Saving a hatchling Blackhead from certain death

[Derek Roddy]

Here is a short video of myself and, a friend performing surgery on a 4 day old hatchling Black Headed Python to remove harden yolk (sometimes called hard belly) from the intestinal tract.

If the harden yolk is not removed....it is certain death for the hatchling as it can't digest any food because of the blockage.

It's not for the weak stomached.....it's a bit gross. haha. And... the harden yolk has the look, texture and feel of spam.....yuk. lol.

We simply go in through the umbilicus and move the harden yolk to on end of the opening and push out. Sometimes (as in this case) we have to dig around in there a little bit to actually find the harden yolk.

Thus far, I've only had to do this a few times and, in each case....the animals thrived.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LuwQbLpXHk

Enjoy,

D

[IW17]

That's awesome. Where did you learn to do this?

[Jim Smith]

Very interesting surgery. I have never heard of this condition, but then I've not been keeping snakes all that long and I have yet to breed them. It looks like you made an inscission near the vent. Is this accurate? If so, do you stitch the inscission closed again? Also, does this procedure affect the snakes ability to reproduce later in life? Sorry for all the questions, but I found your video very interesting.

[Derek Roddy]

Necessity.
A buddy of mine had done it a couple times and showed me. Without getting it out of there....the animal has zero chance of survival.

Experience....the great teacher. Haha.

D

[Derek Roddy]

Originally Posted by Jim Smith

Very interesting surgery. I have never heard of this condition, but then I've not been keeping snakes all that long and I have yet to breed them. It looks like you made an inscission near the vent. Is this accurate? If so, do you stitch the inscission closed again? Also, does this procedure affect the snakes ability to reproduce later in life? Sorry for all the questions, but I found your video very interesting.

I go in through the umbilicus "Belly Button". (It takes the umbilicus until after shedding to close all the way so, it's very easy to get in....if you catch it early enough.

No, it doesn't effect the reproduction at all and, the animal goes about life without knowing any different it seems.

After cleaning with a topical of some sort, I simply use medical tape to tape over the opening. It's usually healed by first shed.

D

[Terranaut]

That was very cool. Great work saving the snake.

[Mikoh4792]

Great video. Thanks for sharing.

[jpsteele80]

Very interesting video, now in no way am I an animal surgeon or anything but shouldn't you be wearing surging cloves at least just in case of infection?

[Derek Roddy]

We do wash and sterilize our hands but, baby snakes are highly "anti bacterial" and, very resistant to outside infections at this stage. They would have to be crawling around on the ground with an open umbilicus.


D

[jpsteele80]

Originally Posted by Derek Roddy

We do wash and sterilize our hands but, baby snakes are highly "anti bacterial" and, very resistant to outside infections at this stage. They would have to be crawling around on the ground with an open umbilicus.


D

Another thing I didn't, just learned something new

[Nick V]

That is awesome, glad you could save her and the other few hatchlings that encounter the same problems.