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Snake Statistics

Eastern Kingsnake
CB 2003 Georgia locality
44" long

Ive noticed him getting some depressed head scales. They all started denting inward and with this I noticed the skin in between seems more prominant. This is most noticeable on the right side. I know when a snake goes into shed there is some swelling of the neck and this isnt that. I wonder if my room is too dry and the scales are losing moisture hence recessing inwards ??? Humidity is pretty low at 20-24%. I have since put this snake in a more humid tank (75%). Any ideas? He eats great and outside of a little respitory episode last month he is fine. All he did before was sneeze here and there with no mucous or wheezing or gaping. I also wondered if the dry air was causing this.

Keith
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...............to your situation,but last year my male hondo breeder started sneezing for no apparent reason.the vet could not find any problem,so i took him off of aspen and switched to newspaper and the sneezing stopped.now when i put him with one of his girlfriends (still on aspen) for more than one hour he starts sneezing again.he's a 98 and had been on aspen previous to last year with no problems.go figure? have fun!

>>...............to your situation,but last year my male hondo breeder started sneezing for no apparent reason.the vet could not find any problem,so i took him off of aspen and switched to newspaper and the sneezing stopped.now when i put him with one of his girlfriends (still on aspen) for more than one hour he starts sneezing again.he's a 98 and had been on aspen previous to last year with no problems.go figure? have fun!
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The snake's scales should not change if your pet is dehydrated. I'd keep your snake at recommended humidity (I"m unsure what that is for your kingsnake but 75 seems a bit high) If it is more on one side than the other it indicates something less systemic and may be the result of a burn, tumor or other swelling. It's hard to say, and if it doesn't get better with the next shed, or gets significantly worse prior too, I"d take to a herp vet.

Thanks for the reply. As I suspected the snakes scales were dry not dehydrated. I knew he wasnt that but I imagine like anything you can have dry skin or in this case scales and not be dehydrated. The humidity in my room is way low. The way I look at it is the range of the Eastern is in some pretty high humidity states and high humidity is common in S. Georgia. Now Im stuck with trying to humidfy my room to at least 45% withou getting a mold problem ! Thanks again guys.

Keith Hillson
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