Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I purchased an adult Rufous Beaked Snake today. I have him in a 30 Gal Long. He has a pretty bad rubbed nose and has been rubbing it in the tank ever since I set it up. I have heard that neosporin is good to treat rubbed noses, is there a better (reptile specific) medication that I should use? Also, is there any tips that anyone has to encourage him not to continue rubbing? The tank that he is in is 1 1/2 times longer than he is, and he has plenty of room. Any advice is appreciated.

Rob

There are many possible issues here and none that can be adequately covered as you did not provide very much information. Here some important things:

- I'm assuming this is a wild caught import. If so, you have some considerations:
1. Parasites: check for external (mites/ticks) and internal parasites. Most likely, this snake has some of these and this can cause a fresh import to be very irritable (active). Get a complete fecal and blood work up done asap.

2. Cage/Size: even though you may think the cage is big enough, you may in fact, not be providing adequate space. Make sure you are providing a good thermal gradient, and, make sure you are providing a deep, thick layer of substrate for burrowing. Provide many hide areas as well.

3. Natural History: having an extensive knowledge of the natural history of this particular species is crucial in long term success.

NOSE RUBS: Neosporin will work fine but you may want to keep the snake in a simple set up for a few days to prevent debris from accumulating on the affected area. I would first clean the area with a weakened betadine solution and then apply the neosporin.

Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center
www.thegrassisrattling.com

>>I purchased an adult Rufous Beaked Snake today. I have him in a 30 Gal Long. He has a pretty bad rubbed nose and has been rubbing it in the tank ever since I set it up. I have heard that neosporin is good to treat rubbed noses, is there a better (reptile specific) medication that I should use? Also, is there any tips that anyone has to encourage him not to continue rubbing? The tank that he is in is 1 1/2 times longer than he is, and he has plenty of room. Any advice is appreciated.
>>
>>Rob
-----
Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, IL

Thank you!!! The dealer said that he was captive born, however this was at a reptile show, so you never know. He is flawless no scars other than the rubbed nose, but I am scheduling a vet appointment just in case. I checked him over for external parasites as soon as I purchased him and he was clean. I purchased some reptile antiseptic to treat him with so hopefully that works. I also provided him with several other hides and this seems to have calmed him down quite a bit. Thank you for the advice. I had never had a snake do that before so I got a little nervous.

Thanks Again,

Rob

Rob gave some great advice. But when all else fails, cover up the sides so they arn't transparent. That'll get you through until you've done some troubleshooting.

Ian

Agreed. I would get a large rubermaid style enclosure and keep it out of sight for awhile. I would also make sure that it was deep enough that the snake could not easily get to the airholes further complicate the issue. Ive seen snakes try to push there way through air holes before and end up with a major nose issue.

These snakes are extreamly active, much like an African Black racer and will need some time to adjust, even if it is a CB.

Just be patient and keep the little guy out of veiw for a bit untill h ebecome aclimated.

My 2 cents.

Agreed. I would get a large rubermaid style enclosure and keep it out of sight for awhile. I would also make sure that it was deep enough that the snake could not easily get to the airholes further complicating the issue. Ive seen snakes try to push their way through air holes before and end up with a major nose issue.

These snakes are extreamly active, much like a Black racer and will need some time to adjust, even if it is a CB.

Just be patient and keep the little guy out of veiw for a bit untill he becomes aclimated.

My 2 cents.

Buddy said it was captive born, and you said its an adult??? Who is this dealer? He is full of [bleep], Don Shultz lucked out with some wild caught adults that came in gravid this past september, and I think another person lucked out with a gravid female this past winter as well. Just this past fall
I bred a female I imported over 2 years ago and had some babies. And there was a guy in South Africa that bred Rufous like 8 months ago but prior to these few breedings, nobody else accept 3 reptile parks ever bred Rufous beak snakes. 2 are located in africa and one was in Europe. So if someone sold you an Adult as a captive born well they were telling you stories to help promote the sale to you!
I dont even think anybody else had rufous beaked snakes in captivity besides me a year ago, and I only had them because I specifically requested someone in East Africa to collect them for me. just a year ago you would have never seen rufous beaked snakes offered. So there is no way have a captive born adult.

as pertaining to your rubbed nose, I keep all my Rufous beaked snakes in rubber maids on a rack system and have never experienced rubbed noses. I keep them in aspen bedding and lay a a few sheets of paper towel for them to burrow under neath.

Rufous beaked snakes spend much of their lives in rodent tunnels or termite mounds, so perhaps your snake is unhappy. put in about 3 inches of aspen bedding so it can burrow under it and lay a piece of paper towel down and perhaps it will stop feeling a neeed to escape.

why is this snake in the venomous forums? yes it is rear-fanged but the venom has absolutely no effect on human beings and should not be considered a hot, you cant even consider it warm!