Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My daughter had 2 Schneiders Skinks. Gomez and Morticia.

Morticia suffered a fractured leg last week, and went to the vet.Vet prescribed for her a special diet. (I don't know what it was. Vitamin supplament. I am having my kid send it to me so I know what it is.)

She has blooswork done, and vet said her salmonella levels were under control.

(I got these skinks from the same place I got some snakes from, and all but one of the snakes has died from salmonella. They all exhibited symptoms before passing, such as annorexia and dehydration.)

These skinks were acting healthy. Active, eating, drinkin, pooping. The skinks were separated at the time, and were on newspaper substrate.

The poor kid loves them critters. She did all the research, set up the ideal environment, and did everything she could for them.

She is terrified that Morticia will die now. I really wanna figure this out.

The only thing I can think of right now is that the new diet may have had some out of proportion levels of something that may have become toxic to him. I am waiting to see the Rx.

I am weighing weather or not a necropsy would be useful at this time. I am still paying for the ones I had done on my snakes, and my kid would not get the closure she would with a little burial/funeral. I have a feeling that necropsy may be inconclusive.

I know relatively little about skinks. I was really hoping that somebody here could brainstorm, and maybe give me some ideas. We have lost four of our dear critter frinds in the course of a week (two cats eaten by the neighborhood dog, and a toad and now the skink!) It's tearing me up to see my kids go through this! I want to try anything I can to save Morticia!

Sorry for the long rant. It's been a rough week, and I am feeling rather helpless.
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GratefulFred

It sounds like wherever these skinks (and possibly your sick snakes) were purchased- is the origin of the salmonella problem. I know that many reptiles, namely Green iguanas & chelonians like the Red-eared sliders are known to carry salmonella at times, but in most cases do not exhibit any symptoms of being ill.

Some species or stressed reptiles are very prone to having pathogens take over & kill them, unless the right environment, foods, and medication are given to control & eliminate the problem(s).

I would probably report the petshop, if this is an ongoing problem, as they are selling sick animals to un-suspecting customers. It may warrant a report to the SPCA or other agencies to investigate.

Goodluck with your current Schneider's skink, Morticia.

I should probably make clear that these animals were not purchased through a pet shop. I obtained them all in a trade with another herper. She (and I do believe her) had no idea the critters were sick.

It seems that the source of the disease is traced back to a red tail boa that she purchesed from a breeder. That snake was shipped to her, spent some time in her home, then came to me, along with aseveral other animals. The snake must have been highly stressed, and thus succeptible.

Of the animals I got from her, all but 2 have died.

Morticia was treated by a vet last week for a fracture. He performed blood tests, and (along with necropsy results I sent him) determined that she did not have unusually high levels of salmonella, and that she seemed OK, so far as that.

Both skinks were put on a diet prescribed by the vet.

This is what they were being fed;

"INSECTIVORE - FARE from ZooFood.com "

GUARANTEED
ANALYSIS
ADDITIONAL
ANALYSIS

Crude Protein Min. 20.00% Calcium (CA) Min. 2.00%
Crude Fat Min. 7.00% Phosphorous (P) Min 1.00%
Crude Fiber Max. 6.00% Iron Min .005%
Moisture Max. 36.00% Taurine Min. .003%
Ash Max. 9.00% "

"Per Dr. Nelson’s instructions, I put about 3 tablespoons in the blender with a piece of romaine lettuce and a little piece of carrot, added a pinch of Vionate Vitamin Mineral Powder.I froze it in a thin layer, and Taffy broke off little chips, which were thawed by the time she got them upstairs."

>>It sounds like wherever these skinks (and possibly your sick snakes) were purchased- is the origin of the salmonella problem. I know that many reptiles, namely Green iguanas & chelonians like the Red-eared sliders are known to carry salmonella at times, but in most cases do not exhibit any symptoms of being ill.
>>
>>Some species or stressed reptiles are very prone to having pathogens take over & kill them, unless the right environment, foods, and medication are given to control & eliminate the problem(s).
>>
>>I would probably report the petshop, if this is an ongoing problem, as they are selling sick animals to un-suspecting customers. It may warrant a report to the SPCA or other agencies to investigate.
>>
>>Goodluck with your current Schneider's skink, Morticia.
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GratefulFred

I am trying to understand the chain of events.

It sounds like the salmonella problem with the snakes is a seperate issue, so I won't go there.

If I have this right then, your daughter has 2 skinks which she has researched well and husbandry and diet are presumed good.

One has a fractured leg... how did this happen?

A new diet was prescribed... why? Is this a supportive diet to help with the stress of healing? Was the fracture related to mineral deficiencies, thus dietary correction was needed? Is this a replacement diet, or a short term prescribed diet?

What else was done for the fracture? A splint or body bandage?

I would seperate the wounded skink into a "hospital cage". Something small, super easy asap as needed, but which also meets temperature, security, and humidity perameters. Usually this involves a water dish, plastic hide box, and a couple layers of paper towels (to still allow "burrowing".

To be extra helpfull, I would overview your daughter's research and be certain yourself that husbandry is optimal.

I hope all goes well... if this is an uncomplicated case, then fractures usually heal nicely with time and care

Ian

I would seperate the wounded skink into a "hospital cage". Something small, super easy TO CLEAN asap as needed, but which also meets temperature, security, and humidity perameters.

Cheers, Ian

Thank you.

The diet prescribed was because we did not know why she suffered the fracture. My first thought was metabolic bone disease. The vet also thought it could have been due to high salmonella levels. (I found this feasable, since the skinks came from the same trade as the dead snakes.)

So, the skinks were put into small, separate cages, with newspaper substrate, and given the perscribed diet. As far as temps, substrate, etc. all my findings back up hers as to what's ideal.

The bloodwork on the injured skink came back OK. The skink that died was not tested.

I don't know if the dead skink may have had high salmonella levels that killed him. (But he was asymptomaic, unlike my snakes that died.) Or if, perhaps the diet suppliment may have had something in toxic proportions. If that were the case, it would be impotant to know, so as to make adjustments to the surviving skink's diet.

I am really brainstorming for ideas here. I really, really want to help her save her remaining skink!

Thanks so much for your realpis.

By the way, Ian, did you get those necropsy results you asked me to send you?

>>I would seperate the wounded skink into a "hospital cage". Something small, super easy TO CLEAN asap as needed, but which also meets temperature, security, and humidity perameters.
>>
>>Cheers, Ian
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GratefulFred

I did recieve them Fred, thanks a lot!

Which skink died, the fractured leg one or the other? What is the natural diet of this species? Omnivorous or insectivorous? Is it eating well? The insect portion of it's diet is best served if you raise the bugs for at least a week on good quality insect chow; then dust in calcium powder prior to feeding. You can't really go wrong this way.
Not many skinks need UVB lighting, but this might prove beneficial for yours. Double check this and error on the side of caution.

As I'm writing this, I'm thinking that metabolic bone disease would have been detected with bloodwork if a chemestry was done. What did the X-rays show?

All in all, I think you're on the right track, and don't see any errors in the plan of action.

Ian

It was the skink without the fracture that died. He seemed healthy.

They are omnivorous, and have been good eaters.

They tend to go more for the insects than the veggies, but do take some. They have been fed gut-loaded crickets, and sometimes mealworms. They are offered romaine lettuce, and varied fruits and other veggies, but prefer the bugs.

Temps are around 86f with 98f basking spot.

>>I did recieve them Fred, thanks a lot!
>>
>>Which skink died, the fractured leg one or the other? What is the natural diet of this species? Omnivorous or insectivorous? Is it eating well? The insect portion of it's diet is best served if you raise the bugs for at least a week on good quality insect chow; then dust in calcium powder prior to feeding. You can't really go wrong this way.
>>Not many skinks need UVB lighting, but this might prove beneficial for yours. Double check this and error on the side of caution.
>>
>>As I'm writing this, I'm thinking that metabolic bone disease would have been detected with bloodwork if a chemestry was done. What did the X-rays show?
>>
>>All in all, I think you're on the right track, and don't see any errors in the plan of action.
>>
>>Ian
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GratefulFred

Oh, and, yes, they are provided with UVB light.
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GratefulFred

Sorry, she corrected me on temps.

Cool side 86 and hot side about 104.
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GratefulFred

Due to this species usually being WC, you may want to have a fecal done as a preventative measure.

This species is from the desert/steppes regions of north Africa, so UVb would be a good idea. It's also an omnivorous skink. More info is in the attached caresheet.

Goodluck
Link

>>Due to this species usually being WC, you may want to have a fecal done as a preventative measure.
>>
>> This species is from the desert/steppes regions of north Africa, so UVb would be a good idea. It's also an omnivorous skink. More info is in the attached caresheet.
>>
>>Goodluck
>>Link

Thank you.
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GratefulFred