I'm a little concerned...

Chris_Flowers · 08-23-03, 04:01 AM

My corn feeds well. First feed I gave her she ate it no problem, it was a single pinky. Second week I fed her two pinkys, again she ate them no problem. Third week I attempted to give her two again but she didn't eat them - this was because she was about to shed. So I left her be and eventually she shed without a hitch. So then I fed her two pinkys and again she ate them no problem.

Today I woke up to find her excrement was different then the last times. Previously it was kind of solid, two tone lightish grey colour with dark black too. This time it had the same solid lightish grey colour but the black portion this time was of a fairly liquid/jelly consistency.

I was a little concerned so I moved her hide and took a visual look at her. She seems to be breathing more rapidly then I've normally noticed. She was still sticking her tongue out, but the breathing was definitely faster.

I've got a couple of books but its difficult to tell what could be wrong from those.

Have you guys got any ideas?

Cheers

Zoe · 08-23-03, 04:15 AM

Maybe it was just fresher poop this time?

She may have been breathing fast out of excitement/stress of you moving her hide.

To be on the safe side, though, you may want to get a fecal done. And does it make any sound when she breathes?

Zoe

DarkHunter · 08-23-03, 04:38 AM

Has your snake been exposed to any other snakes that possibly had parasites? Your snake may have a respitory infection, What kind of bedding do you have your snake on?

~hunter

Chris_Flowers · 08-23-03, 05:03 AM

Zoe: Fecal? Presumably this means an examination of the feces? No sound when breathing.

DarkHunter: The only time she was with other snakes was when I bought her over a month or two ago. I can't see it being a transmitted parasite - but I could be wrong. Her bedding is astro turf.

Its due for a clean out today, so I'll see how she gets on.

Thanks for your help. If you have any more input, I'd appreciate it a lot.

Cheers,
Chris.

Zoe · 08-23-03, 05:05 AM

Yup, just bring the fresh poop to a herp and vet and they will check it for internal parasites.

If its anything Chris, its parasites. Doesnt sound like an RI.

Zoe

Katt · 08-23-03, 08:17 AM

I've seen a few jelly poops come out of both my corns and kings, especially gravid females and I believe someone posted a pick of a jelly poop from a boa. I've also had poop come out as pure hair. Snakes sometimes poop out some odd stuff. Sick as it sounds, we have found bones sometimes.

Is this your first snake?

Simon · 08-23-03, 09:56 AM

It sounds normal to me....it's just fresh poop but like zoe said if you are really worried then just do a fecal examination.

But to me its normal fresh poop.

**Andy_G** · 08-23-03, 01:33 PM

Snake poop is weird, sometimes it looks like it should and sometimes it can be somewhat freaky. I don't think there is anything to worry about, but you did the right thing by asking about it.

marisa · 08-23-03, 01:36 PM

Sounds normal to me too. Almost all my corns start breathing faster when I pick up a hide as well or disturb them. Either that or they stay absolutly still.

Marisa

Chris_Flowers · 08-23-03, 03:34 PM

Katt: Yeah first snake - how'd you guess lol

Andy: Thanks. I always like asking, just to get feedback from more experienced owners.

Cheers all. I cleaned her out today and she seems to be just fine. Just wish she wasn't so jumpy sometimes! She'll be a bit jumpy when I try pick her up, but when she's in my hands she's not too bad - just moves around a lot on my hands, probably looking for a way out/off lol

Maybe she'll mellow a bit with age?

reptiledude21 · 08-23-03, 04:59 PM

My cornsnakes poop is liquidy all the time like you said. I did not know that was bad is it?

Invictus · 08-23-03, 05:05 PM

Nope, it's just the way they are, reptiledude. And it's not just corns either. Pretty much all Colubrids have very runny excrement in my experience and from what I've heard.