Old age?

ChaosCat · 09-12-03, 04:42 PM

Well, I think Charlie the corn snake's age is creeping up on him. I fed him two days ago, and he regurged his mouse intact the day after. He hasn't been eating well lately, and has been slowly growing lethargic. Vet ran fecals, he's not sick. His scales have been turning gray with every shed.

Today I took him out for a bit, noticing him slowly cruising about his cage, and was amazed at how little resistance he put up, which is unusual. Usually he's whipping all over and wanting to speed off into the distance. He wasn't super limp, but his body felt like all his muscles had relaxed at once. I put him down in the moss to take a few pictures, and he didn't really move from the position I set him in. I was able to lightly push him and he just rolled over then back, when normally he would slither off as quickly as possible. He put up a little fight when I picked him up to move him, and slithered about 3 feet, then stopped and didn't move.

I just put him back in his cage.. and he's still where I set him, except he has moved his head a little. I have a feeling he won't survive the rest of the week.

Has anyone here had a snake die from old age? Was this about how it was when their bodies finally gave up?

I've had this guy for almost 4 years now, and when I got him, I knew he was old, being almost 6 feet and all.

-Cat

sapphire_moon · 09-12-03, 06:10 PM

No I have not heard of snake dieing from old age, but I'm sure they do. I'm very sorry to hear about him.

Lizzy001 · 09-13-03, 03:52 AM

how old is your snake exactly?

marisa · 09-13-03, 07:22 AM

Well they can live a long long time. But yes do die of old age. I am not sure what the "symptoms" of this are but iif your vet finds nothing else wrong then I guess you could assume its had a full life and is pretty much done now.

But I have never heard of scales going grey. Almost sounds like some sort of imbalance.

Marisa

ChaosCat · 09-13-03, 10:04 AM

I got him as a near 6-foot snake, so I'm guessing he's pretty old.

-cat

marisa · 09-13-03, 10:46 AM

Well my male amel is almost six feet but only three years old. So its not always the best indicator.

Marisa

**Andy_G** · 09-13-03, 12:04 PM

If his scales have begun to grey you can safely guess that he is at least six years old. Snakes do have problems keepig food down when they get near that time, but it could be something else with yours.

Invictus · 09-13-03, 05:18 PM

This hasn't happened to me yet, but I'm sure not looking forward to it. I have 2 adult male corns, one of which is over 6 feet, and his scales are really greying too. I'm very attached to the big guy, and I am probably going to be an absolute wreck when he passes on.

sapphire_moon · 09-13-03, 05:30 PM

I read something somewhere about greying scales as a "manifestation of piebaldisim among corn snakes" here is the web page.......http://www.arts.arizona.edu/herp/feature3.html .....................

liltattyprinces · 09-24-03, 02:32 PM

Very interesting saphire moon thanks for sharing

chaos cat sorry to hear about your problems with your snake i know how hard it is as i am so attached to mine we send you all our best wishes
Laura-Lee and kids