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Depressed Corn Snake?

X

xtine

New member
(If I double post I apologize!! My computer is timing out on me)

Hello, I'm completely new to these forums, and after recent events would really like some input on my corn snake's behavior and this seemed like the best place.

I will have to give the full story, so please bear with me. My boyfriend and I just this past Saturday took home two snakes from a local Reptile Rescue. A three year old corn snake (Cherry) and a 7 year old ball python (E.T.). PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE never put two different species of snakes together. I DO NOT BY ANY MEANS RECOMMEND THIS. Very rarely would putting two snakes together turn out in their benefit, and it is just never worth the risk. The reason we adopted them together is because the previous owner (not the rescue) had them together for two years and they truly did become best of buddies. It is an anomoly, and I'm just now realizing how close the two were.

Tragedy struck on Sunday. E.T. passed away and we believe it was due to an allergic reaction to his mite medicine that they were both given Saturday night. We had a necropsy done to ensure there were no underlying issues or any problems that could possibly harm Cherry and as suspected nothing showed up (meaning more than likely it was an allergic reaction).


Anyway, onto Cherry's behavior. She was acting like a fine normal corn snake when we first got her. But ever since E.T. has passed away she's just been very "blah". She has no real desire to hide herself and will actually just sprawl all across the tank. She also acts pretty lethargic inside her home and doesn't seem to move around a lot (which has me VERY worried).

Here's the other part that's kinda strange. She adores me... I can hold her and get her to calm down and relax and pretty much "sleep" on me while if my boyfriend tries to hold her she always pulls the "I want to go under the couch cushions" trick and basically acts like a healthy "normal" corn snake. She tends to act normal when she is out of her tank which is leading me to believe there is something very wrong with her tank. As a substrate I'm using just a folded over towel which fits perfectly in the 55 gallon tank. For the cool side there is a rather large half log and on the warm side is this stupid little plastic rock that she came with (I hate it because it's very hard to clean!). And there is a shrinkwrap tube my boyfriend brought home from work and their water dish. And for heat I'm using a human heat pad with NO auto-turn off, set on medium.

Response wise she's acting normal. If I "tickle" her she tenses up and moves a bit and of course she hates me touching her head.

I do not have any sort of tempature gun (which I know makes this ten times harder for you guys to help and if you guys have any suggestions of good brands to get LEMME KNOW because I want to go pick one up ASAP).

I gave her a warm bath today to see if that would perk her up a bit. When I put her in she drank a ton of water so I'm wondering if she's dehydrated and if maybe there is something wrong with her water/water dish. And of course she acted pretty normal in the bath. Going to the one side where there was a little tub showing to get out of the water, etc. etc.

She last ate a couple of days before we got her. So exactly a week ago from today. I'm waiting for her to poop before I try feeding her. She also just got switched over to frozen mice (the last mouse she ate was her first frozen, and I'm very worried about her not eating again).

She last shed on September 4th.

I'm going to be talking to the lady that runs the rescue tonight as well, as she has been so so so kind to us during all that has happened. She really is an awesome lady and assured us that there was nothing me and my boyfriend could have done to kill a ball python in 12 hours. She also checked the tank and she said that it was going to be perfect for them, and she of course has been apologizing for what has happened but really there was nothing anybody could do. It was just one of those freak things...

I apologize for the long post, but I'm slightly paranoid and just would really like as much advice and help I can get to ensure Cherry's health and safety because I know I am definitely not the perfect snake owner. Cherry is not my first snake, and I've actually owned a corn snake for 6 years while living at home but my dad fell so in love with him he asked if he could keep him and I never had any issues with him.

And thank you, I really appreciate you guys for listening..
:shrugs:
 
I am not sure, but since there seems to be a problem when she is in her tank, maybe it is a heat problem. Also that she seemed dehydrated could be an indication of this.

When troubleshooting start simple. What else is in the tank that could be a problem? What detergent did you use on the towel that is in the tank? Just thinking out loud.

On another note, I wouldn't skip a feeding because she hasn't poo'd.

I hope others may have more ideas what could be wrong.
 
You'll find that some Corns don't take to change very well. As she's only just come to live with you, she's had to cope with a move from the rescue to your home, then the loss of a long-term cagemate.

I have kept pairs and trios together in the past and have notice a distinct period of adjustment when one of the Corns in a viv dies or has to be moved. Corns can take some time to make the necessary behavioural adjustment, and some are never really themselves again. They don't "miss" the other snake in the way that we'd understand, they just have to try and develop a new way of behaving.

It could just be that she's completely disorientated and needs time to settle down. Some Corns take weeks or months before they start acting "comfortable" in a new place - I've even noticed this kind of behavioural issue when moving Corns into a new viv in the same room.

I'd give your a couple more weeks of leaving her in peace. The main thing is that she eats (but again, it might be worth waiting a week or ten days to let her settle).

As for being relaxed with you but tense with your other half, Corns are very sensitive to smells. Does your b/f use any colognes or aftershaves? Some have the reputation for containing some kind of chemical that Corns find "aggressive" - CKOne has been mentioned.

It sounds like Cherry has a vary caring Mum! Keep us posted on how she does. I'm sure others will be along with ideas shortly.
 
Hi Xtine
From what I read try the following: Remove the towel and replace with sheets of plain newspaper. Try and change the water bowl, I use 2 Ltr. / half Gal. ice cream tubs for my corns. Definitely try and regulate that temp. a constant 26 - 28 degree C should be OK. Feed her, because she hasn't pooped does not mean she is not hungry. Get the BF to wash his hands and arms and rinse them well before he handles her.
Do these things and see if her behaviour changes.
I wish you and your corn well, and well done for providing such a caring home for her.

Ciao
 
Ahhh,yeh,ok. First,I think you giving the snakes credit for emotions and feelings they don't have.Why do you think they were best buddies? second,search the forums for proper tank set up,temps and feeding and your corn should do fine.Who knows how the last owner cared for them? you could have just adopted snakes that were in very poor health. :shrugs: I wouldn't take in any charity cases myself,I'd be too worried about bringing in disease and parasites.
 
What was her set up in the rescue? Was she on a towel, newspaper, aspen or some other substrate? What were the temps? How many hides were there and was the snake very active there? You mentioned mite meds - what are you using? It's possible that Cherry is just adjusting and it'll take a while. I'd definately get a UTH (under tank heater) that's made for reptiles and something to regulate it with (thermostat or rheostat) and something to accurately measure temperature with. I believe you can get indoor/outdoor thermometers at Walmart or the like that come with two probes - one for the hot side and one for the cool side. If you'd like a temp gun I have the ProExotics one and love it (actually we have one and my dad has one).

~Katie
 
Ahhh,yeh,ok. First,I think you giving the snakes credit for emotions and feelings they don't have.Why do you think they were best buddies?
Click to expand...

It's nothing to do with emotions at all. In order to share a limited space with another snake - especially a different species like a Royal - the Corn will have had to develop a specific set of behaviours. It now has to make an adjustment to those behaviours. It's a survival mechanism that works on instinct and is nothing to do with human-type "feelings" or "friendship".

Some Corns don't like any kind of environmental changes and don't cope well. In this case, the "environment" consists of being moved to a new building (new smells/movement outside the viv), a new viv (immediate surroundings are unfamiliar) and a sudden lack of the other snake (another change to immediate surroundings).

The other snake was just part of the situation that has now changed.
 
Hawkin' said:
I wouldn't take in any charity cases myself,I'd be too worried about bringing in disease and parasites.
Click to expand...

Actually, you should take precautions for this even when getting a supposedly "healthy" snake.
 
Rich in KY said:
Actually, you should take precautions for this even when getting a supposedly "healthy" snake.[/QUOTE

I agree with ya 100% You should quarantine all new animals.I just think there is a better chance of getting a sick snake from some yahoo that doesn't have a clue than from a reputable breeder. :cheers:
Click to expand...
 
bitsy said:
It's nothing to do with emotions at all. In order to share a limited space with another snake - especially a different species like a Royal - the Corn will have had to develop a specific set of behaviours. It now has to make an adjustment to those behaviours. It's a survival mechanism that works on instinct and is nothing to do with human-type "feelings" or "friendship".

Some Corns don't like any kind of environmental changes and don't cope well. In this case, the "environment" consists of being moved to a new building (new smells/movement outside the viv), a new viv (immediate surroundings are unfamiliar) and a sudden lack of the other snake (another change to immediate surroundings).

The other snake was just part of the situation that has now changed.
Click to expand...

Yeah,I agree with ya.I just wanted to know what they did to be considered best buddies. :shrugs:
 
I just wanted to know what they did to be considered best buddies
Click to expand...

I just think a survival mechanism is being interpreted in a human/mammalian kind of way. I guess it's one way of understanding the interaction between the two snakes, even if we wouldn't agree with the exact interpretation.

Ultimately, the outcome is the same for the one left behind, whatever view is taken. It's good that the difficulty is being acknowledged by a caring keeper.
 
i think your all missing something here. 2 seemingly healthy animals treated for mites, 1 dies, 1 "depressed". what kind of mite spray/meds did you use? i'm willing to bet THAT is the problem, there are a few mite sprays that say can spray on snake, but will kill more than mites, or at least make real sick! hope your corn comes around.
 
I want to thank everybody for the input! I've come to the conclusion that it was just her adjusting to everything. I talked with the lady that runs the rescue and she says that her behavior is normal... she was always the type of snake that just likes to stay out.

I actually got her a stick/log (one of those weird ones where there are three sticks nailed together or something) and she is just all over that like flies on a horse.

And I apologize for starting up a little controversy on snakes having emotions. Whether they actually do or don't, that's to each his own. I personally believe to some extent they do, but that's mostly for my own sake because it helps me bond closer with my snakes. Which I don't think there is anything wrong with that...
 
Ah now, don't worry about us. A bit of a discussion is always interesting.

Besides, Corns definitely are individuals - each of my 16 has their own preferences and ways of behaving.

The main thing is that Cherry has such a good home. Glad that all has become clearer for you!
 
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