Cloacal bleeding

[skinheaddave]

The most disturbing thing happened today. I took out one of my mexican black kingsnakes (small one, maybe 18"). She musked on me, which is normal, but I noticed that she also emmited some blood. Her cloaca looks redish inside. She hasn't been probed or anything, her enclosure is clean and the temps are right. She has been eating well, is active etc. etc. Any thoughs?

Cheers,
Dave

[eyespy]

She might have parasites causing intestinal bleeding or irritation/inflammation. Has she had a fecal exam done recently?

[skinheaddave]

No, she hasn't. Guess I should do one when she next deficates.

Cheers,
Dave

[Stockwell]

It's normal for Lampropeltis to do that.Just like Hognose snakes will sometimes bleed from the mouth.
I've seen it dozens of times, mostly with getulas, but triangulum, and Elaphe do it too.
Not sure the exact mechanism, but its part of the defense action. They don't do this when their calm and relaxed. It often goes hand and hand with musking.
The blood usually appears to be excreted from the vacinity of the must glands which are in the tail base. I don't think it comes from the other direction

[skinheaddave]

That's wild! I'll do a fecal just to be sure ('sides, haven't used my new microscope for one yet) but I do feel a lot more comfortable knowing it may be natural.

Cheers,
Dave

[MouseKilla]

I have a BP that sometimes leaves blood on the cloacal part of his shed skin. The skin seems to get stuck at the vent on one side. The bleeding is very minimal, only a tiny droplet can be seen and it hasn't yet become infected (doesn't seem significant enough to) so I'm not sweating it yet but it did freak me out the first time it happened.

[gonesnakee]

I'll 2nd Roy's comments. Baby Calkings do it quite often, musking so hard that they actually emit blood. I HATE WHEN THEY DO THAT! I too was quite concerned the first time I saw it, but it is less disturbing over time. People freak right out when the CK baby you are showing them starts "bleeding from its butt" LOL Mark
P.S. If you start noticing any in regular fecal deposits then be concerned.

[Andy_G]

I was so scared when my king did that for the first time, but I talked to an experienced friend of mine and he said it was normal so I was relieved!

[Vanan]

I second Roy and Mark too. Seems particularly more common amongst female kings too. Anyone else noticed this?

[eyespy]

I didn't realize lampros could also do an autohemorrhage, I've seen it in some boids. The only king I keep is a male getula negrita and he flashes his penes at me and musks like crazy but no blood. I guess I've been lucky in that none of the patients at the clinic have done it to me.

Very cool the way I keep learning so much from ssnakess.com members.

[gonesnakee]

Now that you mention it Vanan it usually is the females that do it & more commonly than not the albino ones. In my experience, Mark