Something I have never seen before

[EvolutionReptiles]

I am currently in the middle of feeding snakes and I picked up my california kingsnake to feed him and his whole body just feels limp. He isn't using any muscles to hold on unless he has to. When I sit him down or hold him over the ground he is almost have small seizures. This is the first time I have ever seen this before. Any ideas what it might be? He is 4 years old, around 4ft long, typical colubrid set up. 29 gallon, 85 degrees day, 75 at night. Hides, limbs, water dish, cypress bedding. Any advice would be great. Thanks.

Jeff


He did eat for me, one f/t mouse, has not had any regurgitation problems and feces look normal. This the first day I have noticed it.

[Karen Hulvey]

Have you had this snake long? I know you posted the temps of his cage, but could your snake have gotten overheated? That could make a previously healthy snake limp pretty quickly.
Maybe someone with more knowledge about this will post.
Hope your snake gets better.

[Sasheena]

An important question: Did the snake return to "normal" or is it still limp and unresponsive? I don't know what this is, truthfully. If it returned to normal I would just label as a moment of peculiarity, keep an eye on the animal, and take it to a vet if this happens again. If it still has not recovered, and you have a good herp vet, take it to the vet.

[EvolutionReptiles]

I've had the snake since it was a neonate. I talked to one of the other breeders in the area and he mentioned an article released recently on the effects of lead poisoning in reptiles. Causing muscle and nerve problems. The city of Lansing has warned us that the pipe do have lead in them and that we need to run our water for 30 second before drinking it. This seems like the most likely theory, however out of the approx. 80 herps in my collection this is the only one to seem to have this problem. Thankfully one of the best herp vets around lives the next city over so we will be taking a visit here in a couple hours to see what is up. But the lead poisoning is definitly something to look out for.

[Ron Mertz]

Many years ago I purchased a juvinile Sinaloin (sp?) Milk (about a foot long; can't remember the age). When I got it home I realized it had mites. I put a small piece of No Pest Strip in a solo cup with some holes punched in it, in the cage (again, I'm going back about 12 years ago; hence the antiquated measures). When I went back to check on it a few hours later, it was foaming at the mouth and laying on it's back. When I took it out of the cage, it was as limp as a piece of rope, and also appeared to have slight seizures every now and again. I put it in a clean cage, and it eventually turned around in a day or so. The snake was fine after it recovered. It grew large and healthy. Needless to say, I've never used No Pest Strip again!!!! Your situation sounds similar; maybe it is some kind of "poisoning" or toxcicity reaction? Like I said, I'm not sure if this will help you, but I thought I'd share. Good luck with your "baby".

-Ron Mertz

[EvolutionReptiles]

I don't use any harsh chemicals to clean my cages.

[Ron Mertz]

Then maybe, as you stated before, it could have something to do with the water? Or, maybe, a "bad" feeder rodent? I'm very interested to see what the vet. has to say. Good luck!
-Ron Mertz

[Ron Mertz]

What do you think the chances are that your animal had a stroke? Seizures, paralasis - are't these symptoms of a stroke victom?
Just my two cents.
-Ron Mertz