Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

[Pyrockat]

My eight month corn snake Loki has stopped feeding since a week before his last shed (been three odd weeks now). I decided to get him checked for parasites and had my dad take him to the vet for me as I had to work, giving a list of temps and how I was caring for him etc. The vet (who is a supposed specialist exotic vet) was apparently scared to pick Loki up because he "hates handling reptiles in case they bite" (bearing in mind we're talking about a skinny corn snake who isnt even two feet long yet), asked my dad what kind of snake Loki was and then told my dad that snakes need UV light. Obviously the guy wasnt much of a specialist. He checked out Loki's skin and mouth and felt along his body and said he's healthy. But I'm a little concerned that because the guy was so unknowledgeable Loki might still have parasites. Unfortunately the only other vet dealing with reptiles is a right pain to get to...is it worth having him checked out again or do you think it will be OK? Loki looks really healthy, he's brightly coloured and smooth and active at night, no discharge and he's not losing much weight. Any ideas?
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1 male caramel corn snake, Loki
1 probably male beardie, Thor.
2 cutesome lil girlrats, Foxy and Poppy.

[lol93]

I wouldn't worry. Three weeks is no time for a snake, and a lot of corns go off food at this time of year (breeding season).

Sounds like your vet is a bit clueless! It's worth finding a proper exotics vet, even if it is hard to get to. Our vet is wonderful, and I don't mind the 60 mile round trip to get there.

Have you tried offering the food at night, or offering rat pups instead of mice? Might be worth giving it a go to see if it gets him going. Good luck!
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[garysumpter]

I would report the vet immediately.

Think how many naive cornsnake owners now have their corns under UV.

Not the WORST thing to happen but he sounds like he doesnt know a thing.

Gary
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[Pyrockat]

Yeah he was a numpty alright. We were recommended by our local vet, and RD Rintoul in bathgate said it was so unlike them to give out wrong information when my mum headed up there in a panic to buy UV (before I told her the guy was very wrong). I'm thinking maybe we got the wrong specialist as apparently there was an eagle in the waiting room . Imagine being scared of a corn snake bite when youve got a bloody eagle waiting for you!

And cheers Lol93, I've only just got Lo and still looking around for a vet, but theres a highly recommended on not too far away, just that I cant drive so hard to get to. I'm going to try him on other food sources at the weekend, cheers! I've tried all different times of day though, no luck with that,
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1 male caramel corn snake, Loki
1 probably male beardie, Thor.
2 cutesome lil girlrats, Foxy and Poppy.