Gray banded king - sick? Help!

[Laceysnake]

I've been having some trouble getting my snake to eat.

She is a 2 year old gray banded kingsnake and I've had her since May. She has always been a great eater. Usually I feed her two frozen thawed hopper mice every week. She usually eats them right away but the last month or so I've had some trouble with her.

It all started with her second to last feeding. She ate two mice as usual but ended up regurgitating them the next day. I waited to feed her till the following week, and she ate two more mice just fine. She kept them down and didn't have any issues.

Since that last feeding, she has had no interest in eating again. I think this is about the 4th week now that she hasn't had anything. Her temperatures seem normal, I haven't changed anything. She has an under the tank heater but generally stays on the cooler side.

I know snakes can go some time without eating, but I'd like to figure out why she has no interest. Do you think its the season?

I know many reptiles go through brumation this time of year, but I've had a hard time finding out anything regarding gray bandeds specifically.. Also, if this is what is causing it, do you know if I should just let her starve herself for this period, or is there something I can do to pull her out of it? She still looks like she is at a good weight but I don't know how long she should go.

There is also one other thing. I thought I was imagining it but it seems much more obvious today... The lower part of her body, from just above her vent and an inch or so higher seems swollen. She may have lost a little weight so it seems to stand out more today.

She had an appointment to see a vet on Friday but I would appreciate any input you all have! This is my first snake so I am still learning!

Thanks!

[Laceysnake]

Here is a picture of the lump

[Jim Smith]

It looks like intestinal blockage to me, but the vet should be able to give you a much more definitive diagnosis and treatment. Please let us know what you find out.

[EL Ziggy]

My kings have slowed down a bit too. I do think it's that time of year. That lump looks concerning especially it's been there for weeks. I'm glad you're taking her to the vet. Keep us posted on your progress. Best wishes.

[Pirarucu]

I agree, that looks like some sort of intestinal blockage. What are the temperatures and humidity, and how is the cage set up? Pictures would help.

[drumcrush]

I would try to give him a warm bath.

[Pirarucu]

To clarify, warm for humans is quite hot for reptiles, so a "warm bath" for them would be water that feels neither warm nor cool to us.

[Laceysnake]

I will try to get pictures of her set up when I get home tonight, but she is in an Exo Terra Medium Low terrarium (18"L x 24"W x 12"H)

She has two hides, one with an under the tank heater, and one without heat. She has a large water bowl big enough to soak in. I keep her on aspen sani chips.

As for temperatures, the room she is in never drops below 72 degrees F. Her warm hide is usually around 78-80 degrees. I also have a heat lamp for use in cooler months, but she generally prefers cooler temps unless she recently ate.

I need to buy a new humidity gage, so I cannot give you a reading on that. However, she last shed at the end of July, and had no issues.

She is going to vet this evening, I moved her appointment up a day. I will let you all know what the vet has to say. Thanks for the suggestions!

[Obsidian_Dragon]

Is 80 as warm as it gets on the hot side? I know I try to keep mine around 85 or so.

Good luck at the vet's!

[drumcrush]

Is 80 as warm as it gets on the hot side? I know I try to keep mine around 85 or so.

Good luck at the vet's!

^^ yeah, what he said. Temps should be between 85f and 90f on the warm side

[Laceysnake]

I will increase the temps a bit and see if that helps her out.

I went to the vet with her last night, and they wanted to take an x-ray but because of the high cost, I had him come up with other treatment options. The vet said that it could be an impaction, a tumor, or eggs.. but since she is young it is less likely that it is a tumor.

Also, he agreed that it would be odd time of year for it to be eggs, so he went ahead and treated it for an impaction (he said likely a mouse skull). He did an enema for her with hope that she will be able to pass whatever is stuck. He said that because it is so low in her intestines, he felt that it should be able to pass.

She did pass a small amount of blood when we first got home, I'm guessing this is due to the enema? I have to call the vet today when I get off work to ask if its normal. Have any of you experienced this with your snakes?

Also, I gave her a warm bath last night, but she is still the same today, no changes yet. I'll keep trying with the baths... I'm hoping she doesn't need surgery to get it removed.

[sharthun]

Good luck!