.1 Child
IcedGoddess Creations
Castle Serpents

I feel so fortunate to have found such a knowledgable caring vet. After thoroughly examining Zoe, and her vomit (Zoe vomitted twice during the examination, one was all water, and the other a greenish color containing what looked like part of a mouse), the doctor concluded that she most likely has a gastro-intestinal ailment, probably from eating a bad mouse. He gave her 27 mg of Metronidazole via oral injection to calm her stomach and cure any potential bacterial infections in her digestive system. He also sent a stool sample to the lab just to check for parasites. He prescribed a quarantine tank (which I already set up the night before) with a paper towel substrate to prevent any secondary infections and a daily 15 minute bath at 85 degrees. He told me to try feeding her again in 2 days, not apply any topical creams or lotions, and to keep her quarantined till she is eating regularly and her coat is back to normal. She is normally housed in a 30 gal. long with a temp gradient of about 73 to 88 and the humidity monitored to stay between 40 and 60. Her substrate is aspen and her tank is furnished with an alaborate driftwood scheme. She is housed with an Egyptian Ratsnake (royal diadem ratsnake) and they get along together great, they aren't territorial at all and often perch together on the same branch. Their tank is kept very sanitary and is cleaned often. I also own a colombian red tail boa which is obviously kept in a separate enclosure. I play with all three of them every single day and they are the friendliest, sweetest things ever.
This is the first time any of my snakes has ever been ill so I probablly became overly frantic, but I just wanted to make sure I reacted to the situation properly. That was touching to hread that you were concerned about my beloved snake. Ohh and one more quick question ??? What do all those decimals at the bottom of your message mean? I'm not sure hopw to translate those, I've seen them on a number of people's messages. ?? Thanks

Glad to hear the vet had an answer for you. Poor Zoe You'll have to keep us updated on her progress now

The decimals are for Males.females.don't knows
i have one male cat and three females, so it's 1.3 cats...make sense now?
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Dianne
AKA IcedGoddess
4.5 Cornsnakes
1.3 Cats
0.1 Child
IcedGoddess Creations
Castle Serpents

I see, now it makes sense. Before you explained it to me I was a little freaked out when I thought people were claiming to have half a corn snale and one and a half children.

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Dianne
AKA IcedGoddess
4.5 Cornsnakes
1.3 Cats
0.1 Child
IcedGoddess Creations
Castle Serpents

It seems to me that it is a very bad idea to feed your snake 2 days after a regurgitation and I am very suprised a vet would recommend it. Snakes loose a lot of digestive fluids in a regurge and need some time to build them back up. The general waiting period is 10-14 days before feeding after a regurge. Some of the more hardy ones can be feed after seven days, but I wouldn't risk it if your corn has been ill. If you feed your snake any sooner, it will surely regurge again.

Dont feed a regurging corn for at least 10 to 14 days.Dont keep 2 snakes in the same tank period.Stress is screwing your corn up.Ive never seen a happy/sad snake in my life just sick or healthy.It sounds like your vet should stick with mammals.I dont understand the bath part either.You should not be handling a sick snake unless there's an emergency.Leave the poor guy alone for a couple weeks and i bet he comes around...Paul.

Vets just dont get many reptile cases and all they can do is read what's printed in an outdated book on treatment options.You can take 3 fecals in to 3 different vets and get a different answer from all of them.Ive done this.If anything your vet should have tried to rehydrate your snake and gave you treatment options after the fecal came back.He treated your snake before he knew what was wrong with it.Then he gave you very bad advice about trying to feed again in 2 days.Im no vet but heres some advice.Keep your snakes seperated.Stop handling your regurger for at least a couple weeks,dont feed for 10 to 14 days.Make sure your temps are good.Keep a generous supply of fresh water for your snake.If the test show parasites have the vet show you how to measure and treat your snake.Have him send home a tube of panacur for retreatment,why pay him twice.Im sure other people can add more items or correct me if they think im wrong....Paul.

>>Vets just dont get many reptile cases and all they can do is read what's printed in an outdated book on treatment options.You can take 3 fecals in to 3 different vets and get a different answer from all of them.Ive done this.If anything your vet should have tried to rehydrate your snake and gave you treatment options after the fecal came back.He treated your snake before he knew what was wrong with it.Then he gave you very bad advice about trying to feed again in 2 days.Im no vet but heres some advice.Keep your snakes seperated.Stop handling your regurger for at least a couple weeks,dont feed for 10 to 14 days.Make sure your temps are good.Keep a generous supply of fresh water for your snake.If the test show parasites have the vet show you how to measure and treat your snake.Have him send home a tube of panacur for retreatment,why pay him twice.Im sure other people can add more items or correct me if they think im wrong....Paul.
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1.0 Corn snake
1.0 Black rat snake
1.0 Albino Black rat snake
1.0 Everglades rat snake
0.1 Yellow rat snake
1.1 California king snake
1.0 Prairie king snake
0.1 Black king snake

Good luck and Happy Herping
Brian

how hard is it to give your opinion or advice without coming off as though you are the supreme reptile master of the universe? I really think that some people on here scroll through the posts just looking for an opportunity to ridicule and sound like a know it all.

First off, I am not so sure the small amount of vomit she threw up (the size of a dime), constitutes a regurge. Considering that the last time she ate, she ate two adult mice.

Second off, he is strictly an exotic pets doctor that came highly recommended for treating reptiles.

third, I like how before I went to the vet, the only advice anyone could offer was to go see a vet. Now that I did, all they can do is criticize. If you guys know so much, why couldn't you offer your own diagnosis without having to hear the doctors first?

fourth, you guys all agreed that 3 different vets can come to 3 different conclusions... If you thats the case, you have to expect that a vet may have a different conclusion than you.

fifth, in my vets defense. My corn seems to be doing MUCH better and she is regaining her gloss on most of the scales on the rear quarter of her body already. Seems the doctor knew something.

sixth, many herp experts preach that keeping compatible snakes together is an acceptable practice if done correctly. I'm not saying you have to agree, I'm just saying that you shouldn't act like your opinions are universal truths.

I came to this forum looking for some friendly advice from people who cared about snakes as much as I do. Instead, I get people who only care about belittling others in order to serve their ego.

Do whatever you want.Your vet doesnt have a clue.I didnt bash you i tried to save you some grief and a huge vet bill.The closet decent reptile vet from me is over 240 miles away.
If you want to keep multiple snakes in the same tank your on your own pal...Good Luck...Paul.

I agree with you, if you have seen progress already, and are confident in your vets skills, then try to ignore the bashes. I have always been told to wait 10-14 days after a regurge also, and did it for a while, but when my regurger just wouldn't quit, someone suggested trying right after a regurge (like 2 days after) and when I did that, she kept it down. So I'm pretty sure it depends on the snake, and why/how much the snake regurged.

I personally wouldn't keep two snakes, especially of different species, together, but it works for some people. I would say after this, maybe she was unhappy and the stress is what lowered her immunity and allowed her to get this illness. I would also keep them seperated from now on, but that's your decision to make, not mine.

Paul-I've seen good knowledgable replies from you, but bashing a vet that who saw the snake in question is a little over the top. You don't know what experience this vet has, he could be an excellent herp vet. You don't know unless you see him too. IMO
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Dianne
AKA IcedGoddess
4.5 Cornsnakes
1.3 Cats
0.1 Child
IcedGoddess Creations
Castle Serpents

Over the top of what? An ant mound?Dont make me use the spank ray Ice..hehehe...Paul.

well, I guess a message board would be boring if everyone always agreed on everything. To each his own. You say tomato, I say my snakes are better than your snakes. Just kidding.

John im sure you care about your snakes.And i realize you were told to take him to a vet.Ive been down reptile vet road many a time.
1. most vets study years on mammals.
2. most vets do a great job with mammals.
3. most vets get 4 college hours on reptiles.
4. most vets have to use a reference guide to guess what's wrong with your reptile.
5. most of the manuals they use are not even in print today.
6. I live in a good size town with many so called (exotic care vets).
7. there hasnt been one i cant have back peddling in minutes.
8. the best advice i can give you or anyone is to jion local herp club.
9. the knowledge you can gain from them is invaluable.
10 if they cant help you they know were the nearest qualified reptile vet is.
11. good luck bro and a say pOtAto....Paul.

My cable has been acting up and i have to to hen peck at rushed speeds or loose everything.I can also help you get free cable internet.I can have the tech guys crying on the phone in minutes also.hehehehehe

I found my vet here.