White spots and "wierd" behavior

[RedSidedSPR]

My garter recently stopped eating, and I did a sorta "mini hibernation". Just put a towel over his tank for three and a half weeks, and he's eating again(still only minnows). But he hardly EVER comes out of his hiding place. except to eat, he's in there sometimes for two days(he used to be out most of the day). It's a tree/log thing that has a fault in the design where he can squeeze through a hole and go up into a branch (all of them have the fault) so I cant get him out. He is also realy jumpy.
Also he has a little white spot on the top of his head(or nose)and on two on his body. I cant tell if it's skin or what. And I can't pick him up or anything 'cause he's never out except to eat.

I'll try to get pictures next time he's out.

[wolfpacksved]

It's good to cool garters down so they can truly get some sleep. If he is eating that is a good sign. Snakes hiding for long periods of time sounds like snakes just being snakes. One of my fox snakes stayed in its hide box for nearly 3 weeks. I just seen it out for the first time yesterday. He was perfectly fine. He will be getting a warm bath soon and put in a cold closet for the remainder of the winter.

[drache]

can you get a photo of the white spot?

[guidofatherof5]

My first impression is it's retained shed.
If so, a warm damp towel should remove it.
It can't hurt to try even if it's not retained shed.

[ConcinusMan]

Could also be puss filled blisters? That problem doesn't usually develop unless the substrate is constantly damp though. Hiding a lot isn't necessarily a sign of trouble. Amy (my iowa albino radix) rarely comes out of the hide. I also have a couple of hets from Don, one of them is out moving around and active every day. The other only rarely comes out, (the really grumpy one) and it's after dark, and only when he's hungry. Like Steve said, it could also be a retained shed and that could be why he's hiding a lot.

Any signs of dull color or wrinkly skin?

Try to lure him out with food and plug that hole!

[kibakiba]

The white spots sound like the snake I took in last year, she had white spots all over her body and they looked like mold on her with pus coming out. We weren't planning on keeping her (we didn't) but her nickname was malady because she was sick.

[ConcinusMan]

That sounds like blister disease. Northwesterns are very prone to it. They can develop it in just 7 days of being kept on damp substrate. It's highly contagious too. Rarely, I've seen wild snakes with it when they first come out of brumation. Apparently, the spot they chose of hibernation got too damp.

Keeping them warm and dry, and applying a product called "Hibiclens" (4% Chlorexidine Gluconate) to the skin twice daily, cures it.

[kibakiba]

Malady was the snake from my first ever post in the thread "Mold on my snake?" Though, I've never said her name. I felt bad for the girl, she was dying anyways. She looked extremely old, and large. She was easily the biggest garter I've ever held. Biggest snake in general that I've held

[RedSidedSPR]

I cant get pics of his spots 'cause he's not coming out, but here's a pic of his hide. The circled part is where he goes...And I dont think I can plug it.

[Stefan-A]

Polyurethane foam. Or foam rubber.