My snake has a problem with his tail, HELP

[enviedmedia]

Hello, I have the most ridiculous story that I am even mad at for. Some actions might sound stupid. But I rather get a response in what I can do instead of having people ridicule me.

My next door neighbor has 5 kids and they come to my home daily and i have them touch my Albino Checkered Garter snake. Now I never had a problem with them dropping the snake or hurting it in any way. I had my snake for about 2 months already and I got it about 4 inches long
and it is now 10 inches long. I really do not know how old it is because I got it from a pet shop and the guy who attended me never gave me an age. That will be one of the things I would like answered. Now, comes the real story.

One day my older neighbor (the one with the kids) he's about 29 and he saw the snake for the first time. So he asked me what do I feed it, and i responded cut pinkies. He wanted me to show him so I thought for a sec let me put th snake back in it's cage because I was holding it, now I got lazy and asked him to hold it. He has no fear for snakes and I trusted him because he likes snakes and he seemed responsible.

I went to my kitchen and reached for the freezer and he called me yelling.
I ran back and he said it was gone, and it really wasn't he just dropped it and it was like 3 feet away from him. He did not see it because my office chair was right next to him so he decided to move the chair to see if he sees it, when he did the chairs wheels actually caught the snake and the snakes literally rolled in them and came right back out. He was alive because he was moving and trying to escape (of course he was frightened). Usually when my snake gets frightened with other people he dispenses this clear smelly fluid, sometimes poo. I'm not sure if it's a male/female and if where the fluid comes out of is its sexual organ or its ***.

So yea so I realized the snake had dispensed a lot of that fluid. Along with me realizing that the chair caused him a minor scratch/bruise on his middle area and it also ripped off a small piece of his tail. ( I have pictures below)

I was devastated, I thought it would die. I was mad at the guy and literally kicked him out my home. I went and left it alone in it's cage while i called over 20 veterinarians and emergency hospital care. No one wanted to assist me and no one knew how to answer my questions because they needed to analyze the snake, it was also 9 P.M so most places were closed. I had no choice I also had no MONEY for a vet. I know this is stupid and I know maybe I might sound like a neglectful person to certain folks, but I really had no choice.

I looked all over the internet and many places said to soak him in water or medicate him with Neosporin, i found these entries because people had similar cases where the snakes tail or something had been bit by a rat. it's not similar to mines but my snakes tail is cut badly. He was not bleeding but i can see its muscle tissue. All i saw was red. No blood though.

It's been 1 week and a half since the horrible event. He looks like hes healing but his tail looks dead to me. He moves, he eats he acts NORMAL! He looks happy, but I still want to make sure that his tail will come back to normal. At the best way i can describe it its dark and it basically looks like a scab.

I have attached pictures, I really gave all the info I could. Please reply to me with any answers, suggestions or whatever might help. I'm sorry I feel so guilty and I have learned my lesson. I would not trust no one with my snake but myself and professionals.

Other than that below are some more questions I would like answered if they can be. Thank You for everything!

Concerned new snake owner!

Is my snake a male or female and is their any other way to tell other than doing the 2 methods that only professionals may do.

When the snake is frightened and dispenses that smelly fluid, What is that area called? Is it it's *** or *****/vagina LOL!

What is that fluid? Is it pee?

Will my snake Hibernate? And if yes when?

Can anyone tell me the age of my snake by the description i gave in the beginning of my story?


Thank You for all your help!

http://enviedmedia.com/snake/1.jpg

http://enviedmedia.com/snake/2.jpg

http://enviedmedia.com/snake/3.jpg

http://enviedmedia.com/snake/4.jpg

http://enviedmedia.com/snake/5.jpg

[Stefan-A]

When the snake is frightened and dispenses that smelly fluid, What is that area called? Is it it's *** or *****/vagina LOL!

Cloaca.

Will my snake Hibernate? And if yes when?

If you want it to, but I wouldn't unless the animal is okay. Most probably don't brumate them the first year anyway.

Can anyone tell me the age of my snake by the description i gave in the beginning of my story?

The size depends on a variety of factors, including diet and feeding frequency. It's definitely born this summer.

Thank You for all your help!

http://enviedmedia.com/snake/1.jpg

http://enviedmedia.com/snake/2.jpg

http://enviedmedia.com/snake/3.jpg

http://enviedmedia.com/snake/4.jpg

http://enviedmedia.com/snake/5.jpg

That definitely doesn't look good, the best advice I can give, is to get him to a vet, which I guess isn't very helpful. That tail looks dead and needs to come off before it causes serious problems. In the wild it's not uncommon for them to lose a piece of their tails to predators and shedding problems, but I can't say that I've ever seen a picture of a snake with that much of its tail damaged.

[drache]

I agree
that looks pretty bad - naked bone?
I highly recommend a vet visit
good luck with that

[infernalis]

Ditto what they said.....

[gregmonsta]

Poor thing!!! Let us know how it gets on!!!

[jitami]

In the pictures, where you're holding him, is that the bruised area up by your fingers? I'd be concerned about that as well. Good luck and keep us updated.

[Garter_Gertie]

Oh, you poor thing! Search the Web for a Herp Society in your area. Like here in MN, in the Saint Paul area, we have the MN Herp Society. See if you can find a Herp Society.

Also, do you have any vet schools near you? Any colleges, universities, things like that? Contact them.

Are there any snake breeders close to you? Need not be garter breeders. Ask questions of any breeder - they usually have a wealth of knowledge and been through more things than you and I will ever go through.

Contact pet stores - even chains like Petco, etc. - for leads.

Do you have a zoo near you? Contact them. The herp folks there may be able to help.

Also, your DNR - Division of Natural Resources - may be able to help.

Good look. Keep up the neosporin - and maybe warm baths???????????

Your neighbor's luck to have gotten outta the house alive. Here? I'd be up for assault charges. Furshure.

[reptile3]

I am not sure what state you live in... but here is 2 sites you can TRY to find a Vet that deals with Herps.

Herp Vet Connection

Herp Veterinarians

I am sorry about your snake.. looks like the end of the tail is dead. Try to get to a vet asap.

[count dewclaw]

In the pictures, where you're holding him, is that the bruised area up by your fingers? I'd be concerned about that as well. Good luck and keep us updated.

I would be more concerned about this area further up. You said it was eating, but has it defecated since the injury? Is the back part of its body moving normally? I know it can be hard to find a herp vet, but I it would be a good idea to have this snake checked by a vet.

[anji1971]

His tail is definitely dead.
But the bruising around his midsection looks quite serious as well. It's good that he's eating, but make sure he's passing what he's eaten, and he's going to have to have that tail stump removed. I don't think there is any way around some kind of professional care at this point. There could be internal damage at the middle. Poor guy, he really had a doozy of a time. Best wishes!