Inactive gravid female

[Gunthar130cl200]

Hi all,
I've got a gravid (not 100% sure but all the signs a re here) ribbon snake that had a good appetite, was quite active until yesterday but today she's just lying there, sometimes her mouth open. If i pick her up, she just hangs from my hand, still. Is it a normal sign that "labor" is about to start or not? She's about 20 months old and it's her first pregnancy.

Thanx all for your answers.

[adamanteus]

That doesn't sound right to me Marc, maybe you should consult with a vet.

[Gunthar130cl200]

I tried to phone some vets who know about reptiles but couldn't get them on the phone. She seems to have troubles breathing: she opens her mouth wide, the breathing's slow. Could it be that her lung is compressed by the unborn babies?
Furthermore, the belly is really soft, a bit like a sponge, to the touch and I can feel some "lumps" underneath. The cloaca is really visible, and you can see the hole if you pick up the tail a bit.

[KITKAT]

I tried to phone some vets who know about reptiles but couldn't get them on the phone. She seems to have troubles breathing: she opens her mouth wide, the breathing's slow. Could it be that her lung is compressed by the unborn babies?
Furthermore, the belly is really soft, a bit like a sponge, to the touch and I can feel some "lumps" underneath. The cloaca is really visible, and you can see the hole if you pick up the tail a bit.

Do you have an emergency vet that will take walk-ins? I hate to be pessimistic, but it sounds like you are losing her.

[adamanteus]

I must agree with KITKAT, it doesn't sound good. Let us know what happens, Marc. Good luck.

[ssssnakeluvr]

that sounds abnormal to me also...need to get her to a vet right away! all my gravid females stay relatively active right up til time to pop

[Gunthar130cl200]

Thanks all for your answers.

She just died yesterday on our way to a vet friend, who was ok to try an operation, event though he isn't specialized in reptiles. When we got her out of the box and realised she was dead, our friend quickly opened her to check if any babies could be saved but they were still embryos so nothing could be done.
He performed an autopsy and found a roundworm, approx 6cm long (2 and a half inches), so we think that she could have gotten it from eating a worm carrying fish, the worm grew and got out of the stomach, causing internal bleeding and/or attacking the lung.
I'm going to deworm her mate, to be sure. Because this could happen to anyone, and because this could help some people, we took pictures of the autopsy. So I've got a question for the moderators: do you wish me to post the pictures for anyone to see or would that be against the forum rules?

[Gijs & Sabine]

I'm very sorry to hear that, Marc
But I think you're doing the right thing to deworm your other garter.
I'm not a moderator, but I think it would be very interesting for everybody to see the autopsy pictures.

[drache]

so sorry about your snake, Marc
I would like to see the pics, but I realize that they may be difficult to look at for many people
maybe you could make an album with a warning, then people who are interested can see them, and those who don't, won't stumble upon them by accident

[mikm]

SO sorry for your loss Marc ... Very good that you followed up & tried to get help. Through your efforts and your willingness to share your experience, we all stand to learn. I for one would like to see pics ... again, my condolences ...