Have you seen this before? Bulges/bumps near tail

[Bree]

When I got my snake out to feed last night I noticed a bump on her side near her tail. It felt soft/squishy, but a definite bump. When I let her go through my fingers I felt a smaller bump on the other side just slightly down further than the other. Both are near her bum. She seemed active and happy and very hungry.

She is my first snake, so I am not sure if this is something that I should be worried about (constipation, eggs, egg-binding, just pudgy... I have no idea!), but plan on taking her to the vet if it the swelling doesn't go down soon. Or is it something that requires emergency care?

Also, any vet recommendations for the Harrisonburg, VA area? I am willing to drive out for a good vet.

Here are some pics, although they don't show up as well on pictures as they can be felt.

 

[bitsy]

If they're soft and squidgy, then they're likely to be "hips" - small lumps of fat. Sometimes they can be quite pronounced. Some Corns seem more prone to them than others, but it might be worth reviewing your feeding schedule to see if she needs slightly less.

If they were hard to the touch or they seemed to be uncomfortable, then I'd be thinking more along the lines of constipation, eggbinding or tumour. However, the squidginess normally indicates something much less dramatic.

If it would help with peace of mind, then I'd never put someone off a vet visit. After all, we can only offer opinions from a distance. However, from your description and looking at the pics, I'd expect them to be benign and not to need any treatment.

 

[mattsnake]

I have a pregnant female motley that has a similar bump at that spot. I think its just fat starting to build up.

 

[Lennycorn]

Lenny got one on his side, bout the size of a half dime. I not really worried about it.

 

[Dakota314]

My corn has those too, in the same spot. It has never affected her though. I'm not sure what they are, but I wouldn't worry.

 

[Bree]

Thank you for the replies! I am glad it seems to be relatively common and nothing too serious. I will still take her to the vet for a check-up just in case, but at least now I don't have to try to call out of work or school to try to rush her in. I won't feel bad waiting for a day off. She seems to be pretty chipper and feisty, so maybe she is just getting pudgy!

I feed her once a week, typically, but sometimes I get off track or skip a week when she's in blue or whatnot. She's eating one "large" mouse from Petsmart each feeding; they seem to fall in the 20-30 gram range. Does this seem like too much for her? She always seems pretty excited to eat, unless I'm watching (she's easily distracted and will only eat if I leave the room).

Here is a picture of her whole body... Does she look overweight in general?

 

[Bree]

I should add that the picture was before eating, and that her last weigh in (Feb. 5th) was 235 grams. I expect she weighs a bit more by now.

 

[Lyion]

She looks a little chubby . Perhaps read up on swimming threads. Some people excersize the larger snakes by letting them swim.

 

[Soulwind]

Also at 235 grams and with 20-30 gram mice, unless you're breeding her, you might want to bump her schedule up to every 9 or 10 days rather than every 7. (especially if the mice are closer to the 30 gram range)

 

[Bree]

Thanks for the advice!

I will look into snake aquarobics, and figure out a better feeding schedule for her.

 

[dave partington]

Congrats, she's got Jello-Butt! Just wait a few years til she's shot out a few dozen more eggs and OMG...