I recently acquired a female lav albino tiger retic, and she has something very odd (to me at least) going on in her heart area. Exactly where her heart is there is an ever-so-small bump (think two days after a meal, you can barely see a bump where the mouse/rat is). That is not however what really has me concerned, when putting my hand on that area I feel this really weird heart rhythm its a normal rhythm, but feels weird. I am having a really hard time describing it, its like a fluttering with every beat, think trying to suck a liquid through a straw where it narrows or bends (like pinching it), and there is air in the straw with the liquid. Man that is a terrible description, but I really don't know how better to describe it.

I am fairly concerned but really don't know if I should be. To me it seems like she has a weak arterie, but the bump makes me worried that there is a tumor there, which would make sense if there is a tumor and it is pinching one of her arteries.

Anyway to answer some questions I know are coming. She seems to be in good health. I have had her for about a week. When I got her she had some retained shed, which after a night of soaking was gone. She has some damage to her head, where it looks like she either rubbed or a rat got a hold of her (the old owner said she didn't feed f/t so he fed her live....she is a retic...ate two f/t rats for me second night...). She is very alert and energetic. She also had a nice smelly present for me this evening that looked, and smelled normal (and by normal I mean TERRIBLE!). So I know that she is A) eating B) pooping and C) alert/attentive.

I am really hoping that some of you more experienced owners have dealt with this and I am an idiot of even worrying about it.