Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Not a happy day at my Serpentarium

Wonder if anyone ever saw a disease process like this before.

He is mostly paralyzed from about mid body down. He has reflexes and some moment in the lower half. The digestive track is free of masses but in the lumpy areas are the bones where there is obviously some reactive process going on. He incurred no know trauma but I was alerted to this by his lack of motility around the enclosure. I really don't bother the animals unless needed for cage maintenance, feeding or other care so I have no idea how long this has been brewing. He last ate a pinky on Jan 2, 05 and weighs 22 grams. Does not seem to be "wasting" as far as weight goes. Was last treated for parasites in Sept. 2004.

No doubt, it means this little guys days are numbered but just want to collect every bodies thoughts on what this could be.

Thanks in advance,

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Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints.

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Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints.

dont take my comment seriously cause its just a guess but maybe it has somethin to do with ingesting that substrate. ive had problems with that stuff before i advise against it especialy for pit vipers cause ive seen it stuck in the heat pits. just my 2 centz

I wouldn't say that that substrate would be harmful to an adult viper. It's really not that much different than the environment it's used to being in in the wild. I wouldn't think it would be consuming THAT much during feeding. I've used it for numerous snakes and never had a problem. However, I guess a build-up could be possible.
Sorry to hear about your sick snake, Al.

Thanks...A real bummer because it's one of my favorite snakes.

I palpated the abdomen and felt no blockage or mass of feces. This animal always "hand fed" of of forceps and ingested no substrate during feeding.

It seems to be a disorder of the Spine & Ribs as far as I can tell.

Al
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Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints.

I had a long-term timber rattler exhibit similar symptoms last year. It developed paralysis in the last half of the body, and eventually a hard mass developed. A necropsy revealed the development of several large masses, which the vet believed were egg masses that were impacted and hardened.

It is quite likely a reproductive disorder as suggested but may also be cancer. Osteodystrophy has many causes and may also be hormonal, the result of an old injury ect. How old is this snake, what sex, how long have the lumps vs the paralysis been there? Not that the I could help much more with the answers, but a veterinary examination could prove helpfull. Sorry to say that for this snake it may not help, but the knowledge may become quite usefull in the future. Both for you and the vet. An xray or ultrasound would be very interesting to look at, as would blood work. Unfortunetly a necropsy might be all that is available, but that would prove very insightfull as well.

Sorry to here about your snake, it's always hard to have a sick one

As an aside, where about's is your serpentarium located? I plan occasional trips to the states and would be very privelaged to view your collection, it looks superb.