Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just purchased 2 hatchling eastern hogs and the seller included 3 others with the purchase. Upon arrival today, I clearly see that each of the 3 extras have hard lumps/bumps on them. (I'm not complaining - they were free). I was told they are water blisters and they should shed it out, but I wanted to hear other opinions. The strange thing is I purchased another eastern hatchling a few weeks back (from another breeder) that arrived with no bumps, but developed a few within 48 hours. They looked exactly the same.
I walked in the room a few days later and she had swallowed some aspen bedding. (I pulled out what I could and have switched all hatchlings to paper towels) A week and a half later (after eating 2 meals) she was dead. I assume it was from swallowing the bedding. This was the first snake I've lost since I started keeping snakes again 3 years ago. It was a sad day.

It seems odd that I've seen the same bumps on the same species from different breeders.

Anyway, I have a local vet I work with, but wanted to hear anyone's experiences.

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1.0 Malagasy Giant Hognose
0.1 Jungle Carpet Python
1.0 Black Milk
1.0 Black Pine
1.0 White Lipped Python
0.1 Guyana Red Tail Boa
1.0 Yellowtail Cribo
1.0 Unicolor Cribo
0.0.1 Blacktail Cribo
0.1 Eastern Hognose

Could it possibly be ticks or mites under the scales?? I have had snakes with kinks, but have never seen what you are describing. Please let us know what the vet says and good look.
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Jenea

2:3:1 Tricolor Hognose (plus babies)
4:2 Eastern Hognose
1:2 Western Hognose
0:2 Southern Hognose
0:0:3 Florida Redbelly Snakes
0:1 Gulf Coast Box Turtle
1:1 Red-eared Slider
1:2 Eastern Fence Lizards
2:0 Cats
1:1 Kids
1:0 Spouse

looks like blister disease, necrotizing dermatitis, which is highly contagious and fatal if not treated accordingly, usally caused by wet conditions and high humidity, more likely wet conditions, easily cured in early stages, in late stages, most snakes succumb to septecemia and die from internal blood infection
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Frank Roberts
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John Rodriguez and Frank Roberts or vise versa

blisters are usually not hard in this condition and are usually easily popped and filled with fluid
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Frank Roberts
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John Rodriguez and Frank Roberts or vise versa

Thanks for the input. It looks pretty far along at this point, but I'm working on getting some antibiotics for them. I've already treated with betadine cream and followed up with neopsporin. I'm keeping the container bone dry and giving them access to water outside their container.
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1.0 Malagasy Giant Hognose
0.1 Jungle Carpet Python
1.0 Black Milk
1.0 Black Pine
1.0 White Lipped Python
0.1 Guyana Red Tail Boa
1.0 Yellowtail Cribo
1.0 Unicolor Cribo
0.0.1 Blacktail Cribo
0.1 Eastern Hognose

You may not want to use neosporin on the snake for that purpose. The ointment will not allow the areas to dry out. A topical solution would be better to use. Good luck.
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Steve W.

Thanks. Any OTC the suggestions?
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1.0 Malagasy Giant Hognose
0.1 Jungle Carpet Python
1.0 Black Milk
1.0 Black Pine
1.0 White Lipped Python
0.1 Guyana Red Tail Boa
1.0 Yellowtail Cribo
1.0 Unicolor Cribo
0.0.1 Blacktail Cribo
0.1 Eastern Hognose

If you're worried about toxicity you can try a mix of betadine and corn starch. Corn starch is one of the ingredients in anti-fungal powders and it seems to work good on drying up sores and blisters. Swab it on. The best thing would be some injectable antibiotics prescribed by a vet.
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Steve W.

I look at it as you took them even though you new they were sick. Good for you as long as you intend to get them the best care and keep them separate from your other snakes. I do this but usually with monitor lizards and it is quite rewarding to see them get well quickly.
Nick

I'd received an email from the seller that the 2 I'd bought had just been mailed and he threw in a "couple" of extra and that they have a few blisters that would shed out. At that point they were already on the way. I'm doing what I can to get them healthy, but it's sad that they were already in such bad shape. I'm hoping that the other 2 are going to be fine.

On a positive note, one of the healthy ones ate a scented pinkie today.
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1.0 Malagasy Giant Hognose
0.1 Jungle Carpet Python
1.0 Black Milk
1.0 Black Pine
1.0 White Lipped Python
0.1 Guyana Red Tail Boa
1.0 Yellowtail Cribo
1.0 Unicolor Cribo
0.0.1 Blacktail Cribo
0.1 Eastern Hognose