Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I put my male hog in with one of my females lastnight and they were courting very heavily. I checked them this morning and they were laying together motionless. I just checked them them this evening and in a corner of the cage there was a good bit of bloody mucus with a little bit of feces. At first I thought the female killed the male. Then i touched his tail and he moved around fine. The male had a little bit of bloody mucus on the tip of his tail but other than that they both appear fine. This is the females first year for breeding. Has anyone out there ever heard of this before? All replies are greatly appreciated.

Thanks

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1.1 03 Black Pine Snakes
2.1 01 Texas Glossy snakes
1.4 01 Western Hognose
1.1 03 100% Het Albino Western Hognose
1.1 00 Striped Het Albino Pacific Gophers
1.2 03 Tri-color hognose
1.1 00 Black Milks
0.1 01 Black Milk
1.2 03 Tarahumara Mountain Kings

Let me know what you all think.

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1.1 03 Black Pine Snakes
2.1 01 Texas Glossy snakes
1.4 01 Western Hognose
1.1 03 100% Het Albino Western Hognose
1.1 00 Striped Het Albino Pacific Gophers
1.2 03 Tri-color hognose
1.1 00 Black Milks
0.1 01 Black Milk
1.2 03 Tarahumara Mountain Kings

http://www.susquahannavalleysnakes.com/photo
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1.1 03 Black Pine Snakes
2.1 01 Texas Glossy snakes
1.4 01 Western Hognose
1.1 03 100% Het Albino Western Hognose
1.1 00 Striped Het Albino Pacific Gophers
1.2 03 Tri-color hognose
1.1 00 Black Milks
0.1 01 Black Milk
1.2 03 Tarahumara Mountain Kings

I was unable to view the picture because of its large size. The obvious question is, when was the last time a fecal float was done on these two, and what do you feed it?

This was the first time, I've seen it. I expect it came from the female. They are all cb and raised, never had any reason to do a fecal. All my hogs eat frozen thawed unscented mice. I've never seen it in any of their feces before today.
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1.1 03 Black Pine Snakes
2.1 01 Texas Glossy snakes
1.4 01 Western Hognose
1.1 03 100% Het Albino Western Hognose
1.1 00 Striped Het Albino Pacific Gophers
1.2 03 Tri-color hognose
1.1 00 Black Milks
0.1 01 Black Milk
1.2 03 Tarahumara Mountain Kings

UHHH! I am at work now so I can view the picture. I would consider that to be cause for concern as well. Try posting to the Health forum. It is moving kind of slow right now but there quite a few experts that post on there. I checked my parasite book and none were listed to cause bloody stools, although I wouldn't entirely count them out. If it happens again or you notice any other change in behaviour, they should go straight to the vet. Please post back when you find the cause.
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Wildlife dies without a sound, the only voice it has is yours.

...the oldest task in human history: to live on a piece of land without spoiling it."
Aldo Leopold (1938)

"Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us."
Calvin and Hobbes (Scientific Progress Goes 'Boink', 1991)

A vet with an endoscope is a good idea, depending on how much one is willing to spend. I say this because so few people realize what a great tool the endoscope is, although few reptile vets are experienced with them.

Katrina

n/p

Ted Thompson of Susquahanna Ectothems is a very successful breeder of western hogs. He told me that he has seen this before, when breeding. He said the males hemipene gets so enlarged and they get stuck together causing this. He said if it has never happened before and I've never seen blood that it is probably from that. Like I said there was very little stool and a mixture of blood and what appeared to be mucus. Ted said the "mucus was probably the males fluids.
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1.1 03 Black Pine Snakes
2.1 01 Texas Glossy snakes
1.4 01 Western Hognose
1.1 03 100% Het Albino Western Hognose
1.1 00 Striped Het Albino Pacific Gophers
1.2 03 Tri-color hognose
1.1 00 Black Milks
0.1 01 Black Milk
1.2 03 Tarahumara Mountain Kings

is the female small? I have had this happen to most of my small females on the first time breeding. not a problem, you will most likely not see this again . if you do check back here and let us know. hope this helps. before you go running to the vet and spending tons of csh for nothing. thanks.

JIM

Thanks Jim, She is about 2 ft, about 250-275 grams. This is her first breeding though. Thanks for the advise. I'll let you guys know what happens.

Thanks
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1.1 03 Black Pine Snakes
2.1 01 Texas Glossy snakes
1.4 01 Western Hognose
1.1 03 100% Het Albino Western Hognose
1.1 00 Striped Het Albino Pacific Gophers
1.2 03 Tri-color hognose
1.1 00 Black Milks
0.1 01 Black Milk
1.2 03 Tarahumara Mountain Kings

I've seen a LOT of talk about this on the corn snake breeding forums. So long as the bleeding has stopped, you probably have no reason to worry. It's not unheard of for a male to rip a female during breeding. It's most common with first time breeders, where the female is more prone to struggle excessively once they are locked.
One poor person did have his female hemmorrage and die, though--found her dead the next morning with the cage soaked in blood, a truly horrible sight. So, if you see any additional bleeding, she'll need prompt attention.