PDA

View Full Version : Help!

Kayla90
07-26-12, 08:14 AM
I have a northern water snake, and just yesterday his head started twitching uncontrollably.. I've been keeping watching and it's fine when he isn't moving, but when he starts moving/twitching.. This is just a recent thing I believe. Granted I just got him back after a month but the first couple of days he was here he wasn't doing this.. so I don't know what to do.

The twitching makes me think neurological.. but he's never had previous issues and I don't know what could have caused something sudden like that..

Has this happened to someone before? Or heard of this at least?
Gungirl
07-26-12, 08:25 AM
Where was he when you didn't have him? Could have been the person that had him used a harsh chemical to clean his tank, or fed him something that caused issues.
Kayla90
07-26-12, 08:28 AM
He was just with Steph the whole time.. I moved down to Toronto but couldn't bring them down until last weekend.. They were in the same environment the whole time until just recently.. So maybe it's something that's happening here but I can't imagine what is so completely different that it would effect him this way.. and none of my other snakes seem to be effected..
Gungirl
07-26-12, 08:31 AM
He is wild caught right? so you have no idea of genetic issues or age, both of those could be of cause.
Kayla90
07-26-12, 08:34 AM
True.. but i've had him for almost a year now, and wouldn't I have noticed some issues already... I know for a fact he's young... cause he's not close to being full grown yet.
Gungirl
07-26-12, 08:34 AM
Hrmm.. I don't know then. Maybe a vet visit is in order.
Kayla90
07-26-12, 08:35 AM
This couldn't be something caused by worms right?? I really need to find a place to get deworming stuff for snakes.. Do you know what it's called?
Gungirl
07-26-12, 08:35 AM
No sorry I don't, I have never had to deal with that stuff.

Just popped into my head... Panacur? Is that the stuff... ??
lady_bug87
07-26-12, 08:36 AM
yikes i have no idea. Glad your other herps are ok... I would quarantine just in case
Kayla90
07-26-12, 08:48 AM
No sorry I don't, I have never had to deal with that stuff.

Just popped into my head... Panacur? Is that the stuff... ??

Yea I believe so..
Kayla90
07-26-12, 08:49 AM
So I just called the vet, thankfully I have a vet 30 mins away from me that specializes in Reptiles. I spoke with the receptionist and explained the situation. She told me that I should wait a couple days, try feeding him .. and if it doesn't go away within the next week to make an appointment.

So hopefully he'll be okay. :(
KORBIN5895
07-26-12, 09:03 AM
It's the evil of hybridization manifesting itself.
CDN_Blood
07-26-12, 10:46 AM
It's the evil of hybridization manifesting itself.

Not impossible, but I can tell you that exposure to chemical components commonly used by some folks for cleaning and parasite prevention can most certainly trigger neurological symptoms. It sounds like your snake was elsewhere for a while, so I'd say that's the most likely culprit, but of course hybridization is always going to come with a price tag too.
Will0W783
07-26-12, 10:51 AM
Her snake isn't a hybrid- it's a wild caught Northern water snake. So how could hybridization have anything to do with the problems it's having?
MoreliAddict
07-26-12, 11:08 AM
Korbin was just trolling...
KORBIN5895
07-26-12, 11:27 AM
Korbin was just trolling...

Not quite. I am pretty sure this is the hybrid.
Kayla90
07-26-12, 03:22 PM
It's not 100%, but Stephan is pretty sure he's a Northern Water Snake X Milksnake. Of course I won't know for sure until I breed him out, if it's even possible. He may be infertile.. only time will tell.

And as to the comment about it being cause he was some where else.. my snakes stayed in the same place they always were, it was me that moved to Toronto. I just recently moved them down with me though. My old roommate was looking after them, and he's highly knowledgeable in the reptile field so I'm pretty sure it wasn't something he introduced that caused this. If anything it's something new to him, then it's probably in the environment of Toronto that is causing this..
Jlassiter
07-27-12, 03:19 PM
A live bearing water snake cannot hybridize with an egg laying milksnake.....
At least I have never heard of such a thing....

Please post a photo.....
snake man12
07-27-12, 03:21 PM
He is right^^^. Can we have a pic please, Young northerns have a pattern similar to grey rat snakes
Jlassiter
07-27-12, 03:23 PM
He is right^^^. Can we have a pic please, Young northerns have a pattern similar to grey rat snakes

And....adults are banded....that doesn't mean it has milksnake in it....
snake man12
07-27-12, 03:33 PM
I know it doesn't mean it has milk snake in it that would be impossible I mean they look similar as younglings. Also old adults are very grey/black with very little pattern
Jlassiter
07-27-12, 03:35 PM
I was agreeing with YOU.....lol
snake man12
07-27-12, 03:36 PM
Um woopsy:)
StudentoReptile
07-27-12, 03:45 PM
I already spoke with Kayla in privately and she directed me to the original thread that contained photos of the snake in question (http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/general-colubrid-forum/88104-little-foot.html).

Those wishing to continue the discussion of this snake's supposed hybrid nature, please do so in this thread (http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/general-discussion/93617-hybrid-s-how-best-4.html#post749530).

For sake of keeping this thread on topic, let's cease with the hybrid talk as I'm sure not everyone wants to hear about it, including the OP.
Jlassiter
07-27-12, 03:55 PM
Normal watersnake....

And the topic arose in THIS thread......

Typical water snake from that area......
Michigan Society of Herpetologists (http://www.michherp.org/nwaters.html)
snake man12
07-27-12, 03:59 PM
Thanks student and Jlassiter