Rat Snake Question

Norvakdragon · 04-05-04, 03:50 AM

Not sure where else to post this, so here goes.

Not too long ago, I got an Albino Texas Rat Snake. She's already about 4 years old. Recently, within the past few weeks, she's shed.

Now, I don't know if this is related, but I'm curious. She's a little over 4 feet long and the last four or so inches of her tail have taken on a pink color and the scales there seem a bit rougher than anywhere else. Her underside has a thin pink line from the end of her tail up to where the oddities in her tail begin. She doesn't seem to have lost any movement in her tail, as we had her on the bed and she was moving it just fine. She also seems perfectly energetic and curious as always. She's been trying to burrow a lot in her enclosure, though, which is strange.

Any ideas?

It's got me a a bit concerned to say the least.

ReptiZone · 04-05-04, 04:23 AM

hook us up with some pics ok so we can see it for our selves.

Norvakdragon · 04-05-04, 04:32 AM

I don't have any right now. I can get some probably tomarrow.

Norvakdragon · 04-05-04, 04:35 AM

Actually, give me a minute. I found some my wife took. It shows the tail problem

Norvakdragon · 04-05-04, 04:39 AM

Here's Angel.

ReptiZone · 04-05-04, 04:47 AM

Just at one glance it looks like retaind tail sheding you should be able to slip it right off like a sock but I am not holding the snake so I can not take a close look. but from where i am I see un-sheded skin

Ps nice snake

Norvakdragon · 04-05-04, 04:49 AM

Thanks for the heads up. I'll have a look at her and see if I can get at the unshedded skin.

ReptiZone · 04-05-04, 05:04 AM

I am just glad I could Help in any way Remeber when all else fails a vet is good to see even if they are not herp vets a fresh set of eyes are alwase good.

Auskan · 04-05-04, 09:52 AM

If it is retained shed and it doesn't just slip off, let her swim for about 10 minutes in some tepid water (just slightly warmer than room temp) and then let her slide through a damp washcloth in your hands and the skin will probably come off in the washcloth.

Norvakdragon · 04-05-04, 08:39 PM

We tried that method Auskan. It wasn't any good and her tail's starting to turn a shade of purple. Unfortnatly, there is only one vet in this town that's willing to work with reptiles and he's on vacation until the 12th. By then she could lose that tail or there could be an infection. Is there anything else I can do?

Auskan · 04-05-04, 10:41 PM

I don't like the sound of the tail turning purple. Is there another town you can go to where there would be a vet that can work on reptiles? It sounds like there could be some necrosis of the tail already and every day's delay will only make it worse.

Norvakdragon · 04-06-04, 12:20 AM

Thankfully, I found out that there will be a reptile expert coming to the local petco tomarrow. I'm taking her to him. Until then, I'm going to keep trying to get the old skin off. I really don't want them to have to amputate anything.

Smilts · 04-06-04, 01:35 PM

thats deff your best bet it does look unshed but may have an inffection already.

Norvakdragon · 04-07-04, 01:57 AM

Well, we finally got the bad shed all the way off and found she's got a bacterial infection from it. It's ok. The reptile expert we took her to see has given us some information on what to do until the vet gets back from vacation. (I really wanna chew this vet out). Just going to need some neosporin and diluted peroxide. It's not life threatening, thankfully, or tail threatening yet. So when he gets back, we'll take her in and get a thorough checkup.

Auskan · 04-07-04, 08:22 AM

Glad to hear - thanks for the update.