Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I had my new chondro to the vet yesterday and he put it on cephalexia or cephalexin im not sure exactly which spelling it is. Has anyone every had their snakes put on this? He also said to dust his mice with reptile vitamins and put electrolites in the water. I soaked it in a bath last night with warm water, electrolites and disolved vit dust. He said the wierd bumps on my chondro may be mites. Upon further inspection last night I did find some mites on him and treated for that with dawn original scented dish soap(works wonders on mites). He also told me to raise the temps a bit to get his metabolizim started more. I have his high temp hovering in the low 90's. I am keeping him moist as well. The vet took a fecal which I hope to hear about by tomarrow. I have him kept away from the rest of my animals.

The vet also told me to get this industural strength fly paper that will kill mites with its scent alone just to keep it 6 or 7 feet from the animals. Anyone ever heard of that?

He seems to be feeling a bit better today. He moved around more and was more explorative. He at with not problem either. When I got him saturday I assumed he was cb. It appears he is either captive breed by a mass wholesaler, captive hatcher or farm bred. He dosnt hiss or strick either. Very nice snake. I really hope he pulls through ok and with little to no damage to liver or kidneys. We shall see. I'll keep everyone posted. My other chondro I introduced to you guys a few months ago is doing well. He is getting ready to start his second shed I believe. I cant wait til I can sex them. Sorry for the story, I just feel stupid for falling for this. I always take way better care to pic from a private breeder. He was too beautiful to pass up.

Holy crap get another vet - you have a dr frank in progress there whihc is a vet that knows little about herps experimenting with your critter.

Cefalexin is a braod spectrum antibiotic whihc is realtively new. IMO it should not be used as a front line (first) treatment but is suited to problems that are resitant. If this was doen without a culture it is a mistake.

Mice should not be dusted with supplments for any snake ever, vitamins in a water bath have no impact.

Using pedialyte (available at the grocery stroe) in the water bowl is a reasonabel thing to do for dehydrated animals

Those bumps are not mites, mites are visible on the surface of the animla. they may be roundworms. The "no pest strip" you refer to is called a vapona strip and it KILLS reptiels and should never be used. Provent-a-mite from pro prodcuts or ivermectin are the mite treatments. Do not use a vapona strip, it is not 1989.

Temps up on a sick animal and quarantine is good advcie alwasy

What casues you to conclude it is a wild caught animla, cna you tell us more about symptoms and problems?

Ross

Necessary PS = Statements made are our opinion and are not meant to in any way be definitive diagnostic or treatment information for animals. See a qualified veterinarian for veterinary advice.
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Spruce Nubble Farm, Inc. - Green Tree Pythons, Carpet Pythons, Carpondros, Kinkajous, Horses
http://www.SpruceNubbleFarm.com
69 Spruce Nubble Road
Strong, ME 04983
(207)-684-3539
eFax: (512)-853-3820

I got it from a vender at the show. He didnt give me much info on it and didnt know the local. Local isnt important to me anyway. Its just a guess as to wild caught or not. I know the guy is a broker because he offered a friend money for all his burms if he didnt sell them by days end. Im thinking if it is captive, the breeders may have been mass breeders for whole sale. A good quiality breeder seems like it wouldnt have mites or skin bumps. I like to buy from good breeders which i have done in the past. That is where i got my first chondro. My goal wasnt to get a gtp at the show, rather just reduce my collection and have a fun day. This little guy was to beautiful to pass up and the price was reasonable. You said they maybe hook worms. How do you treat them? The vet said he has worked on herps before but is limited. In my areas, this is the best I can do. That is why I am listing the results here so you experts can help me. I should hear back on the fecal soon. Spruc i have been to your site many time. I enjoy the info on there and would like to thank you for it. I plan on getting that book and a scope to check myself. it was 139 dollars for him to come and look at my snake, give me those meds and take a fecal sample. He eats fine with no need to tease feed or anything which is why i question my judgement on wc. He also doesnt strike. he is very cool though. I would like to ask you where I can aquire those meds you said about on your site. Panacure (i think) and the other one. thanks

Shows are difficult - I still end up going home with critters I didn't really "want" - LOL, I know just what you mean. Vet costs are always killer, we spend about $650 a month on vet bills here on the farm.

I am totally guessing as to what the bumps may be, there are numerous possilbities but the most likely is worms, which cna usually be treated with flagyl. There are lots of places to get the meds online, lambriravetsupply.com is a good one. As a wrod of caution by the time worms have gotten to skin bump stage they are very difficult to clear, keep the animal well hydrated and feeding. Be aware the bumps may be nothing more than harmless deposits though and wait for that fecal anaalysis.

Any other questions feel free to ask.

All the best,

Ross
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Spruce Nubble Farm, Inc. - Green Tree Pythons, Carpet Pythons, Carpondros, Kinkajous, Horses
http://www.SpruceNubbleFarm.com
69 Spruce Nubble Road
Strong, ME 04983
(207)-684-3539
eFax: (512)-853-3820

here are some pics oh the bumps

oh and is this normal coloration for the underbelly?

and just some pics of him. This post cant be just about bad thiings. ^_^

Got in touch with the vet today and he said my chondro was clean of parasites and worms. Still not sure what the bumps are. He said to keep giving him the cephlex and to put a topical on his cuts. Also to keep him hydrated. Any thoughts on the results?

First off I am neither a VET nor do I have any veterinarian background, with that said I have owned reptiles for 20 years so I have some experience on my side.
Why does he have him on Antibiotics? For the mites or the bumps or just because? I know ticks can burrow underneath the skin if left unnoticed. The snake has mites I can make out one on its spine in your photos. Personally I would concentrate on the hydration and killing off the mites, a shed or two might get right of the bumps if not I know of something called Snake Blistering but that shouldn’t affect arboreal snakes unless this guy was not given anything to climb on. Snake blistering is caused by a snake laying in its own poo or some snakes like kings/milks laying in moist substrate. I hope this helps, and good luck.

The vet said to put him on antibiotics. Id imagine it wont hurt due to the abraisans on the side. I am working on the hydration and putting weight on the snake. I did treat for mites.

It sure sounds to me like you need a new vet. The advice you are getting does not sound like it's coming from a reputable herp vet.

Antibiotics... just because?!! That's insanity, I don't know any vet (and I know many) that will prescribe antibiotics without a specific goal in mind.

Also, what vet takes several days to run a fecal? You should get results from a fecal very same day if they do it in house, or next day if they send the fecals out to the lab.

I would not put much value in the "clean" fecal results you got. If the sample was not fresh when it was read under the microscope it may yeild very poor results.

You got an import snake because it was cheap... by the time your vet finishes with you, you could have purchased one of those nice captive bred snakes. Maybe next time.

The bumps on the skin are probably subdural worms. They are usually removed with a lance. These are the adult worms that have settled under the skin. Keep concentrating on the hydration of your snake, then concentrate on getting rid of the parasites. Don't try to treat this one yourself.... you've got yourself an import and they are tricky enough for experienced gtp keepers to establish. Good luck!

Im not sure if this is an import, but rather someone who bought mass gtps and animals (broker) and didnt take proper care. As for self treating, I am not. The vet did the samples that day. He also works out of town. He isnt a "herp" vet, but a general vet. Here where I live that is the only flavor they come in. I knew from the time I got it that I'd have to put effort into it. This is not my first gtp. This will be my second, and he was just to beautiful to pass up. My first is a captive bred sorong. He is fine and dandy. I am sure the reason for the antibiotics being used is for the brown spots on his back. They may be infected and he wants to prevent that. I am also asking about the themozine stuff (not sure if its spelled rigt, also refered to as silver something or other) to add as a topical that is better at infections than neosporin. I will be moving sometime soon and hopefully my new area will have a good reptile vet.

The point made by others is correct -a "clean" fecal does not mean the animal does not have parasites, it measn that no evidence of them was passed in that particular sample.

The pics look like ones I'd take, not the best. I didn't see the mite but that is good you are treating for them. Provent-amite and a ridiculous amount of cage cleaning. Be aware a mite can move as muhc as 15 feet in one day and treating an enclosure often puts them on the move - we quarantine on the third floor and our main rack room is on the first and I am still nervous about that.

In terms of the bumps I agree that adult worms are the most lilely caseu but I don't know, if that is what they are it is an advanced stage and the overall prognosis is not great.

Slow and staeady is your best bet here, keep us posted.

All the best,

Ross
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Spruce Nubble Farm, Inc. - Green Tree Pythons, Carpet Pythons, Carpondros, Kinkajous, Horses
http://www.SpruceNubbleFarm.com
69 Spruce Nubble Road
Strong, ME 04983
(207)-684-3539
eFax: (512)-853-3820

I'll keep you updated. It does seem to have more energy these days. Before if left on the gournd, He'd stay there. Last night he went from ground to the top perch. I have been keeping him hydrated and tonight is feeding night so hopefully over the next couple weeks we will see some improvements. I am moving next weekend to camp hill PA. Im sure that being so close to harrisburg and loads of other places that there will be a exotics vet there. Thanks for the help. I will admit I am sceptical about the vets results. But again, I have no clue for I am not a vet and I didnt see the fecal under a scope myself.