My snake has a problem with his tail, HELP

[enviedmedia]

Ok, Well WOW! Thanks to everyones replies for a next day answer! WOW I'm pleased.

To: Stefen-A, anji1971 & Count DeClaw, Thanks for your response, and thank you for answering the Musk, Cloaca, and the Hibernation questions. I understood everything but the hibernation questions. What is brumation? Is it necessary for my snake to hibernate? Mines is a baby. I am new to this. Now your response to the images, I guess I'm going to have to save up for a vet because i REALLY have no funds for that. His tail moves fine,
he shows no pain or discomfort in moving. He eats, plays, moves, defecates, urinates and hangs out in the water just fine. When i medicate it or even touch it he shows no fear or pain. He lets me touch it and lets me handle him easily. He acts as normal as he acted when I first got him.

Next Answer:
To Drache, DekayBrown, & GregMonsta thanks soooo much for your regards and I will make sure I update everyone on behalf the situation. I mean this was about a week and a half ago, so I think hes better but I think his tails needs help.


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To Jitami, yea where I help him he got that minor bruise aswell. In my looks of it he looks alright there, when he moves he shows no discomfort, no pain. I can touch him there and he bends it great hes good on that area. I believe it shed a bit or somehting around that bruise but it just looks a bit dark because of the contrast of my camera.


To Garter_Gertie, anji1971 & Count Declaw: I have no luck. I live in the Suburban Brooklyn Area of New York. There are NO herp vets, zoos, or breeders that I searched of that are willing to help me. I searched everywhere, called everywhere and asked everyone. No one wants to help or can't help.

To Reptile3: Thanks so much for the links I'm working on that now and will update you on what those websites did to help me and my snake.


Again Thanks a lot to those who tried helping me! I am always looking for more answers, suggestions and more!
Please anyone I will be here and I Check this post every 10 Minutes

[Stefan-A]

What is brumation?

The technical term for the type of dormancy snakes have. It differs a bit from hibernation.

Is it necessary for my snake to hibernate?

Most of the time, no. It does have a few benefits, though. It triggers mating and if you have a problem feeder, it might get the snake to snap out of it. Some even speculate that it may have health benefits.

[drache]

To Garter_Gertie, anji1971 & Count Declaw: I have no luck. I live in the Suburban Brooklyn Area of New York. There are NO herp vets, zoos, or breeders that I searched of that are willing to help me. I searched everywhere, called everywhere and asked everyone. No one wants to help or can't help.

I don't know where in Brooklyn you live, but I have a quite adequate herp vet here right on the corner of McDonald Ave and Caton Ave
Pet Haven Animal Hospital - 718.435.6900
the vet you need to see is Jill Caruso
she is very reasonable - really
I wish you'd mentioned your location earlier
the closest train stop is Ft Hamilton Parkway on the F train (5 short blocks walking) or the Church Ave stop on the F (2 long blocks)
if you take the Ft Hamilton stop, Sean Casey Animal rescue is en route (E 3rd St between Ft Hamilton and Caton) - Sean is someone you should know how to get in touch with because he knows about as much as the vet and always helps when he can
and give me a holler when you're in the 'hood - come see some of my babies

[enviedmedia]

Drache, I called the hospital. Jill was on a leave for her baby. So i spoke to a very great guy! He explained a lot to me. Well, he convinced me that I must save some $ this week off my paycheck and bring it in. I feel bad for my poor snake and I would love to live on with it. So I'm going to save up and bring it in. Thanks SOOO Much Drache!

[Lori P]

Well done!! Now be sure and keep us posted on how he progresses....

[drache]

oh good
wonder who you spoke to . . .
let me know when you're going
you could stop by for a tea

[count dewclaw]

Glad to hear the bruising further up doesn't seem to be a problem, it's hard to tell just from pictures. Keep us posted with his progress.

[infernalis]

I had to take one of my garters to the vet in March, could not afford to, but spent the money anyhow, Worth every penny!!!

He is healed up and doing perfectly, I eventually recovered from spending the cash, but he rapidly recovered from his medical condition.

Maybe we have to do without a phone, or cable TV for a month, but these are living breathing animals, and they deserve a medical plan as much as we people do.

Please keep us informed.

[Andi]

Sexing snakes

Snakes are sexed by one of three methods:-

• By visual appearances - male snakes have a thicker tail base where the two hemipenes lie. This can be seen, even in juvenile garter snakes, with practice.

A, B & C - Female tail; ventral and lateral views. The tail base enlargement noticeable in some females (see B) appear to be male glands, but note that the tail tapers rapidly

D & E - Male tail; ventral and lateral views. Tail base is thick, and this thickness extends for some distance beyond the vent.

Illustration and description by kind permission of Mr Robert J. Riches, author of 'Breeding Snakes in Captivity', 1976

• By probing - a surgical probe can be inserted into the vent on either side of the mid-line and gently moved pushed towards the tail. In a male, the probe inserts several scale-lengths inside the inverted hemi-*****, whereas in females it will stop at around 2 or so scale-lengths.
  This technique should only be used by those experienced in the technique as it is easy to damage the snake.

By 'popping' - this technique involves gently squeezing the tail base, with the result that in a male snake the inverted hemipenes are everted, and become visible as they 'pop out'.

This technique is only suitable for use on young snakes, and again should only be used by those experienced in the technique, as damage can easily be done

[enviedmedia]

Well I got to thank Andi and everyone else for the help. Basically this is an update and a message to Andi.. Unfortunately I got the image of sexing the snake a BIT TOO late! lol, Last night Spookie lost his tail. It finally fell off. His remaining tail is ok and is not an open wound. I have his cage very clean and hes doing fine. About the Vet, I called but couldn't set an appointment because I have no $$.. So I said to myself I'm going to wait till my next paycheck next Friday
and get some money and take him Saturday Morning. I will be updating you guys! Thanks again!