Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

[Neffy]

Do corn snakes yawn?
My baby corn has been yawning the past 2 days or at least thats what it looks like. Is this normal?
She seems healthy enough, no mucus or anything like that.Her mouth is tightly closed when she flicks her tongue.
I've never seen her do this before now and was wondering if everything was ok or if it was a sign of maybe an illness starting.
I know they can realign their jaw after eating and that looks like yawning, but it's been a few days since her last feed.
Also she spends all her time at the cool end of the viv even after eating (cool end 73df / hot end 86df ) will that be alright for her digestion?

My god it's worse than having children lol

[Snowy]

Yes they do seem to yawn, not sure if that is what they are actually doing, but they do it. It looks quite weird especially on a more mature snake especially as the lower lip seems to ripple

The ideal temps for feeding are between 24-31degC (70-mid80degF I had to look that up as I work in degC, degF means nothing to me) so I wouldn't worry too much as long as the little one has a temp gradient they choose what is best for them for a given situation.

[Neffy]

ah ok minds a little more at rest now, thx snowy I worry about every little thing i notice atm. The only thing i don't worry about is her feeding shes got a great appetite 2 pinkies every 5 days, although shes due tommorow shes out hunting now lol.

I have noticed 1 thing though no poop to be found anywhere since her last meal, will it still be ok to feed her if she hasnt passed anything?

[lovesnakes]

[Snowy]

What have you got her on and where have you looked? One of mine had the habbit of doing it between the sheets (I use kitchen towel for youngsters and newspaper for adults) and also under the sheets so it did look like nothing was done as it dries fast and only got seen when changing.

They don't go like clockwork. Is there any sign of bulging near the cloacca? If so this could indicate she may be a bit bunged up and may need a vet visit, though I seriously doubt that will be needed so don't worry at this stage. Also pinkies are very easily assimilated, I notice less waste from my youngsters than I get from them now they are grown, larger food meaning more waste. You said she shed recently did you check the shed to make sure it was complete?

I do wait until passing before feeding again on new accuastions during the quarantine period. This is just to get an idea of the "normal" cycle for the snake. I do the same when going up a food size again just to get the cycle so that if something is amiss I can notice it and check the viv out first to make sure nothing has changed before thinking of a vet visit.

Neffy have you had a chance to get the cornsnake book by Kathy and Bill Love? Believe me it is a worthwhile investment, though you may need to order it in specially as it is a US book. It's my bible for cornsnake, and the prety pictures have me drooling as I want but can't have most of the morph varieties

[Neffy]

I have her on aspen bedding and generally run my fingers through the lot each day to check for any mess.
Theres no bulge by the cloacca, or nothing obvious when i had her out today anyway. I read somewhere though ( can't remember where now ) that if there a little bunged up to give em a bath in tepid water and that usually help em release anything left over.

When she shed a couple of weeks back it was a complete shed and she's been to the loo since then

As for the book by kathy love, im definately going to be investing in a copy. I'm going to Florida for 3 weeks in september, so if i can't get hold of a copy here i'll pick one up whilst i'm over there.

[Snowy]

You jammy mare Given the current exchange rate get it in the US as it is $16.95 (just over £ and no import costs etc. Mine cost me nearly £20 including import costs. The publishers are "The Herpotocultural Library" and if needed the ISBN is 1-882770-70-6 (always hand to have the info if asked for it).

As she is young personally I would take her off the aspen and use paper towels as the substrate, it lets you see more. Running your hands through can break up the waste and as there is not a lot coming out of small snakes it can go unnoticed. Though as I said this is only my person opinion not saying anything bad about you, just incase anyone misinterprets me.

I can't comment on the bath thing as the only bunged up snake I ever had came from a "breeder" and it was due to a very bad shed which was soon solved after a day in the wetbox.

[Neffy]

I think i will take your advice and use kitchen roll for her subtrate instead of the aspen, as you said it will be easier to see whats going on in her viv.
Also thx for the information regarding the book, should come in pretty handy if it's needed.

[peaches]

You can get the book over here, if you want it sooner.

http://reptilekeeping.net/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=109

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Snakes-Comprehensive-Owners-Herpetocultural-Library/dp/1882770706

Ooh the cornsnake manual on ebay £1.55
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/The-Corn-Snake-Manual-Vosjoli-vivarium-Care-Book_W0QQitemZ250136709364QQihZ015QQcategoryZ1285QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Isnt the comp guide just a new version of the manual anyway?
_________________
www.ratsnakefoundation.org

[Snowy]

Yes but there is extra info, the one on ebay is 128 pages the comp one is 217, not including the index, not having seen the original one I can't say what is added to it. There is one on that ebay link to buy for £8.95 so Neffy shouldn't have to wait if she doesn't want to.