Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

stargazerlily7 · Contributing Member Joined: 25 Mar 2006 Posts: 60

This is the second time in 4 months that Athena has tried to eat her tail. Thankfully both times I've been there to stop her but I can't keep her tail bandaged up forever. I want to try antibiotics to see if that helps her again, but this is a recurring problem now. I have a lot of herp vets telling me that its probably a neurologic problem and that she might need to be euthanized. I love this snake, I don't want to put her to sleep, but I also don't want to wait a couple of months just to have her die in a much more violent way. What would you do??

Stuart · Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 10:27 pm Post subject:

could you post up some pics of her whilst she is doing this please..I'm guessing that if she is doing it as often as you say it shouldn't be too hard to get a picture.
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stargazerlily7 · Contributing Member Joined: 25 Mar 2006 Posts: 60

i dont actually have a working camera at the moment... what she's doing is grabbing onto the tip of her tail (maybe an inch or two up) and then wrapping her body up and thrashing around the tank. she's not even seeking her tail out or anything, she just seems to pass by it and then stop and look at it for a bit and then when it moves she goes after it. i wonder if she thinks its another snake...... Sad

peaches · Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 10:35 pm Post subject:

Oh dear I was worried that the vet may suggest this, a very hard decision but only one you can make I'm afraid.

Stuart · Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 10:37 pm Post subject:

Where abouts are you based?..pm me if you wish.
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Scott W · Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 10:54 pm Post subject:

Without seeing it first hand I wouldn't like to judge, based on what you have said and the 'mental' picture I get, then maybe the snake would be better off not going through this over and over again.

You need to decide based on what you have seen, how often it is and how stressed the snake looks with the whole situation.
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Please DO NOT pm orders for reptiles, send email instead scott@captivebred.co.uk

big_boids_uk · Key Member Joined: 29 Jun 2006 Posts: 307 Location: London

i agree with scott, if the mental picture you have painted is correct i think it would be better to put the animal out of its discomfort as much as it may hurt you emotionally. Rather put him down and say goodbye rather than wake up one day with him dead in his tank
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Just a collector/lover for now

big_boids_uk · Key Member Joined: 29 Jun 2006 Posts: 307 Location: London

opps sorry - her not him.
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Just a collector/lover for now

NorthernRegius.com · Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 3:08 pm Post subject:

I wish the cause could somehow be determined, a 4 month interval- it just seems that there could be somthing environmental that is causing the behaviour. Are there any factors that line up with that timeframe, cage maintenace; room cleanings; heck even neighborhood spraying for pests & an open window?

If you've rulled out all other factors, then you know in your heart what is best because you care about this animal... sorry that it's a painful choice & my Best Wishes for whatever the outcome- Deb
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All the Best- Deb
Me: http://www.myspace.com/hardcoreherper
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Dan · Captivebred Communist Joined: 08 Sep 2005 Posts: 1306

I'm no vet but i was thinking......

Is she definately a she?
how old is she?
what species is she?

Ok, reason behind questions.....

I am assuming it is a corn snake (or similar). In theory 4 months ago would have been right around egg development stage, and now would be roughly time for a double clutch therefore egg production again. I am wondering if she has a defect in her "egg producing bits" (the full system, hence technical description). I experienced this with my very first corn snake.

I have no idea how right i could be, nor do i know how you would determine if this is the problem and therefore solve it - just thinking out loud..................
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The future is bright, the future is a net like pattern.................

I'm NOT an expert, so if you don't want to know my opinion don't ask!!