Elderly Snakes, Care and Unique Health Issues

[d_virginiana]

Okay, not sure why that other picture is attached down there...

[gregmonsta]

Things I have encountered with ageing snakes are shedding problems and tumors. Spazz became a terrible 'shedder' in the last year or two of his life - requiring assistance 99% of the time.
With 'Lumpy' the checkered (heading for 14 years old) I have a tumor on his neck which I'm actually just going to leave alone. Age is a factor but inbreeding could also be a contributor (he has very 'buggy' eyes).

[ConcinusMan]

Older snakes (like people) become more vulnerable to respiratory infections /pneumonia, particularly females that are allowed to become gravid.

[d_virginiana]

What does the tumor feel like? Solid, fluid? Just curious.

[guidofatherof5]

Yes and yes.

[Invisible Snake]

At what age should females be retired from breeding?

[ConcinusMan]

When they start throwing a lot of slugs, still borns, deformities, etc. is what I suggest. Also consider how fast they recover and fill back out after giving birth. If recovery of body mass starts taking a long time, I would stop breeding them. They'll usually be fully grown by then, like, maximum size for their species, and will only shed 2-3 times a year. That's when you know your snake is getting old.

When to stop breeding is really your call. You'll just know when it's time.

On a side note, some people say 10 is old, some say 13 or so is maximum age but I had a male concinnus that lived to be 18, and a female that lived to be 21.

[gregmonsta]

What does the tumor feel like? Solid, fluid? Just curious.

Solid and seemingly fixed.

[d_virginiana]

On a side note, some people say 10 is old, some say 13 or so is maximum age

I read somewhere where the average in captivity was about 8. That just seemed really young to me.

[ConcinusMan]

It's not really young and that's just an average. Sounds about right. But really you should get over 10 years I would think. That doesn't mean we will though, and that's the reason for the low average.