• Hello!

    Either you have not registered on this site yet, or you are registered but have not logged in. In either case, you will not be able to use the full functionality of this site until you have registered, and then logged in after your registration has been approved.

    Registration is FREE, so please register so you can participate instead of remaining a lurker....

    Please be certain that the location field is correctly filled out when you register. All registrations that appear to be bogus will be rejected. Which means that if your location field does NOT match the actual location of your registration IP address, then your registration will be rejected.

    Sorry about the strictness of this requirement, but it is necessary to block spammers and scammers at the door as much as possible.

Still not sure if he's okay...

Dazzles

Dazzles

New member
Per a recommendation from another member, I decided to change my snakes substrate to paper towels so I could keep a better eye on what was going on in his enclosure.

I gently lifted him out of his viv and I noticed right away that he was acting strangely.

He wasn't wiggly at all, his body almost felt...hollow. He wasn't round light before, he's almost pointy toward the top of his body, and flat on the bottom. He moves around a bit, but just sorta laid there in my hands.

I did a search here, and it suggested dehydration as an issue. He's soaking in some warm water and pedialyte as we speak, and he hasn't moved a muscle since he went into the bath.

I also noticed that his vent is different too, its sorta crusty and yellowish. Additionally, he has a dark spot on his tummy that wasn't there before (or maybe I didn't notice before).

It's about halfway down his body, and really dark. Dark enough to be visible on his sides as well as through his tummy.

He moves around in his viv, and isn't burrowing or hiding anymore. In fact, he likes to press his whole body against the glass and lay there for hours.

I'm most worried about how fragile and limp he's feeling, and the icky vent.

I called the vet and he said that sometimes hatchlings just aren't survivors and that it might not be worth it to bring him in, especially since he's had a regurgitation anyway.
 
Sorry for your loss; it's never easy losing one. I lost my first hatchling a few months ago (two, actually) and sometimes you do everything right and they just don't make it. Better luck next time! Don't let it dissuade you from trying again.
 
I'm sincerely sorry for your loss, and hope it doesn't put you off these amazing animals. When you're ready to try again, you may consider an adult, which will have already had an established eating pattern and generally decent health. Consider this ammo to arm yourself with should you ever face a similar problem (heaven forbid).
 
awwe Dazzle :( I am so sorry. It is so disheartening when things like that happen. I sure hope you keep with snakes as sometimes things like that just happen and there is nothing you could have done about it. I hope things look up for you in the future.
 
I'm so sorry. Don't lose heart- the vet is right; sometimes, for no apparent reason, and even with the best care, some don't make it. In nature, they aren't meant to. And though we try to improve the odds, not every one is destined to live.

Don't be afraid to try again, possibly with a bigger baby, a juvenile or even an adult. My very sweetest and favorite corn came to me as a two year old, and was not kept as a pet previously. She loves everyone and loves being the star of all the snakes! Juvies/adults are a lot more relaxing to care for, too.
 
Dazzles said:
I called the vet and he said that sometimes hatchlings just aren't survivors and that it might not be worth it to bring him in, especially since he's had a regurgitation anyway.
Click to expand...

I personally would find another vet. A vet that doesn't want to bother even LOOKING is not a vet that cares about animals at all. You have every right to find help for your snake. Please call around and find a vet that will see your little guy or at least give you advice as to what to try at home to help him.

Keep him warm and give him soaks every day that he is with you. Also I want to note here, if the water feels warm to you it is hot to him ok?
 
carnivorouszoo said:
I personally would find another vet. A vet that doesn't want to bother even LOOKING is not a vet that cares about animals at all. You have every right to find help for your snake. Please call around and find a vet that will see your little guy or at least give you advice as to what to try at home to help him.
Click to expand...

Or is the vet just being realistic? It's highly unlikely a vet can do anything to "cure" a snake who is inactive and limp, squishy, hollow, leaking crust out of the vent. Your office fee is going to be $40 or more, then what? Any tests you run ($$$) will possibly only reveal a cause of imminent death, or maybe not. The vet could euthanise the baby, again, for a not-insignificant cost, and, having read Elle's account of a snake euthanasia, it is traumatic and unpleasant, involving a needle straight to the heart.

I've seen people take a herp to the vet, minutes away from death, and then be angry because the vet couldn't pull off a miracle.

I believe in some situations, especially after a consult with the vet, a peaceful death at home is better for all involved.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top