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Help! My cornsnake can't open his mouth!

J

joneshannsen

New member
Has anyone seen this happen before?

I just noticed that my corn snake's jaw was a little off center. I thought he just needed a good yawn, but it seemed to stay that way for a day or so.... no one has held him, he's been in a locked cage and hasn't eaten in a couple of weeks. I went to reach in to get him to see him up closer and noticed that he can't even get his tongue out. Has anyone seen this before?

I'm assuming I just need to get him to a vet. But thought I would ask. I feel so bad for the little guy.
 
I haven't seen that, and I'd worry if it was my snake - but I do worry. I would try offering him something to eat and see what happens. I'm assuming he seems otherwise healthy, hasn't lost condition, and is moving normally. If he really doesn't open his mouth I'd get him to a vet first thing Monday. Good luck, and let us know how it goes.
 
Could he possibly have a respiratory infection and be holding his mouth at an odd angle so he can breath better? Snakes with RIs don't generally eat or flick their tongue until they're better, too.
 
You know, you may be right.... I thought I heard a tiny huff yesterday but didn't think anything of it! I just feel terrible for the little guy. All the exotic vets around here are so swamped I can't get him in until probably Wed or Thur of next week, do you think he'll be ok until then?
 
His color seems good, his eyes are bright and his mouth looks pretty pink. He isn't as lively as usual but I figure that would be about normal... he's a feisty one and tries to "rattle" at me when I pick him up but this time he just let me and curled around me. He's moving around his cage though, looking around, going from inside his rock to out in the open, so hopefully he's still feeling half way decent.
 
What are your temps and humidity like? If he has a respiratory infection he might have some husbandry issues that need to be corrected. If caught early enough, from what I understand, it should be easy to fix a respiratory infection through husbandry changes. I may be wrong, however. I am also not saying that you do have husbandry issues, RI's can be caused by other things too.
 
I have a standard little 'humidity monitor' and it says it is within the "normal" range. He just had a good shed a couple weeks ago (and sheds very regulary almost 4 times a year). his temps are between 72 and 85 (I have two thermometers, one at the end where the heaters have always been and one at the end where they aren't). I have the heaters that are "stick on" below the tank (and have for 4 years) so he can go into his little rock house and warm up, or go to the other end and cool off. I have the standard substrate of Aspen Snake Bedding that I've used since I got him. He has been in the same conditions since I got him for the last 4 years. I love the little guy so I'll take any and all suggestions to help him. I can't imagine where he would get a sickness, but I know they can come unexpectedly so I'm open to any and all suggestions. My son is at his dad's for the summer and would really be heartsick if his dear "spiderman" was sick or God forbid, gone, when he returned. and i truly enjoy interacting with the little guy so it woudl be hard for me to lose him as well!
 
His husbandry sounds fine... I'd raise the low temp to 75 if that's possible, but if he's been like that for the last four years it shouldn't have come on so suddenly. I like my humidity around 55%, I think that is within the normal range if we have the same gauges.. Is it possible that he struck the glass and broke his jaw? :/ Have you tried offering him food? I noticed that you said he hasn't eaten in a couple of weeks, was that his doing? If so I really am leaning towards an injury. Are there other pets in the house that maybe stressed him out and he was frightened? Maybe a new pet? New air freshener?
There is a rat snake in one of my classrooms at school who has messed up his face pretty bad from striking the glass from being stressed by the constant flow of students..
 
Honestly nothing has changed.... actually he should be more relaxed. my son (9) who is VERY GENTLE with him left for his dad's for the summer back in May so he's had it VERY easy all summer. I keep a lock on his cage just in case anyone comes over and has kids who are tempted. I'm very protective of the little guy. He MAY have struck at the glass but in my experience with him that is not typical of him, though of course it could not be totally ruled out. We have no other pets so he is kind of spoiled. I did offer him food and he just let it touch his snout and then did nothing. I even waited and then offered him something smaller hoping it would be less intimidating. He's about 2.5' long and has done well with fuzzies for the last two years and today wuldn't even look at a pinkie. I have a pic I can post if that will help. the poor little guy worries me.
 
A pic would definitely help. Unfortunately striking the glass cannot be ruled out, animals do do crazy things. On a side note, it seems like fuzzies are far too small of a feeder for a four year old snake, usually by the time a corn snake is four they'd be eating jumbo mice or small rats.
 
A respiratory infection would possibly explain things. Minimize humidity by giving him a very small water bowl on the cool side of the viv. Raise the temps on the warm side to near 90 F. Wash his water dish and change the water daily, and reduce potential stresses. Respiratory infections can be serious in snakes, as they have only one fully functional lung. Fortunately, when caught early, URIs are usually treatable. Be persistent and patient; it can take a while to recover fully.

AliCat37 is right that you can't rule anything out. The snake could have injured itself. It's rather amazing - and frightening - what they will sometimes do out of the blue.
 
 
I will try the suggestions on the water and humidity! I will try anything right now.... He's a sweet little snake and I will be devastated if something bad happens to him! As will my son!
 
OK.... turned on both heaters for him, put just a smidge of water in the opposite end of the tank..... he's inside his rock and when I lifted it up and peered in he raised his head and was alert, so that makes me optimistic. Any other advice will be welcomed. Don't worry about hurting my feelings, I"m relatively new, but have had this little guy for 4 years and he's done GREAT until now. Can't imagine anything being introduced that would harm him, but I guess you never know. Any and ALL advice is welcome and THANK YOU to everyone who has given me input up to now! :)
 
Did you recently change brands of bedding? I have read that some brands have started blending cedar and pine into certain types of their bedding products. I'm not saying that is what is going on here but it would definitely cause some URI problems. Cedar and Pine have oils in them that are toxic to many small animals and they would exacerbate respiratory issues when introduced.

BTW, when we were in chat earlier I got kicked off because the power went out here due to storms. I wasn't ignoring you or leaving you in the cold so to speak. :)

Just pulling at strings here TBH.
 
Thanks Grankin01!

Only thing is I've had the same big giant bag of bedding I've been using for months and months...... I can't see that playing any part, but good thought!
 
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