Is this snake egg binded?(Help!)

[charlesc84]

http://i758.photobucket.com/albums/xx223/charlesc84/snakexray_zpsbd2f7794.png (http://s758.photobucket.com/user/charlesc84/media/snakexray_zpsbd2f7794.png.html)

So my female Jungle Carpet is huge, and I'm afraid she's egg binded. She's been this way for about a month now. I took her to the vet and got this xray done. He says to wait it out, but I'm thinking of taking her to more experienced reptile specialist. Thoughts?

[Terranaut]

That doesn't look like eggs to me. More like urates. I am not saying it isn't eggs but..... when was the post ovulation shed? How old is this snake? Did you breed her? How big is her enclosure?
My female hung onto poop for a few months once. I took her outside and let her roam the yard a bit. She passed some huge urates ( had a video here - yuk!!) Then a huge black poop. Your may have done the same. I read that some carpets will do this to increase their size to seem larger to other snakes. She never did it sgain. Good luck. Can you post pictures of this snake?

[Starbuck]

i agree with terranaut, they don't look like eggs at first glance. Not ruling anything out, as its possible they are very old, infertile eggs that may have collapsed/mineralized from a previous season, but urates and feces is more likely. You can try a lukewarm soak or stimulate her to climb around and be more active, this can help pass things along.

If that doesn't help (and your other parameters are spot on), options include KY enema, surgery, etc. Is she still eating normally?

[shaunyboy]

That doesn't look like eggs to me. More like urates. I am not saying it isn't eggs but..... when was the post ovulation shed? How old is this snake? Did you breed her? How big is her enclosure?
My female hung onto poop for a few months once. I took her outside and let her roam the yard a bit. She passed some huge urates ( had a video here - yuk!!) Then a huge black poop. Your may have done the same. I read that some carpets will do this to increase their size to seem larger to other snakes. She never did it sgain. Good luck. Can you post pictures of this snake?

if you answer the above questions we can help you more mate

especially the post ovulation shed ?

lay time can be anything from 28 to 40 days after post ovulation shed

also when was the last time you witnessed a lock up with her and a male ?

what age is the snake ?

cheers shaun

[Will0W783]

I agree with the others that the objects look more like waste chunks than eggs. Eggs inside a snake are usually very round and clearly defined.
This link shows a gravid GTP x-ray for comparison:
Pregnant X-Ray in Morelia Viridis Forum, Green Tree Python Forum, Chondro Forum Forum (http://moreliaviridis.yuku.com/topic/20653/Pregnant-XRay#.UyH-m4UiFqI)

I really think that what you are dealing with is a severely constipated snake. Try warm water soaks; if these do not work in a few days you will need to return to the vet to have the masses surgically removed. I think a better vet is DEFINITELY in order- the one who did the x-ray does not sound qualified to treat reptiles.

[shaunyboy]

I agree with the others that the objects look more like waste chunks than eggs. Eggs inside a snake are usually very round and clearly defined.
This link shows a gravid GTP x-ray for comparison:
Pregnant X-Ray in Morelia Viridis Forum, Green Tree Python Forum, Chondro Forum Forum (http://moreliaviridis.yuku.com/topic/20653/Pregnant-XRay#.UyH-m4UiFqI)

I really think that what you are dealing with is a severely constipated snake. Try warm water soaks; if these do not work in a few days you will need to return to the vet to have the masses surgically removed. I think a better vet is DEFINITELY in order- the one who did the x-ray does not sound qualified to treat reptiles.

if the snakes still feeding.....

inject the PREY with...

mineral oil or milk of magnesia (magnesium oxide) the dose should be 1ml per kg of body weight

it's commonly reffered to as mouse/rat lax

it will get your snake pooping in no time mate


cheers shaun

[charlesc84]

http://i758.photobucket.com/albums/xx223/charlesc84/fatsnake_zps66234e0e.jpg (http://s758.photobucket.com/user/charlesc84/media/fatsnake_zps66234e0e.jpg.html)

[MDT]

Yowza!!!! Something getting ready to pop.

[charlesc84]

That pic was taken about a month ago, it looks really bad there, but in person it doesn't look so dramatic. I don't know, I'll post a new pic, maybe its even improved since then.
The snake last shed about a month and a half ago. It's been living with a male for about a year and a half... They usually sleep on top of each other but I've never actually seen them lock up. The female is about 7 years old, the male is about 3 years old. I have a box in the tank that I've been misting so she can go in there and lay the eggs. She last pooped about 3 weeks ago, and hasn't eaten in about 2 months. I actually did put her in the bath tub with warm water like 2 weeks ago, because I originally thought it was just poop, but nothing happened.

[Terranaut]

Wow..massage that out. If it is eggs you have a serious problem. But again I think its poop. Warm bath and massage it a bit. Try the rataslax like shaunyboy said. Don't wait.

[Starbuck]

ouch :/ was her last poop normal? I would consider separating the snakes if you can, so you know which snake is pooping and what it looks like. if soaks (every other day, approx 5-10 minutes each time) don't do anything after about a week, i would consider discussing an enema procedure with the vet.

[shaunyboy]

That pic was taken about a month ago, it looks really bad there, but in person it doesn't look so dramatic. I don't know, I'll post a new pic, maybe its even improved since then.
The snake last shed about a month and a half ago. It's been living with a male for about a year and a half... They usually sleep on top of each other but I've never actually seen them lock up. The female is about 7 years old, the male is about 3 years old. I have a box in the tank that I've been misting so she can go in there and lay the eggs. She last pooped about 3 weeks ago, and hasn't eaten in about 2 months. I actually did put her in the bath tub with warm water like 2 weeks ago, because I originally thought it was just poop, but nothing happened.


re egg bound
going by her last shed you would be at day 45 regards eggs should she be gravid

the figures i quoted in my other post regarding pre lay shed and egg laying were taken from..... Keeping and Breeding Australian Pythons,edited by,Mike Swan

tomorrow i will see what..... Pythons of the World Volume 1 Australia,by Dave and Tracy Barker,have to say re egg laying

is the MALE still in the same tank as her ?


re constipation
if it's constipation,then if she's still feeding,inject her prey,it gets to work pretty fast,as soon as the prey starts to break down inside the snakes stomach,the oil is released

a few warm baths may help get things moving,sometimes you may have to carefully massage the blockage out,while the snakes in the bath

i prefer to use the rat lax method...

i feel it moves things in a less stressful way and imo it's more natural feeling to the snake

cheers shaun

P.S. Kimberley... Willow on here knows her x rays,personally if it were me,i'd go with her advice/information

[charlesc84]

So soaking the snake hasn't helped. The swelling seems to have gone down a bit though. Either way I'm trying to find a good vet. I just emailed the pictures to another vet to see if he thinks he can help the snake.

[shaunyboy]

So soaking the snake hasn't helped. The swelling seems to have gone down a bit though. Either way I'm trying to find a good vet. I just emailed the pictures to another vet to see if he thinks he can help the snake.

is the snake eating still ?

if so dosing the prey item would help move things along


cheers shaun

[Will0W783]

I don't think the snake should be fed again until this is resolved honestly. The pictures really look like severe constipation, and feeding will probably only stop the poor snake up more. I think the OP REALLY needs to get this snake to a qualified reptile vet ASAP.

[Derek Roddy]

Charles....where are you located?

As soon as you can (when there is good direct sunlight)....start taking this animal outside for a 30-45 minute crawl. Then soak in warm water for another 30/45. Repeat everyday until you can get this animal to a vet or she poops in your yard.

D