How can you tell if your corn snake is sick?

Answer 1

Excessive soaking in their water dish outside of shed is a sign of external parasites like ticks or mites, snakes with URI (Upper-Respitory Infection) will actually sneeze and quite often at that. Have your vet check fecal matter for internal parasites or other issues. Gaping of the mouth and excess drooling is a sign of Mouth-Rot (open-sore or cut in the mouth that becomes infected during feeding usually causes some type of necrosis). Retained eye-caps can cause blindness, also any irregular weaving, bobbing, or unnatural "slithering" indicates neurological problems. Check the snakes vent for blockage, examine the body for wounds or irregular bumps and missing scales. Retained skin should be removed promptly but CORRECTLY. Humidity between 45-55% with a warm side temperature of 82-87 degrees (F) is what I personally keep my tank at, I feed my juvenile twice a week and she's quite active at night, doesn't retain skin or eye caps and has never regurgitated a meal. Pythons natural "star-gaze" now and then but excess "star-gazing" is an early warning of some neurological issues. If your snake stops feeding and has shown symptoms, take her to a Qualified Reptile Vet, only a a Vet can diagnose and appropiately treat your snake. Reptile books and magazines list many Vets willing and able to treat snakes, local pet shops and specialty stores can point you in the right direction too. Mites will look like sprinkled pepper crawling around the habitat and on your snake. Typically near the eyes and nose, if your snake gets mites (it happens) discard bedding. Remove your snake and place in a separate container. I use a solution of one part bleach to three parts water to soak the wash the ornments, hide boxes and tank. After using the bleach ornaments, tank and hideboxes must then be washed and soaked with water and a water dechlorinator before replacing the snake. Larger pet stores usually carry an over-the-counter mite and tick treatment from Jurassipet that works well. Until you are positive your snake is mite free. DO NOT replace it in it's habitat, or all your washing will be undone. Keep in a different enclose with white dye-free paper towels as bedding, with a tip-proof water dish too small to for your snake to soak in, and a small hidebox. White paper towels make it easy to identify mites. Excess humidity may cause a blister disease, too little dehydration, a temperature too low will cause regurgitation. Snakes need heat to digest, if the enclosure does not have an area of at least 78 degrees (F) a Ball can't digest it's prey and thus may not eat or if it does the prey will rot in the snakes stomach causing regurgitation. If regurgitation does occur, correct temperature and humidity and wait at least 7 days before feeding your snake again. Your snake will need to replenish it's digestive acids and feeding too soon causes a second regurgitation. Most likely she'll be "edgy" during this week, regurgitation can be painful to a snake and deprives them of a meal. Add a 7 day fast to a snake who's eating constantly, she'll be touchy. Hope this helps

Answer 2

They dont move alot and they do not want to eat although if youre snake is ill of hunger feed it a mouse whateverv size you normally feed it. anayway back to the question, well there scales become dull not becas its gonna shed like some times you will see the difference idf it happened.

Answer 3

You should give it an annual checkup at your vet anyway (REPTILE vet), but some signs it needs medical attention are: regurgitation of food, extended, and repeated soaks in the water dish (unless it's in shed), and/or strangely colored stool. If the snake is having trouble shedding, a vet trip may be in order as well.

Answer 4

She will get thicker, and most likely have bombs throught out her body. Sometimes the eye color changes. Her temper might change a bit too.

Answer 5

Either it doesn't move when you touch its head or just doesn't move. Try taking a photo and checking on it 3 days later to see if it moved at all.