Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Found this snake last year. I have had a few problems with stuck sheds. She didn't feed for a couple months after the first episode, and didn't have enough weight to ovulate. She pulled out of it last time, and began feeding voraciously. Again she had a stuck shed and is refusing food again. She has really good weight, and appears healthy, but I dont want her to get skinny and miss another breeding season. The only parasiticide I have ready access to is panacur. Has anyone ever used this stuff before? It comes in a pastelike consistency, and I'm not sure how much, or how to administer. The obvious answer is to dilute the paste and inject it into a mouse, but how much? Does anyone have any experience with this stuff? Help please.

Why would you consider using Panicur for stuck sheds?? It sounds more to me like you have a humidity issue?

~ Mike

the reason the snake is having stuck sheds is an overall health issue, not humidity. No matter how heavily the snake feeds she never really gains much weight, which leads me to believe she is parasitized. Most snakes have some parasite or other, but in nature they don't cause as many problems as they do in a cage.

A friend of mine recently had an animal with a regurge issue. He he adminisered Panicur paste using a syringe (w/no needle of course) right into the snake's mouth..

I will call him later on today and ask him if he remembers the cc to gram conversion for administration.

~ Mike Russo

Mike,

1cc = 1g
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0.1 Everglades Rat

No, what i meant was how many CC's of Panicur per Gram of animal.. so he can properly dose his animal..

any info is greatly appreciated.

you want to do about 50mg/kg to start. Then repeat it in 2 weeks. Make sure you check the dilution of your panacur and adjust accordingly. I have never treated a snake, but you could probably inject prey if she will eat. Make sure to check the cage often as she will crap out the parasites, some of wich will only be half dead.

Collin,

I tried to call you earlier this weekend! There is some good advice that has been given on this post regarding the use of Panacur. For years, I was told it was a totally safe drug to use. I heard claims that ten times the normal dose would not harm the snake at all....nowadays, I have found that to be false. It is somewhat dangerous to use....I lost a green rat snake this year because I used Panacur on the animal at the recommended dose. The problem arose when I retreated the animal after two weeks....

The best strategy to use is to acquire a fecal from the animal and take the sample to a vet that can read a fecal (virtual all of them can!)....Tom Greek specializes in herps and he is in your area.....that will let you know what the problem with the animal is....

Then, dose the snake with Panacur at a dosage recommended earlier of 50 mg/kg if the animal is being parasitized by nematodes such as pinworms (a common reptilian parasite).....NO MORE....anyway, hope this helps.....g