iHerp Answers: Gravid Female Kingsnake convulses/palpitates with mouth open

iHerp Answers!

Problem?

Search Create an Account, It's Free!

Home > iHerp Answers > Gravid Female Kingsnake convulses/palpitates with mouth open

Gravid Female Kingsnake convulses/palpitates with mouth open

Posted By:

scalrtn

In Relation To:

Olympias

My 8 yr. old female Kingsnake, which I've never bred, is gravid for the second straight year. When I had her outside the other day, she began convulsing/palpitating - with a wave-like motion cascading throughout the length of her body. It lasted for nearly a minute, during which time I noticed her mouth was open. Not sure, but I'm wondering if she was doing "deep breathing" to inflate her lungs.

Is this something that others have seen before with snakes that are gravid ?

Thanks


Points:	100
Topics:	General Health , Ovulation
Species:	Kings and Milks > Kingsnakes > Lampropeltis getula holbrooki
Administrative:	Show/Hide

Accepted Answer

5/20/2022 3:14:46 PM

Cenobite

How is her health overall? Normal?

Member Comment

5/24/2022 12:42:07 PM

TribalCorns

My female ghost corn is real old but used to breeding as I bred her a few times and her previous owners had her housed with a male for most of her life. When I retired her she was not bred anymore but continued to lay eggs year after year until this spring. Thankfully she hasn't had any inferts this year cause she was having trouble as old as she is (20+ years) and I had to massage out eggs for her the last 3 times she laid inferts. Some females just think they are fertile turtles I suppose. The palpitating sounds like she is just really in the mood but without video of it I can't say much about what's going on. I remember a brooks kingsnake female I worked with did the same sort of actions yours was doing right before we introduced a male to her and during the pairing. If she's otherwise healthy she may just be in the mood. The open mouth is the only thing I'm worried about as I don't recall the brooks female having her mouth open even slightly but it was years ago now and my memory sucks.

Member Comment

5/24/2022 4:35:07 PM

Sonja K. Reptiles

Has she done it since? Was she possibly exposed to a chemical while outside?

You are not logged in. If you would like to participate (it's free!), you must log in, or Become a Member!