Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i recently acquired an albino kingsnake. I noticed she had something black in the corner of her eye but thought maybe it was dust from her substrate. However, now it is on her other eye too as well as her nostrils and throat. she looks like she may have a small injury on her throat as well, but i never noticed it before, and it looks old. She also makes cracking noises, from inside her body or something. i thought it might be an injury but she is in no apparent pain, and has no abnormalities on her sides. I noticed as of this morning that she is sneezing, as if she has a respiratory infection, but i dont know how she would have one since her cage is kept at 80 and above. this may not be relevant, but she has a strange odor, almost like peanut butter. Please please please tell me what you think might be wrong with her and what i can do to help her.

you need to take her to a vet right away. there are obviously problems, and it's not easy to diagnosis them via internet, plus the meds you'd need are going to come from a vet. if you don't know a good one, ask around or post again, tell where you live, and maybe someone can recommend one. if you have to search for one "cold" ask them about their experience with snakes specifically.
you can also check the veterinary forum at kingsnake.com
and maybe someone here will post the link to the association of reptile vets or vets certified to work with reptiles or whatever, there's a loose association of some kind, and maybe one of the members is in your area.
terry

The black spots might be mites, but the rest sounds like a respiratory infection.

I agree, you should take her to a vet.

I went to the vet today and askes him what might be wrong. He said respiratory infection, but doesnt know what the black stuff is. He told me to keep her cage warmer and see what happens. I dont want to take her in and freak her out if they cant do anything. Im sorry, i really dont trust vets. If anyone has any other ideas/solutions please please tell me

i would take her in as soon as possible. if it is a respiratory infection and goes untreated you could loose her. i work at a vet and we have treated three snakes for respiratory infections this week alone. ('tis the season, i guess)

i understand you not wanting to stress her out but not being able to breathe will stress her too.