Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I bought this snake at a reptile show about 2 weeks ago, along with 2 of her siblings. About a week ago, she began looking very wrinkled. I don't remember her eyes being blue at that time. Her siblings were, and still are, fine. None of them had eaten for me at that time. However, the seller assured me that they had all eaten. I was quite concerned, and decided to assist feed her. I successfully got her to take a fuzzy mouse, and I soaked her in a small tub of water for about 30 minutes. She seemed to be looking better, but this morning I checked her and she again looks very emaciated; this time her eyes are blue. She always has water available, and is in a small shoebox rack along with her 2 siblings and 6 other hatchling snakes (all in separate shoeboxes). I attempted to soak her this morning in water that was precisely the same temp as her (checked with infrared thermometer). She wanted nothing to do with the water, and scrambled to get out.

I have another baby that is in shed, and she doesn't have the extreme wrinkled appearance.

questions:
Is she simply in shed, and I have nothing to worry about?

Should I assist feed again?

Should I "force" the soak in a tub of water?

Any other advice?

Thank you for any advice given!
Steve

One sibling regurged the night that I brought them home. I just discovered that she regurged again last night. The other sibling has loose, runny stools. So, I'm thinking a bacterial infection in those two, and that may be the problem, or at least contributing to the problem with this snake. I'm going to get some meds to treat the bacterial infection today.

Still, any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
Steve

you have no way of knowing if it is a bacterial infection without getting lab work done by a vet. I would get a fecal done at the vet so you can get the proper meds for treatment.

Reticguy2,
Thank you for your valuable advice! The recommended local herp vet is in the office tomorrow, so I will take all 3 in to see her tomorrow.

Thanks again!
Steve

no problem and thanks for responding. please post when you find out more.

the snake pictured is in shed. No need to soak it but you can provide a little extra humidity by misting the cage lightly once a day until it sheds. I don't see any reason for force feeding or assist feeding, and snakes usually don't eat when in shed anyway. Snakes normally will eat when conditions are right and you offer what they want, either small mice or rat pups should work.

Since we didn't have a stool sample, the vet decided to treat for both worms and bacterial infection. I'll be orally administering 3 different meds to all 3 snakes. She tube fed the regurgitating snake. Also, she recommended assist feeding the pictured snake until she starts feeding on her own. Finally she recommended soaking the pictured snake 3 times a week until wrinkling goes away.

I feel pretty good about the results, and I think I'll end up with 3 very nice ball pythons!

Thanks again for your advice,
Steve

Thanks for the update! I agree with some of that and don't agree on part and I will tell you why. I agree with a shotgun therapy and I'm guessing the vet gave them panacur and flagyl. Flagyl cleans them out well and also has vitamin B, which stimulates their appetites. I don't agree with tube feeding a snake that has recently regurged. When a snake regurges a meal they need a full 2 weeks for their stomach acids to build back up. Thats something the average vet would not know, and if the snake regurges again it will need 2 weeks to recover followed by very small meals for several months. And then only offered every 9-12 days. Its a slow process bringing a snake back from that and too much feeding would end up killing them for sure. I also see no need to soak a snake when in shed. They certainly don't sit in a pond in Africa when they are in shed, so why would they need it in captivity? I think you should try to get your snake to eat on its own before force feeding. Vets are very book smart, my post comes from 30+ years of experience with the snakes.

reticguy2,
Thanks for your response. The meds are flagyl, baytril and ivomec. I see your point about the tube feeding. Understand, I'm not in any way arguing about your points, only saying that we were concerned that the snake had not had any nourishment in the time that I have had it, and really didn't know if it ever had. Regarding the soaking of the other snake, the concern is more that the snake appears dehydrated, rather than because it is in shed. She has a very wrinkled appearance that perhaps doesn't show well in the pictures. Roger Klingenberg, in "the Ball Python Manual" recommends tube feeding Gatorade or Pedialyte to rehydrate. What are your thoughts on that? By the way, if you have that book available, the picture on page 57 of the clinically dehydrated snake is a very good representation of what my girl looks like. I greatly appreciate your advice and any additional advice will also be appreciated!

Steve

Hi Steve, now that you posted more information about treatment I think your vet made good choices. As long as you don't try to rush the feeding with that one I think they should be fine. I'll be looking for a good update on these!

Thanks, again. I feel a whole lot better about the situation now!

I just finished creating clay pot hides for all my snakes. I can soak or spray the pot to add humidity, which works very well. The one snake that I have had for 4 years, and has always had shedding problems, just had a complete, beautiful shed! Currently the humidity in the dehydrated baby's enclosure is 79%.

Thanks!
Steve

Well, she shed last night, and looks much better! The wrinkling is gone. After her meds tonight, I saw her drinking from her water dish. I'm going to stop soaking her, and won't assist feed again unless it becomes absolutely necessary. None of the three are feeding at this time, but I know I don't feel much like eating after having nasty tasting meds shoved in my mouth. Several more days of Flagyl, then we have another week of Baytril every other day, and one more dose of Ivomec.

Thanks,
Steve