Tail shed - Page 2

BP_okay · 10-06-09, 08:17 PM

Thanks for your help. He will definitely be visiting a vet tomorrow. I will let you know what happens and any sites that recommend good herp vets would be appreciated by anyone. I have just recently moved back to the Dallas area, so don't have an established vet yet.

BP_okay · 10-07-09, 11:24 AM

Vet update! After an early morning appt. with Fluffy, the vet removed the small amt. of necrotic tissue at the tail tip. It bled a tiny bit, and she said that was a good sign, as there was still blood flow to the area - thus, less chance of necrotic tissue above the area removed. She put anticeptic on it, sealed the open area(thankfully very small) that will come off with the next shed, and gave him an antibiotic injection. She said to just watch the tail tip for the next 6 weeks for further necrotic tissue, rough scaly appearance, or stiffness. She actually said that it was great that I came in when I did, because if it had fallen off at home there would have been a greater chance for infection. Since it was removed and was never exposed, the one antibiotic injection should do the trick. After watching it for 6 weeks, he should be out of the woods.

So THANKYOU THANKYOU THANKYOU WILLOW! Your advice saved my baby for further stress with his tail, and saved me stress and money! You are an angel!

Couple tidbits though - she said to add a humidy box to his tank all the time, not just during shed - seemed interesting for a corn. Secondly, she said that I switch to the turf stuff instead of aspen, bc of impaction and such. Not too much of a worry for me though, as he always eats off his feeding plate. The minute it is put in his tank, it's like the dinner bell. He is ready for dinner!!

Will0W783 · 10-07-09, 01:24 PM

Hmm...I'll take the substrate into account. I have my corns in aspen bedding that has rather large flakes- I don't think they can swallow it. I wasn't aware aspen could cause impaction- I was under the impression that aspen and repti-bark are non-impacting. Maybe Julian or Aaron or Mykee will hop on this thread and clear that up?

BP_okay · 10-08-09, 05:07 PM

Yeah..maybe they will, but I agree with you. I buy the aspen bedding made for snakes and it has large flakes too. I have never seen him swallow any, and from what I understand corn owners really do prefer it over any other substrate, as well as even if a little bit is swallowed they should be just fine.

Intersting note: Since fluffy returned home and the humidity box(cool side) was added to his tank, it's like he has a favorite new spot. He actually made use of it last night. He also has been very visible today, near the box, but not in it, mostly out and about, but he usually hides most of the day...just a new development for him. Do your corns come out and not hide very much on some days?

mokeyloke · 10-08-09, 05:16 PM

that's a really pretty corn snake.

BP_okay · 10-08-09, 05:45 PM

Thanks alot! I had 4 little guys to choose from, and those eyes just melted my heart

The bright red striped pattern didn't hurt much either. Btw, could someone please explain to me what 66% chance of being hypo means and if it's looking like he is hypo? The breeder told me that, and I haven't quite educated myself on all the lingo yet.

Will0W783 · 10-08-09, 08:04 PM

My corns are each individuals- one of my gals hides all but her little head poking out, and my boy just hangs out above the bedding.

mokeyloke · 10-08-09, 11:25 PM

Are you sure they didn't say "66% het not hypo. Hypo means without so hypomelanistic means without melanin which is where albinos come in. I would say your snake is probably Hypermelanistic since it shows so much red. here's a link to a page that does a pretty good job of explaining the basics of genetics

New England Reptile Distributors, designer Ball Pythons, Reticulated Pythons, and much more!

Will0W783 · 10-09-09, 07:41 AM

Mokeyloke, her corn would not be [I]hyper[I]melanistic, as a hypermelanistic animal would be almost completely black. Albino corns come in two flavors: red albinos are amelanistic (meaning lacking black pigment) and grey albinos are anerythristic (lacking red pigment). Melanin has absolutely nothing to do with redness- that would be the erythristic gene. This corn is obviously not lacking in erythrin (red) pigments, but he does have very little black (melanin pigments). As for the genetics, here is a basic explanation- I'm in biological sciences, so I have taken genetics classes. Her snake would be 66% het for hypo, meaning that, based on the genetics of the parents, there is a 66% chance this snake has one gene for hypomelanistic. Hypomelanistic is a recessive trait, and in order to be truly hypo, the animal must have two copies of the hypo gene. A het for hypo would carry one normal gene and one hypomelanistic gene. When you breed two het together, some babies will come out showing the trait, some will come out normal, and some will come out normal but carry one copy of the trait (het). Het is short for heterozygous. Hope this helps! He is a very nice-looking corn. Also another way to tell if he is hypomelanistic is his eyes- are the pupils black or red?

BP_okay · 10-10-09, 07:25 PM

Okay, so I had to read both of your posts twice, but I think I am starting to figure things out a little bit. Willow, to answer your question? His eyes are completely black - pupils and all, so I am guessing that means?????

Btw, thanks for compliment...I will let him know, and I sure he will be flattered

Traci

mary10 · 10-11-09, 09:18 AM

my very first corn had this very same thing happen.....the previous owner hadent removed the left over skin on the tip of the tail, except they didnt remove it every time the poor thing shed, he had such a build up on his tail , of course it was totally destroyed he now has a perminate hook on the end and every time he sheds i have to go remove the tip cause he cant get it off on his own, but on the up side he is healthy and happy, no other side effects other then a crook tail! hope your baby turns out fine which im sure it will!

Will0W783 · 10-11-09, 09:18 AM

I think he'd be considered normal, het for hypo. From the pictures I've seen, stripe corns tend to have less black on them to begin with, especially red striped corns. He might be hypomelanistic, as some hypos have black eyes, but it's more likely he is just carrying the gene.

BP_okay · 10-11-09, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mary10

my very first corn had this very same thing happen.....the previous owner hadent removed the left over skin on the tip of the tail, except they didnt remove it every time the poor thing shed, he had such a build up on his tail , of course it was totally destroyed he now has a perminate hook on the end and every time he sheds i have to go remove the tip cause he cant get it off on his own, but on the up side he is healthy and happy, no other side effects other then a crook tail! hope your baby turns out fine which im sure it will!

Mary, I am sooo sorry you and your corn had to go through that. It really stinks how some people are so irresponsible and uneducated! How long/old was he when all of that happened, and how much did he lose? Is he still able to grip things really well with his tail? I am so glad he's happy and healthy now. What kind is he and would you be able to post pics? We just love pics, as you know

My situation occurred b/c I left Fluffy in the care of my soon to be Ex-husband. He did water,food, and poo removal, but didn't check him properly after shedding as I asked him to do so. When I returned home, 10 days later, I removed the shed, and his tail had darkened slightly. I thought the blood flow would return, but, unfortunately, it didn't. I just get upset thinking the SOB took his anger out on Fluffy instead of me...a pretty good indication kids would have been a huge disaster! Now evertime I think of Fluffy's tail, it just boils my blood, but all is well, as now I get a thrid snake! Life is good and Fluffy is doing well; he ate 2 nights ago.

BP_okay · 10-11-09, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Will0W783

I think he'd be considered normal, het for hypo. From the pictures I've seen, stripe corns tend to have less black on them to begin with, especially red striped corns. He might be hypomelanistic, as some hypos have black eyes, but it's more likely he is just carrying the gene.

So, since he's probably carrying the gene, breeding him with a 100% hypo someday, would produce some real beauties? Also, does breeding a male/female just a few times in their life shorten their life span at all, even if you wait until they are sexually mature and not rushed into it?

Traci

mary10 · 10-11-09, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BP_okay

Mary, I am sooo sorry you and your corn had to go through that. It really stinks how some people are so irresponsible and uneducated! How long/old was he when all of that happened, and how much did he lose? Is he still able to grip things really well with his tail? I am so glad he's happy and healthy now. What kind is he and would you be able to post pics? We just love pics, as you know

My situation occurred b/c I left Fluffy in the care of my soon to be Ex-husband. He did water,food, and poo removal, but didn't check him properly after shedding as I asked him to do so. When I returned home, 10 days later, I removed the shed, and his tail had darkened slightly. I thought the blood flow would return, but, unfortunately, it didn't. I just get upset thinking the SOB took his anger out on Fluffy instead of me...a pretty good indication kids would have been a huge disaster! Now evertime I think of Fluffy's tail, it just boils my blood, but all is well, as now I get a thrid snake! Life is good and Fluffy is doing well; he ate 2 nights ago.

im not sure how old he was when it happened, not even sure how much was lost, i do know theres not a whole lot of tail after the vent. he is still very young, he is probaly 22'' in length. he has grown about 2 inches so far...he certainly can hang onto things very well lol he uses his crooked tail to his advantage when he doesn't want to go back into his enclosure lol. yes, ill have to get some pics up of all my babys!