Hi everyone! I'm brand new to the site. A good friend from Canada (Matt) referred me to your site. I hope that I'm posting at the right place.
I've had my corn snake Markey (well, she's my son's really) for three years now I believe. Originally we had her in a twenty gallon long aquarium. She thrived there. I had almost no issues with her. She is a joy of a snake to have, very friendly and calm when you take her out.
In August we built a new room for our son in the basement. We also purchased a 260 gallon tall Reptarium mesh cage. I put tons of vines climbing bark for Markey to roam around on. When I inquired about heating, I was told from the breeder that a uth would be sufficient for Markey and that people get carried away with lighting. My brain told me otherwise but I listened. After a few days we added one light.
Markey did great through the summer months. She was always hanging out on the vines and roaming the cage.
About a month ago, she had her first bad shed. She wasn't even due to shed so I was surprised when my son told me she shed in chunks. I immediately went to her and found that her left eye cap was still in tact. I gently removed it as the eye area was extremely moist (I know, I learned my lesson....use artificial tears on it until it comes off on it's own as to not cause corneal damage). I was so afraid that I just took action....again, dumb on my part. Her eye is fine as I had her checked over by a vet on Monday.
Anyway, after that bad shed, Markey stopped eating. She eats two large mice during the warmer months and goes down to one mouse in the cooler months so I wasn't too concerned the first few times she refused food. I noticed she didn't poop either. That was a concern. Before long, I realized that Markey had been injured by some plants that were in the tank that were not "snake friendly". I immediately removed them and called the vet to have her checked over. I figured with the not eating, not pooping, small injury, etc.....it was time to take her in. When I went to get her out of the tank, I noticed she had water coming out of her right nostril. I panicked. I knew that was a bad sign. She then had a few bubbles of fluid coming out of both nostrils and I booked b*** to the vet! It was a scary trip....
The vet said she looks amazing. She could not believe how well mannered Markey was, how pretty her markings were, etc....both her and the vet tech made me feel good about our little girl......until they told me that my temps were way too low and that the substrate I was using was bad. I have always used Repti Bark and have had no issues so I'm still unsure about that remark. The vet said that the repti bark harbors bacteria and that unless I'm doing a complete change each week, it needs to go. She also said that Markey might have a slight upper respiratory infection but that she couldn't hear a thing in her lungs so it was not pneumonia. Thank goodness! They said that I caught it very early and that most people don't notice or wait too long and then it's bad. That made me feel somewhat good.
Markey was sent home with antibiotics that I have to give her once a day for twelve days (boys is that fun.....NOT!). I immediately went out and picked up more lights.
I'm currently running 2 - 150 watt bulbs on top of the mesh tank (not touching mesh of course) and one 100 watt red night bulb through the night. The warmest part of the tank goes to 80 degrees but Markey doesn't have access to it. She has access to the middle section that stays around 76 degrees but she doesn't go up there now that she is sick. She really prefers the cool side on the main level of the cage which stays at a constant 69-70 degrees during the daytime. The warm side on the main level stays at 79 degrees during the daytime hours and goes up to 82 degrees at night when the night light is on. I could not test the cool side with the night light because I had to go to bed but I will do that tonight.
I'm picking up one more light tomorrow as I realize the temps are not quite warm enough but my question is, "Is it bad that Markey continues to remain on the cooler side of the tank for most of the day while she has this respiratory infection?"
If it is a bad thing, "Should I move her back to her 20 gallon tank and keep the temps warmer until she gets better?" I'm just at a loss here.... I can certainly increase the temps in her 260 gallon set up but I cannot force her to go where those temps are.....
I'm also soaking her once a day to get her to go poop and it's not working. The vet said she felt stool in her belly so she knows it needs to come out. Markey is the type that will not eat if she hasn't pooped so I asked the vet if I should increase her soaks to twice a day and she said that was fine. I have to give her two more weeks of soaking and then get xrays done if she hasn't had a bm.
Matt referred me to this site and felt like I really needed to get your advice on the temps and Markey's RI. Sooooooo if any of you made it to the end of this long thread, I thank you and ask if you could please help me. I really want to do right by Markey. She is my son's snake but I love her dearly. I do all of her care and I just adore her so much. I want her to get better.
Thanks!!
Lisa
I've had my corn snake Markey (well, she's my son's really) for three years now I believe. Originally we had her in a twenty gallon long aquarium. She thrived there. I had almost no issues with her. She is a joy of a snake to have, very friendly and calm when you take her out.
In August we built a new room for our son in the basement. We also purchased a 260 gallon tall Reptarium mesh cage. I put tons of vines climbing bark for Markey to roam around on. When I inquired about heating, I was told from the breeder that a uth would be sufficient for Markey and that people get carried away with lighting. My brain told me otherwise but I listened. After a few days we added one light.
Markey did great through the summer months. She was always hanging out on the vines and roaming the cage.
About a month ago, she had her first bad shed. She wasn't even due to shed so I was surprised when my son told me she shed in chunks. I immediately went to her and found that her left eye cap was still in tact. I gently removed it as the eye area was extremely moist (I know, I learned my lesson....use artificial tears on it until it comes off on it's own as to not cause corneal damage). I was so afraid that I just took action....again, dumb on my part. Her eye is fine as I had her checked over by a vet on Monday.
Anyway, after that bad shed, Markey stopped eating. She eats two large mice during the warmer months and goes down to one mouse in the cooler months so I wasn't too concerned the first few times she refused food. I noticed she didn't poop either. That was a concern. Before long, I realized that Markey had been injured by some plants that were in the tank that were not "snake friendly". I immediately removed them and called the vet to have her checked over. I figured with the not eating, not pooping, small injury, etc.....it was time to take her in. When I went to get her out of the tank, I noticed she had water coming out of her right nostril. I panicked. I knew that was a bad sign. She then had a few bubbles of fluid coming out of both nostrils and I booked b*** to the vet! It was a scary trip....
The vet said she looks amazing. She could not believe how well mannered Markey was, how pretty her markings were, etc....both her and the vet tech made me feel good about our little girl......until they told me that my temps were way too low and that the substrate I was using was bad. I have always used Repti Bark and have had no issues so I'm still unsure about that remark. The vet said that the repti bark harbors bacteria and that unless I'm doing a complete change each week, it needs to go. She also said that Markey might have a slight upper respiratory infection but that she couldn't hear a thing in her lungs so it was not pneumonia. Thank goodness! They said that I caught it very early and that most people don't notice or wait too long and then it's bad. That made me feel somewhat good.
Markey was sent home with antibiotics that I have to give her once a day for twelve days (boys is that fun.....NOT!). I immediately went out and picked up more lights.
I'm currently running 2 - 150 watt bulbs on top of the mesh tank (not touching mesh of course) and one 100 watt red night bulb through the night. The warmest part of the tank goes to 80 degrees but Markey doesn't have access to it. She has access to the middle section that stays around 76 degrees but she doesn't go up there now that she is sick. She really prefers the cool side on the main level of the cage which stays at a constant 69-70 degrees during the daytime. The warm side on the main level stays at 79 degrees during the daytime hours and goes up to 82 degrees at night when the night light is on. I could not test the cool side with the night light because I had to go to bed but I will do that tonight.
I'm picking up one more light tomorrow as I realize the temps are not quite warm enough but my question is, "Is it bad that Markey continues to remain on the cooler side of the tank for most of the day while she has this respiratory infection?"
If it is a bad thing, "Should I move her back to her 20 gallon tank and keep the temps warmer until she gets better?" I'm just at a loss here.... I can certainly increase the temps in her 260 gallon set up but I cannot force her to go where those temps are.....
I'm also soaking her once a day to get her to go poop and it's not working. The vet said she felt stool in her belly so she knows it needs to come out. Markey is the type that will not eat if she hasn't pooped so I asked the vet if I should increase her soaks to twice a day and she said that was fine. I have to give her two more weeks of soaking and then get xrays done if she hasn't had a bm.
Matt referred me to this site and felt like I really needed to get your advice on the temps and Markey's RI. Sooooooo if any of you made it to the end of this long thread, I thank you and ask if you could please help me. I really want to do right by Markey. She is my son's snake but I love her dearly. I do all of her care and I just adore her so much. I want her to get better.
Thanks!!
Lisa
