Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi.
I've had my California King Snake for about 5 years now. Several months ago I noticed this small bump at the top of his back, closer to his tail than head. I've pressed on it and it seems hard. I've stretched him out and it appears to have a small undulation right where the bump occurs. I'm not a vet but it looked like he somehow displaced a bone or something. I took him to the vet and he couldn't explain it. Not many reptile friendly vets around here. He moves fine, eats adult mice fine, poops fine.
Does anyone have an idea of what could of caused this bump? Is it correctable? Will it affect my snakes health or future well being?
thanks in advance.

It could be a lot of things, I'm suprised the vet couldn't do more. It could be an abcess or a tumor or something else completely. Hopefully someone else can give you some advice so you and your vet can work on it together.

Thanks for the response. I felt the vet wasn't really sure because he couldn't give me a definitive answer. He barely looked at the snake. I described and he said "Uh-huh" over and over again. His "expert" opinion was a fracture to the spinal bone and healed incorrectly. He mentioned defect. But I'm not comfortable with his reasoning. I was hoping someone had more insight or had a similar experience.

The bump feels extrememly hard. Could it really be a bone? Nowhere else on his body can I feel a bone extrusion.

thanks.

If it's dorsal, stationary and very hard it could be bone or a bone tumor. Does it seem to be painful if you try to manipulate it? Is there any way you can post a digital picture?

Usually a subcutaneous abcess is soft and palpable. The fact that it's hard and apparently immovable also rules out subcutaneous parasites. If it's firm, but not actually hard, then it could be something encysted in the muscle tissue.

I'd like to thank everyone for their responses. I should've come here first. You guys have given me better feedback than the vet did. Thanks.

Here are 2 views of the bump. He's had it for a while so I don't think it's harmful to him. The side view was a challenge b/c he didn't like to be stretched out. Although I don't think he's feeling any pain from it. I've pressed on it and he doesn't flinch. The bump can't be moved or manipulated, it's very hard.

As you can see, the bump makes it appear as though he has a hinge there. Like it should bend there or something.

Side view and top/angle view

That is a fairly common defect in snakes, sometimes related to incubation temperatures, etc. He should have no problem living a normal life.

Thanks oldherper. So you're saying he was probably born with this? Not related to a fracture or anything else? That's somewhat comforting.

Also by saying fairly common defect...how many snakes have you run into with this problem?

thanks again for all of your help.
I truly appreciate it.

Yup, likely he was born that way. It's actually fairly common with captive born snakes, anyway. I don't recall seeing a wild-caught one like that, but I guess I probably have at one time or another. It's believed usually related to incubation temperatures or something along those lines. I've heard people say that sometimes in may be a result of too much direct inbreeding or something like that, too...some genetic defect. I suppose it may be in some cases. I've also seen hatchling snakes that looked fine immediately after hatching, but then the kinks became noticeable after they were a couple of months old. I've also seen fully developed dead embryos in eggs that were cut open after they failed to hatch that had kinked spines. I've also seen clutches hatch where two or three might be kinked but the rest were fine. I've also bred snakes that had kinked spines and the offspring were fine.

Wow! thanks for all the info. Very helpful, thanks again.

I've looked on the web and couldn't find a single example so I just assumed that it was rare. As long as it doesn't harm him I'm fine with it. I've even renamed him 'hump' to reflect his new attribute. =)

But I was wondering. He is about 5 years old and I noticed the bump almost a year ago. I've been trying to cook up some info since then. Is it common for this to develop so late?

Thank you so much for your insight on this matter. I feel alot better about my snake.

No, normally it would be there from the start, unless it is a healed injury (broken/cracked vertibrae).