IDK whats wrong w/ my corn snake!?!?!

[zookeeper2011]

I used to have two corn snakes ( bought from the same petshop) my newer one had just died about 3 weeks ago, she wouldnt eat and her butt had dried poop all around it, they think it was constipation. Ever since she died my other snake (mitchell) has not eaten for about a month and the petshops won't do anying about it, all they say is take it to a vet o give it a warm bath. I have gave it a warm bath, but there is no vet that specialize in or with snakes. IDK what 2 do!?!?!?!?!?! is he going through a stage??? he had just shed month and a half ago. and i have tried to change the temps. , dip the mouse in chicken broth, leave the mouse cold, leave the mouse warm, and put the snake in a different feeding container...do you hink it might want something othere than a mouse? Please let me know if you know anything that migt be wrong with him.

[gonesnakee]

Sounds like possible serious health issues. Likely they both have the same ailment being from the same source & likely group housed there as well. Explain your tank setup in full detail with hot & cold side temps, type tank, substrate, hides, water dishes, heat sources etc. & I can tell you if it is a husbandry issue. One should always start with the husbandry of the animals & go from there. Sounds like the store is suggesting impaction. Impaction is almost always caused by ingestion of substrate while feeding. The snake can't digest or pass it & becomes constipated. If the husbandry is incorrect or the snake impacted it won't eat & its in its best interest not to until the problem is rectified. As orginally stated could be a different health issue as well? Mark

[zookeeper2011]

I think he is in a 3 gallon plastic aquarium with a plastic top, i use shreded paper, the water dish is a fake rock one ( if you know what i mean ), i use fake plants that have bought from the petshop and wal-mart, also i have a fake tree trunk that i had also bought from wal-mart that is made for fish. i don't keep the temp. and i dont have a heat source except sometimes i put im outside. i was feeding mitch every monday and thursday, then i went to feeding him every thursday, and now he will barely even eat once a week. If there is anything else you want know just email me!

thank you,
Dan

[gonesnakee]

Originally Posted by zookeeper2011

I think he is in a 3 gallon plastic aquarium with a plastic top, i use shreded paper, the water dish is a fake rock one ( if you know what i mean ), i use fake plants that have bought from the petshop and wal-mart, also i have a fake tree trunk that i had also bought from wal-mart that is made for fish. i don't keep the temp. and i dont have a heat source except sometimes i put im outside. i was feeding mitch every monday and thursday, then i went to feeding him every thursday, and now he will barely even eat once a week. If there is anything else you want know just email me!

thank you,
Dan

Well we know what the problem is now anyway, its you. You can't just throw him in a little container & expect him to thrive. I would suggest buying a basic corn, king, milk or ratsnake book ASAP & read basic husbandry. The snake should not be put outside in the container in the sun ever. It should be set up in a better tank with a heat source provided. It needs a low side temp of 75F & a high side temp of 85F or even a steady 80F would be better than what is being provided. Maybe its warmer climate where you are but you need to know your temps always. This is very important to keep snakes. The other one likely died as the food it was unable to digest in its guts slowly rotted. If the snake cannot get warm enough it can not digest food. Did the petstore where you bought it not give you any guidence at all? Its in your best interest to buy a book ASAP or better yet start looking at caresheets on the net. You have failed to do your research & your pets are dying as a direct result, sorry to be harsh but thems the facts as it appears. Mark

[zookeeper2011]

Well thank you for telling me what i have done wrong, but my other snake Lola was sick when i bought her, we had figured that out about two weeks after we got her and the petstore wouldn't take her back. I dont really think i could help her anymore, and my mom said she was probably going to die as well as the vet said. I did have them in a 10 gallon aquarium and with the fake plants you buy from the pet stoe and walmart, but the escaped from the lid of the cage and i had gotten two of them and the second one the lady at the petstore told me that he would have an ard time escaping, but he could so i switched cages, and i forgot to tell you that my snake is only about a foot long and no wider than a common sharpie marker. The reptile man at the petstore showed me which cage to get, water dish, and he said the bedding was fine. but if you suggest me to get any other stuff, please tell me.

Thanks,
Dan

[gonesnakee]

Few points, they should always be housed individually & a proper "warm side" & "cold side" provided for them. The warm side can be provided with heat lamps, heat tape, undertank heaters etc. any of which should be available at the petstore. You also need something to monitor temps such as a small electronic thermometer or even the cheap stick on ones are better than nothing. A 10 g with an escape proof lid would likely be ideal for the small snake if set up with proper temps etc. Did the vet ask you at all how the snakes were kept temps wise etc.? He/she should have. Husbandry is always the first thing a keeper should look at when there are problems as quite often thats were the problem lies. A really good book for you would be "The Cornsnake Manual" by Bill & Kathy Love. It is publsihed in the US & should cost maybe $5-$10 tops. You should be able to find it in petstores or somewhere online. You can likely buy it direct from Bill & Kathy. Run a google search & you will find it available to you I'm sure. Petstores are horrible for selling pets & not providing the proper care instructions. If the petstore you have been dealing with can't provide better support I would seriously consider not supporting them anymore & finding a better place to shop. This is more their fault than yours as they should be the ones telling you these things not someone off of the internet once your pets are dying due to their lack of proper info. It always pays to do you research prior any new pet that way you don't have to rely on them for providing the proper info. Mark

[LdyPayne]

improper hot spots in the cage and/or parasites can cause the problem you had with the first snake. Caked feces around the vent is almost always a sign of parasites.

Even a vet without any reptile experience should have little problems checking for internal parasites in a fecal sample from your remaining snake. Picking up a thermometer with probe at wal-mart and a regular human heating pad without an auto shut off setting, with a thermostat would be the best thing to do to ensure proper temps.

[zookeeper2011]

I want to thank you both for your advice. I am taking a fecal sample to the vet tomorrow. We are going to the pet store and getting everything that he needs. I feel kind of stupid listening to the pet store and not getting a book, but the guy seemed to know what he was talking about. He never told me that I needed to keep the cage warm. In the winter, we heat our house with wood and it is always warm. I have had mitch since last october and he has always been healthy and happy, very friendly. I got lola around the end of March or the first of April. She never did eat as well as Mitch and never was as friendly. I have talked to the pet store probably once a week since I have had her and they always told me it was ok that she wasn't eating. I even asked if she could have a parasite, that's what my mom thought she had, but they kept saying they didn't think so. If it is a parasite, will it be easy to treat? I really like mitch and I don't want him to be sick. I'll let you know what I find out tomorrow.
Dan