Problem with hatchling ghost corn

In all the time I have bred corns, I have never seen this. Maybe some of you guys have. I have a male ghost hatchling, 6 days out of the egg. He cannot open his mouth. He can't even tongue-flick. I figure he is probably going to die. I have done reptile rescue and rehab for 12 years+. Never heard of this. So this afternoon, I may try to open his mouth myself. If I don't he is definitely not going to make it. Any thoughts?

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Originally Posted by Sammy412

In all the time I have bred corns, I have never seen this. Maybe some of you guys have. I have a male ghost hatchling, 6 days out of the egg. He cannot open his mouth. He can't even tongue-flick. I figure he is probably going to die. I have done reptile rescue and rehab for 12 years+. Never heard of this. So this afternoon, I may try to open his mouth myself. If I don't he is definitely not going to make it. Any thoughts?

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Does his mouth look disfigured?

No, not at all. He needs to shed, and looks like it will be in the next day or so. I haven't seen him drinking and have never seen him flick, even though I check the babies every day. I have been keeping the humidity up to help with the shed.

Can you open his mouth or is it fused together?

That's what I'm going to try to find out. It doesn't look to be fused, but that doesn't mean it isn't :(

can you post pictures?

If you cant get him to even open his mouth after he sheds the best thing to do may be euthanizing him..

His mouth opens fine, and looks normal inside, except.........his tongue does not come out. You can see it inside the sheath, but it never came out. Possibly a genetic flaw....glad it is not one that I actually bred, I would not use those parents if it were. I have notified the breeder to make them aware. Therefore, I don't see how he can smell water or his food. Don't think shedding is going to help. I will probably just go ahead and put him down:(

Took him out a few minutes ago to check on him, and thought I saw some tongue flicks.....hard because he and it are so tiny, so I put him in the deli cup with a damp paper towel on the warm side of his shoebox to see if I can help him shed......don't want to put him down too hastily, but don't want him to suffer either.

Not all snakes tongue flick a lot, I actually hardly ever see our corn snake do it.

I'm going to give him a chance to shed out and see if he'll eat......he's pretty small, and I think he is having a hard time with his first shed. like I say, I hate to be hasty and puthim down without giving him a chance. I once knew someone who had a hogg island boa that was as limp as a wet noodle.....everyone thought he was sick, genetically flawed, doomed......he threw the prettiest babies and was a great eater......so you never know:)