Still able to breed?

[liv]

Hey guys,

So on August 6, I picked up a 2012 female pastel. She's eaten once (struck and coiled the first week but didn't eat), and I've handled her about four times (have mostly been leaving her alone to settle in). Today, I took her out and touched her back near her head. Usually, I never put my hands around my snakes, I just let them slither on me.. She seems to have a really small kink, or a vertebrate out of place or something. It's a normal smooth spine, and then something just juts out a bit. It isn't noticeable when she's straight (I checked), and it doesn't seem to affect her movement.

Will this render her unable to breed in the future? Will it be dangerous for her to carry eggs? She doesn't appear to be in pain when I touch it, but it has me really worried. I will keep her regardless of her breeding potential, as I really love her, but it will definitely be a blow to my future breeding plans.

I'll try to get pics of it soon, just need to charge my camera.

[liv]

Here are the pictures. She looks really brown as she's going into shed.







I feel really, really stupid for not noticing this when I purchased her. I looked her over completely, but somehow this slipped by.

[Mike41793]

Nope, personally i would still breed her. You dont know if its genetic or not and kinking isnt really linked to the pastel gene. It could have been from something totally unrelated like a temp drop/spike during incubation. Its also so minor that you hadnt noticed it until just now so clearly she can eat/poop/shed just fine. Its also really high up on her neck, nowhere near where eggs would be. Once again this is all just my opinion, others may disagree.

[liv]

That's that I was thinking too Mike. Just wanted to be sure as I'm pretty upset at myself right now. She's a real sweetheart (and pretty too.. except for right now ), and I would hate to injure her by not double checking with you fine peeps.

[Homegrownscales]

I think you are just fine. It could also be a potential injury or bone spur... i think thats what its called anyways, I wouldnt worry about it.

[liv]

Ok phew I get so worked up over my babies... I was imagining 'Alien' exploding out of her if I didn't get her to an exotics chiropractor.

[Mike41793]

Ok phew I get so worked up over my babies... I was imagining 'Alien' exploding out of her if I didn't get her to an exotics chiropractor.

What did the alien look like? ET? Invader zim? Alien from AVP?

[liv]

The AVP Alien.. before she was VP!