something wrong with hatchling?????

Snakefood · 06-04-12, 02:23 PM

Calling all experienced Cornsnake breeders to take a look at this and tell me if I am to worry about it or not.

This little guy pipped yesterday and started to come out of the shell this morning, but as he came out I saw that he has quite literally "tied himself in a knot" right about the spot where the umbilical cord is and the placenta is way bigger and plumper in the egg than any of the rest who have emerged.

sorry, but these are the best pics I could get of it.

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Gungirl · 06-04-12, 02:29 PM

Can you "untie" him? That is really odd...

Snakefood · 06-04-12, 02:45 PM

I don't know, I am kind of afraid to try in case I harm him, that's what I was hoping someone here could tell me.

I tried to very gently push his tail end through the knot and he started to slither away from my efforts, being that he is still attached to the placenta via the umbilical cord, I stopped my efforts immediately, took the pics and posted this.

I don't want to try anything else until someone experienced gives me an idea of what to do.

Gungirl · 06-04-12, 02:47 PM

Eeek I hope someone with more brains than I have can help you out.

Snakefood · 06-04-12, 02:54 PM

kat, you have the brains, just not the experience on this one.

I'm kinda hoping Joanna can tune in on this soon, but it doesn't look like she's online right now and I have to take my son to the dr soon!!!

I don't wan't him dragging the egg around and tearing the umbilical cord before it is time, and I don't want him to tighten the knot either!!

It's just a weird, worrisome situation all around!!

Gungirl · 06-04-12, 03:11 PM

If it was my snake I would untie it and hope for the best. IDK though....

Frozenflame · 06-04-12, 04:19 PM

cut the umbilical chord... it could be strangling itself....
i don't have experience in breeding but it seem lodgic. try unknowing it very gently watch u dont hurt it with ur finger nails and so forth... probably needs help.
hope this helps :/

Terranaut · 06-04-12, 04:54 PM

Do not cut the cord. Leave him be until it falls off. Then worry about the knot. Did he come out of the egg on his own or did you pull him out?

Snakefood · 06-04-12, 06:04 PM

he pipped on his own and came out on his own, I did nothing until I saw the knot. Then I tried to "push" the tip of his tail through the knot at which time he started moving away. I felt like he would pull on the umbilical cord and break it prematurely, so I stopped doing anything and came online for some help.

I just got back from the dr's, so I'll go check on him now.

BarelyBreathing · 06-04-12, 06:10 PM

I have no advice, but good luck to this little one.

MojoHerps · 06-04-12, 06:13 PM

Geesh, poor snake. I have never seen that.

Sometimes the snakes come out of the eggs "too soon" and they are still attached to the yolk or they have not finished absorbing it. I put them on moist paper towels so that it does not dry out and it usually falls off. That is a huge chunk of yolk though so I am not sure what will happen.

The only time I think I have seen a "knotted" baby is when it was dead in the egg. It is possible that the snake developed that way and you may not be able to unknot it. I can't see the harm in trying since I don't think it will be able to absorb that yolk. Can you see where the yolk attaches to the snake? Is it pretty much closed or is it opened and you can see bowel poking through? If that's the case I would not try to unknot the snake but leave it on paper towels that are moist and hope it closes up and unknots itself on its own.

As gruesome as it is I would appreciate better photos if possible.

Snakefood · 06-04-12, 06:14 PM

so he is still tied in a knot and still attached by umbilical, I checked inside the egg and the placenta is HUGE, like the same size (or bigger ) than the snake itself, so I have just left him completely alone until

A) The umbilical separates on it's own, or:

B) SOMEONE TELLS ME WHAT TO DO ABOUT THIS!!!

Snakefood · 06-04-12, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MojoHerps

Geesh, poor snake. I have never seen that.

Sometimes the snakes come out of the eggs "too soon" and they are still attached to the yolk or they have not finished absorbing it. I put them on moist paper towels so that it does not dry out and it usually falls off. That is a huge chunk of yolk though so I am not sure what will happen.

The only time I think I have seen a "knotted" baby is when it was dead in the egg. It is possible that the snake developed that way and you may not be able to unknot it. I can't see the harm in trying since I don't think it will be able to absorb that yolk. Can you see where the yolk attaches to the snake? Is it pretty much closed or is it opened and you can see bowel poking through? If that's the case I would not try to unknot the snake but leave it on paper towels that are moist and hope it closes up and unknots itself on its own.

As gruesome as it is I would appreciate better photos if possible.

I will try my very best for better pics and will go get you a better description of where the umbilical cord meets the snake

The thing is the snake is still attached to the cord, the cord is still attached to the HUGE placenta, and the placenta is still attached to the egg.

So do I put the whole kit and kaboodle onto damp paper towel??

I'll go do the rest of what you asked as soon as I get an answer to that.

MojoHerps · 06-04-12, 06:48 PM

Yup lift the whole kit and kaboodle and put it on damp paper towel in a separate container.

You might be learning the hard way that not all hatchlings make it and we often can not help.

Snakefood · 06-04-12, 07:21 PM

Alright, went back to transfer entire "package", it had already pulled away from the placenta, breaking the cord by itself.

Since the cord was no longer in the way, I was able to "untie" him, but right where the knot was, there is now a bulge and it seems that there is no movement below where the knot was. I don't know if there is a hemmorage or not, here are the best pics I can get of that area.

ok, the pics are too big for this forum, even after cropping. Joanna, can you PM me your e-mail addy so I can send them to you??