Is my snake sick?

[parloman]

Hi everyone! This is my first post on this site, so let me kno if im doing it wrong. I have recently bought a 3 month old diamond python. He arrived about a 3 weeks ago and has settled in well. He's eating fine and is in the process of shedding his 3rd skin at the moment.

Now, the first time i fed him i fed him one thawed fuzzy mouse, but he got that down so fast and easy, so the next time i fed him i thawed two out, he had the first one, then i just tempted him witht the second to see if he wanted it or not, and he gobbled that down just as fast. This was 5 days ago and he still has not done a poo yet, and the back half of him is quite fat and he cant controll it very well.

SO, my questions... Is my snake sick or just full? or does this have something to do with the shed? Perhaps my cage is too cold?

P.S. i have been giving him a baths to help with the shedding, and whilst this is happening i can hear clicking and wheezing sounds coming from him, is this a water thing or the underlying issue?

Sorry about the large post, i hope someone can help me.

[cracksinthepitch]

Hey parloman,im no expert and this is only my opinion, I take it your in sydney if so you dont require heating for your diamond as long as your enclosure isnt affected by other sources making it colder. Your snake should shed its skin in one complete shed, if not then there is something affecting this, maybe husbandry ,humidity or lack of.I dont know about feeeding or wheezing but im sure someone will help frrom here. Regards

[parloman]

hi thanx for your prompt reply. yes i am in sydney. i have a heat mat under one side of the cage but that is all for heating. and i have sprayed some water mist into the tank as i felt it may be too dry.

oh well thanks anyways, im sure someone will help, this site is awesome, i have solved most queries ive had through this site.

[Owzi]

Hey parloman, have you got yourself a copy of Russell Grants paper on Diamonds? It was first published in Monitor & is also in the book Keeping & Breeding Australian Pythons. Its the best article ive ever read on Diamonds. He keeps his Diamonds like Carpets for the first year (no winter cooling & slightly warmer conditions). As for me, i have noticed that often when my Diamonds shed, its accompanied with a defication. So i would wait & see for now. Dont like the sound of the lack of controle in your snakes tail tho?? Maybe for the next couple of feeds try smaller meals more often. Good luck

[Auzlizardking]

I know some of my snakes will wait till they shed to poob - hope this is the case here if that doen't happen maybe a vet trip - see what everyone else thinks.

[wokka]

Chrondros often hold their bowels until shedding looking like the back half of their body is about to bust. If an animal continues to feed it is a good indicator that it is probably not sick.
I would be careful relying upon the ambient temperature to raise a diamond hatchoe in Sydney. It would at the least be tempting fate not to provide heat. Recent minmum temperatures of 15c do not facilitate digestion and increase the risks particularly with small animals which do not have the thermal mass to retain heat.

[parloman]

Thanx guys!
ill just wait it out untill he sheds and if things dont change then i think ill be making a trip to the vet

[sweetangel]

Originally Posted by parloman

hi thanx for your prompt reply. yes i am in sydney. i have a heat mat under one side of the cage but that is all for heating. and i have sprayed some water mist into the tank as i felt it may be too dry.

oh well thanks anyways, im sure someone will help, this site is awesome, i have solved most queries ive had through this site.

diamonds are local to the sydney area so you shouldnt need to raise humidity imo. unless he has probs when shedding. maybe also try one bigger mouse instead of two smaller ones

[parloman]

YAY! I woke up this morning and his skin was there all in one piece and he defecated too! i think he's got another one in him too... hehe. i wont be feeding him on tuesday like i normally do. i might just wait till the weekend. thanks again guys! this site is AWESOME!

[GraftonChic]

Has he gained control of his tail.
Does he still have the wheezing etc?

[wokka]

A cage in Sydney has far less environmental diversity than the wilds outside so it still is advisable to spray a sloughing snake to aid shedding.It wont do any harm and may help. In the wild an animal has a large choice of temperatures, humidities and textures available to assist with shedding.

[parloman]

yes graftonchic he seems to be alot better with his tail no the wheezing seems to have stopped. i think he is hungry again as he is very active and inquisitive. so everything seems fine at this point. i think it was all just bad timing with the shedding and the feed, but i have learnt alot from this. thank you to everyone who helped me out with my snake. i really really do appreciate it. hopefully i can help someone else down the track. kudos everyone. kudos

[notechistiger]

Snakes sometime wheeze during the shed period. I think this happens because of the humidity.