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3yr old corn has been "off" lately.

M

MrSnakie

New member
Hello guys! I'm new to the thread I've been looking for a place to get a few answers or suggestions about my little guy.

I noticed last weekish he was "coughing" and after a few days of it I took him to the vet, and she did blood work, but I guess he wasn't sick enough for the vet to worry yet. he was a little dehydrated and as soon as I brought him home he drank up a lot of water, I took out a mouse to feed him the next day, and the day after he started to show signs of shredding he ate the mouse.

However it's been, quite awhile since showing signs of shedding. He's always had perfect sheds in the past so I've never had to pay much attention to it. and I've heard what I think was coughing again. :(

So I picked him up genitally, since if he's shedding getting handled probably isn't his favorite, I do not typically handle or feed when he's shedding.
And I noticed some of his scales when he bent certain ways kinda stood up, but then other ways laid down flat again.

-- Is that just what their skin does towards the time of shedding ?
-- how long after clouding over, and having that fade away does it normally take for them to shed?
-- What should I do about him not drinking water to the point of him coughing :S

And suggestions or help would be nice
 
Hi, I am a relatively new snake owner (just over a year); however I have had a similar experience. Our snake had a bad shed last round similar to what yours sounds like. Our snake shed later than usual and some scales were scratchy and sticking out. He didn't shed until a week after this happened. When he did, it came off in chunks and some pieces were still on him. I followed the instructions on the sticky posted here and put him in a tub with lukewarm, wringed out paper towels, after I let him go under a lukewarm stream of water. He wiggled a bit, did fine. After I got him out of the tub after a few minutes, the old shed was gone. Make sure to closely inspect especially the eyes and tail. I am assuming he may have a bad shed and you should also read methods to increase humidity in his tank, which will help.

Our snake also had a couple incidents of "sneezing/coughing" sounds. We watched him closely and it stopped after a day. I think they can get aspen dust up their nose. You do have to closely monitor because I also understand that can be a respiratory infection.
 
Here is the sticky post you should read:

http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=56170

Also, there are sticky threads posted in the care sections that address many issues and care topics. I read them just to learn and be more proactive. Snakes are different than most pets and require different care. I had a lot of learning and have much more to do to properly take care of our corn. I find it interesting, so it is not a bad read :) Hope this helps.
 
What kind of substrate are you using? Some may have too much dust that your snake may be inhaling.
 
I have a mix of substrate, some is coconut stuff, and the rest are wood chips. Although I think I'm going to phase out the coconut substrate to just the chips. I forget what they are exactly, I'll look when I get home.

Also the scales that were "up" definitely were not like those pictures, and settled back down as he crawled. I guess I'll have to wait and see how he handles it, definitely not coughing as badly as he was before the vet visit.

I wish I could force him to drink more water ): lol.
 
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