Hello and a cry for help :(

[VioletS16]

Hiya, I've recently switched forums from ReptileforumsUK (even though I'm not in the UK) as the entire forum flames me like I can't feel emotions. I'm 13 so it hurts especially bad, my parents won't drive me anywhere and don't really make a great attempt to help when I need help, they blame ME for it and it really hurts... I'm hoping this forum will be friendlier.

I have 8 snakes and 20 corn snake eggs incubating and I need help dearly.
My female mama corn Maya developed a big lump overnight less than a week ago, a week and a half after laying her eggs. She's a small-ish snake, about 3 1/2, although she's laid many great clutches for her previous owner, Steve (Robert) Cox, who is a great breeder and a great friend to have. She's eaten, pooped and shed since the lump appeared, it doesn't hurt her to the touch, it's right on her vent, she's not aggressive, she's perfectly normal other than the lump that's about the size of a marble. I was wondering if it's possible that she injured something laying eggs, and now that bump is helping it heal up? I've looked online and it's not an abcsess or a blister...I'm afraid it's cancer but she's never been exposed to anything that would suggest that!

I sent Steve an e-mail and have a vet on mind that I would go to worse come to worse (the bump is firm). What are the options of it being??? I'm really really scared I love her sooo much she means everything to me but I've not a clue what to do or where to go.

-Natalie

[infernalis]

Welcome Natalie ...

I won't let anyone flame you.

sSnakeSs.com - Rules (http://www.ssnakess.com/index.php?page=rules)

http://www.thamfriends.com/mat.jpg

[infernalis]

Cancer does appear in snakes, particularly older adults. There is nothing we can do about it, it just happens.

can you post a photograph of the lump?

If it makes you feel any better, I have lost 3 snakes to cancer over the years and a good friend has a snake that had laser surgery to remove cancer and it came back anyways.

[Jay]

Some pics would help. (also include your other snakes as well)

[stephanbakir]

Sorry to hear that :(

[VioletS16]

Sorry to hear that :(
Yes I'm hoping everything is OK.

Some pics would help. (also include your other snakes as well)
I will post some pics soon ALTHOUGH the bump is larger than it is now...it's been shrinking.
Cancer does appear in snakes, particularly older adults. There is nothing we can do about it, it just happens.

can you post a photograph of the lump?

If it makes you feel any better, I have lost 3 snakes to cancer over the years and a good friend has a snake that had laser surgery to remove cancer and it came back anyways.
Yup I will.
Welcome Natalie ...

I won't let anyone flame you.

sSnakeSs.com - Rules (http://www.ssnakess.com/index.php?page=rules)

http://www.thamfriends.com/mat.jpg
Thank you that makes me feel better to know that. Even the mods on the forum engage in flaming, which sets an "HEY EVERYONE LET'S ALL FLAME HER!" example.
I'll read the rules now :)

Yea I was searching the internet before joining and came across your post about your garter snake, I started crying and spent the following half hour on the bed, dreading for Maya. Although I will say her bump looks much different.

The fact that it's getting smaller--wouldn't that rule out cancer? Cancer get's bigger. Her's came up over night and has been gradually getting smaller and smaller as the days go on. She ate last night but I'm still going to just lift her up and see if it's gotten smaller, although I couldn't see the bump as she was coiled so I take it as a good sign because I used to be able to see it right off the bat.

I'll put up some pics of her and the other 7 as well. May not be right now though as I have lots of stuff to do, but when I get some free time I'll come back on and post pics.

[SnakeManKyle]

http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/5/57606/1635898-flame_on_super.jpg

heh heh....just kidding.

Get some pics up of this lump as soon as you can. Lots of knowledgeable people here who will be happy to give you some advice.

And welcome to the (friendly) forum! =D

[infernalis]

The fact that it's getting smaller--wouldn't that rule out cancer? Cancer get's bigger. Her's came up over night and has been gradually getting smaller and smaller as the days go on. She ate last night but I'm still going to just lift her up and see if it's gotten smaller, although I couldn't see the bump as she was coiled so I take it as a good sign because I used to be able to see it right off the bat. .

Getting smaller is a good thing, If she ruptured a blood vessel laying the eggs, it will make a swelling, is the lump soft or hard?

Hard lumps are the bad ones, soft lumps are usually fluid build up.

P.S. I banned a guy last week for calling someone an idiot, no warnings, just banhammer. After some run ins with bully types, we now have a zero tolerance policy to bullying people.

[VioletS16]

Muscles - WC09 male normal corn snake

http://i1087.photobucket.com/albums/j471/VioletS16/038-2.jpg

Zeus - male royal python
http://i1087.photobucket.com/albums/j471/VioletS16/031-1.jpg

Eden - female mexican black king snake
http://i1087.photobucket.com/albums/j471/VioletS16/057.jpg

Phantom - female axanthic blond trans pecos rat snake
http://i1087.photobucket.com/albums/j471/VioletS16/025-3.jpg

Basil - male Sunglow boa
http://i1087.photobucket.com/albums/j471/VioletS16/049.jpg


I will post the second half in another post. (hope you don't mind me double posting, it won't let me post all the images in one...)

EDIT: oops, I'm sorry the photos had to be resized, I thought I already did so... :(

[VioletS16]

Aztec - male okeetee corn snake (sick female's hubby)
http://i1087.photobucket.com/albums/j471/VioletS16/035-1.jpg

Maya - female okeetee corn snake (AKA bumpy butt)
http://i1087.photobucket.com/albums/j471/VioletS16/134-1.jpg
that was taken today

http://i1087.photobucket.com/albums/j471/VioletS16/127-1.jpg
That was yesterday (it's much smaller today)

http://i1087.photobucket.com/albums/j471/VioletS16/124-1.jpg
Yesterday as well. It's not nearly as prominent today.

http://i1087.photobucket.com/albums/j471/VioletS16/066-1.jpg
Those are her eggs.

It's hard-ish soft-ish. You can press and move it, but it's not like you can squish it.
I'm trying not to touch too much today, as she's digesting, but I might give it another feel to see if anything has changed.

[NennaMeerkat]

Could it be an unpassed egg anyone? I know that some lizards reabsorb eggs...do snakes do this and maybe that is what this is?? Just throwing something out there. I dunno.

But what I DO know is that you got some gorgeous snakes. And only 13 years old already trying to breed. Good luck on that.

[stephanbakir]

Great looking animals, it doesn't look like an egg but you might want to see the vet if it doesn't shrink more.

[VioletS16]

Great looking animals, it doesn't look like an egg but you might want to see the vet if it doesn't shrink more.
Thank you and yes I will keep a good eye on her!
Could it be an unpassed egg anyone? I know that some lizards reabsorb eggs...do snakes do this and maybe that is what this is?? Just throwing something out there. I dunno.

But what I DO know is that you got some gorgeous snakes. And only 13 years old already trying to breed. Good luck on that.
I have heard of snakes becoming heavily gravid and then one day the eggs just went away, so I'd say they could, but it was about 10 days after she laid that it appeared. She's spent a lot of time in her lay box, so maybe one just popped up and she's getting ready to lay it?

Thanks :) I hope I have success.

Oh and big meanie me forgot my girly Citrus, the albino tangerine honduran milk snake!

http://i1087.photobucket.com/albums/j471/VioletS16/010-1.jpg
I ALWAYS forgot someone...lol...
OH btw she's in the bag because that's the ONLY way she'll eat for me, is if she's in a paper bag overnight with the frozen fuzzy...odd girl...but that's how Zeus got feeding too so *shrugs*.

[stephanbakir]

MAN that snake is pretty!

[NennaMeerkat]

As someone else said if it doesn't continue to shirnk, gets larger, or even not shrinking at what you consider a comfortable rate...take her to a vet. She might need an xray to see what is going on in there. Is her lump where her eggs generally were?

[stephanbakir]

I cant tell, but it looks like the mass is past the cloaca doesn't it?

[sch1sm]

Do snakes get heamatoma's. The description of it being firm and that it is shrinking just makes me wonder.

[SnakeManKyle]

Aww, come on! No one thought my "Flame On!" picture was funny? :(

[stephanbakir]

I was too tired to get the joke, ill try again after i sleep:P

[VioletS16]

As someone else said if it doesn't continue to shirnk, gets larger, or even not shrinking at what you consider a comfortable rate...take her to a vet. She might need an xray to see what is going on in there. Is her lump where her eggs generally were?
I will. I was being told on the other forum (because before that forum I had no idea that there was a vet an hour away, I thought that there was one four hours away only, and when I said that I didn't have a local vet and my parents couldn't drive me, they began flaming me for being a bad owner, making me feel WORSE) that she needed a vet ASAP without any further questioning. They told me that I didn't even have time to send an e-mail to the original breeder to inquire, I needed to get them to a vet now or else I was failing to be a good owner. >.<
Aww, come on! No one thought my "Flame On!" picture was funny? :(
LOL, I did, I was just too busy posting pics :)

MAN that snake is pretty!
Thank you, she's my pride and joy (well one of eight :)) and has got such an incredible personality!

I cant tell, but it looks like the mass is past the cloaca doesn't it?
I'm not sure, it looks before it to me...
Do snakes get heamatoma's. The description of it being firm and that it is shrinking just makes me wonder.
I'm not sure :confused: I'll research it.

[stephanbakir]

The people on RFUK are generally nice people, unfortunately every forum has bad eggs that need to be removed, and people tend to jump on the bandwagon when it comes to drama.
I sincerely hope the issue with your snake is resolved.

[VioletS16]

The people on RFUK are generally nice people, unfortunately every forum has bad eggs that need to be removed, and people tend to jump on the bandwagon when it comes to drama.
I sincerely hope the issue with your snake is resolved.
Yes, there are some people no there that are very dear friends to me and then there are some that are just sour as heck...why they can't grasp the idea that when someone is being cyber bullied, they're gonna be snappy and defensive. They think that when I say, "back off, you have no business treating me like this", apparently I'm being mean. >.<

I'm very excited this forum has such a low tolerance for bullying--I'm sure it'll help me a lot.

So far everyone's been helpful and nice and not quick to jump to conclusions, I'm very excited to be a member now, I seriously hope Maya is OK but my mom thinks she will be and I trust my mother as she was the one that got the feeling to check on Maya when it was day 12 after pre-lay shed and she hadn't laid and I was getting worried, she went over and found 4 eggs :) She's always known Maya on a deep level, she says it's the mother in her, my mom has always had good judgement and I have faith in her...

I'm especially worried because my goldfish suddenly died a few weeks ago, just shook me real hard, I'm so afraid of loosing pets to anything but old age...

[Lankyrob]

Losing pets is the sad bit of pet ownership but thankfully is majorly outweighed by the hours and hours and weeks and weeks and years and years of happiness, fulfillment and enjoyment that we get along the way.

Hope all woeks out well for your legless friend and you have no worries about flaming here, whilst Wayne (Infernalis) is about it just wont happen withlut the banhammer coming out! :)

[stephanbakir]

Wayne has some... awesome ban-hammer pix :)

[NennaMeerkat]

hey Violet since you are coming over here why not bring your friends as well! The more the merrier!!

[VioletS16]

hey Violet since you are coming over here why not bring your friends as well! The more the merrier!!
I might reccomend the site to Lady Celestia...she's been getting pushed around quite a bit as well
Wayne has some... awesome ban-hammer pix :)
LOL I love those kinds of pics!

Losing pets is the sad bit of pet ownership but thankfully is majorly outweighed by the hours and hours and weeks and weeks and years and years of happiness, fulfillment and enjoyment that we get along the way.

Hope all woeks out well for your legless friend and you have no worries about flaming here, whilst Wayne (Infernalis) is about it just wont happen withlut the banhammer coming out! :)
Oh man I don't even want to think about her dying :( I'm gonna check my e-mail, maybe Steve replied...

[infernalis]

The people on RFUK are generally nice people, unfortunately every forum has bad eggs that need to be removed, and people tend to jump on the bandwagon when it comes to drama.
I sincerely hope the issue with your snake is resolved.

I spend a little time on RFUK myself. They are a whole different lot, but in an interesting way.

There are a lot of really cool people and a few that are not.

True of most forums.

[infernalis]

I'm especially worried because my goldfish suddenly died a few weeks ago, just shook me real hard, I'm so afraid of loosing pets to anything but old age...

There is no shame in losing an animal to a mistake, I have done it more than once.

I think those are the hardest, because it's only human to want to beat ourselves up for it after it happens.

I still get bothered when I run a mouse over with the lawn mower, things happen.

It's how we handle it that defines our character.

[VioletS16]

I spend a little time on RFUK myself. They are a whole different lot, but in an interesting way.

There are a lot of really cool people and a few that are not.

True of most forums.
Yes I suppose. I still want to pop in time to time, but only for pic sharing, chit chat, maybe answer a few questions...but I'll save this forum for all my snake questions that are serious.
There is no shame in losing an animal to a mistake, I have done it more than once.

I think those are the hardest, because it's only human to want to beat ourselves up for it after it happens.

I still get bothered when I run a mouse over with the lawn mower, things happen.

It's how we handle it that defines our character.
Yeah, the tank got really dirty due to algae (it's outside) and I don't think poor Hercules could handle it. Then the other goldfish got super depressed (goldies are super social, and love company) and stopped eating, swimming, etc, so we went out and got her another friend and now she's back to her old self :)

---
I got a reply back from Steve, saying that most of his older females get these. He said they build up fat around the hip area, and I shouldn't worry or take her to the vet and spend money on something that's normal...he's bred snakes for at least 18 years and has mass experience with Maya (my female) as she's given him tons of clutches.

I may breed her again next year, as when I got her she had already done her pre-lay shed and I want to have the whole experience, but I think after that I'll let her retire. She's had a long life full of laying eggs and depending on her age I think she deserves to live out the rest of her years (or however long she has) as strictly a pet.

Thanks for all your help. It makes sense what Steve said, although I don't think he's recieved the pictures yet, so he may be mistaken, but I can see where this would occur.

[stephanbakir]

Which Steve are you referring to?

[Marica]

Hi Violet. The first bumpy-butt picture you posted does look a lot like the fatty deposits / hips that my anery Corn developed while overweight and still has even though he's trimmed down to a healthier weight. Though after viewing the following pictures and reading your description, the similarities ended so I didn't mention it. My guy's hips are soft, not firm or solid at all, and squishy, but are located only to either side of his body, not on the belly, and are near the cloaca / vent. I hope it's nothing serious, Maya's such a beautiful Okeetee. Good luck with her clutch. Oh, and gorgeous MBK and Trans Pecos :)

[Lankyrob]

Which Steve are you referring to?

Steve is the breeder she got the corn from :)

[VioletS16]

Which Steve are you referring to?
Steve Robert Cox, a snake breeder. He owns the world's first Snow Trans Pecos and Snow Blond Trans Pecos.
Steve is the breeder she got the corn from :)
Yup, and Aztec too :)

Hi Violet. The first bumpy-butt picture you posted does look a lot like the fatty deposits / hips that my anery Corn developed while overweight and still has even though he's trimmed down to a healthier weight. Though after viewing the following pictures and reading your description, the similarities ended so I didn't mention it. My guy's hips are soft, not firm or solid at all, and squishy, but are located only to either side of his body, not on the belly, and are near the cloaca / vent. I hope it's nothing serious, Maya's such a beautiful Okeetee. Good luck with her clutch. Oh, and gorgeous MBK and Trans Pecos :)
Yeah I think he thought that they were on either side. As said they don't feel hard they just don't feel like mush...she may have just collected it on one side because they feel like fat.

Yes she's got a very special colouration that's not typical Okeetee.
Phantom is evil but Eden is pretty tolerant, she'll musk but she's like a toy snake otherwise, very easy going.

[stephanbakir]

No worries, for some reason I was thinking Steve D, and it confused me cuz all he works with are retics and maby burms?

[VioletS16]

No worries, for some reason I was thinking Steve D, and it confused me cuz all he works with are retics and maby burms?
Yeah Steve basically just works with colubrids, although he has some nice rosy boas.