Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Here is the scenario...

I have a 6ft female boa. She last ate on 7/10, and has refused to eat since. I had a mite problem right before her last meal, but too care of it. Now,they are back and I have sprayed the cage with Prevent-a-Mite which seems to have taken care of my issue. Since her last meal she has deficated 4 times (this being the 4th.) I found it odd, because she shouldn't have had anything left in her stomach. I asked around at the local pet store where I know the owner and few others, personally. They came to the conclusion it was normal or she had a backup and was getting rid of it.
Now, that is the background. I may just be paranoid, but I want some reassurance. Her recent defication looks unusual to me. It is pale, slightly greasy, and there was a bit of clear/gel-like fluid around it. I don't think you can see that in the picture though. Please, help me come up with something. It just seems to odd.

Thank you

How long have you had her and what is she eating (f/t? prekilled? Rats/Bunnies?)
I got paranoid after having to treat for ameoboid invadens last year but I would also say I have seen that sort of poops from f/t animals that weren't 'right'. Maybe going bad?
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Sonya

I'm not mean. You're just a sissy.
Happy Bunny

I've had her for almost 2mos. She is eating live because she absolutely refuses anything else. The only way I could get her to eat the first time was with live. Before I got her she was eating 2 jumbo rats a week. She only took 1 from me and nothing since.What exactly did you treat for? Sorry, I'e never heard of it.
-Thanks for your help
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Randa "Rai" Hallock
r.hallock@yahoo.com
Columbian Boa Constrictors

That fecal mass looks similar to one that would be passed by a snake with the beginning stages of amebiasis, of which the causative protozoan organism is Entamoeba invadens. It could easily be another type of problem or parasite, but either way, you need to get your boa to a vet for a fecal analysis. Also, be sure to isolate this snake from the rest of your collection.

Kelly

>>That fecal mass looks similar to one that would be passed by a snake with the beginning stages of amebiasis, of which the causative protozoan organism is Entamoeba invadens. It could easily be another type of problem or parasite, but either way, you need to get your boa to a vet for a fecal analysis. Also, be sure to isolate this snake from the rest of your collection.
>>
>>Kelly

correctly. I was too tired to go find my photocopy of the info.
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Sonya

I'm not mean. You're just a sissy.
Happy Bunny

alright,assuming this could be it...
what is the treatment? i can't find much info and what i do find is terrifying.
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Randa "Rai" Hallock
r.hallock@yahoo.com
Columbian Boa Constrictors

>>alright,assuming this could be it...
>>what is the treatment? i can't find much info and what i do find is terrifying.
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>>Randa "Rai" Hallock
>>r.hallock@yahoo.com
>>Columbian Boa Constrictors

Metronidazole AKA flagyl , it is simple really.....get a vet check and a accurate weight and dose and basically you follow through with doses every two weeks. I had trouble with two snakes not getting more than two doses and having it reoccur so I will say, be religious about accurate, on time dosing and go beyond when you think you need to. Drymarchon and Lampropeltis can be sensitive to the drug but it really has a very good tolerance and low problem rate.
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Sonya

I'm not mean. You're just a sissy.
Happy Bunny

At least the flagyl I got was liquid, oral dose and sticky. It takes forever to shake up, settles quickly and needs refrigerating. So I would warm up the bottle, while I shook it constantly. About the time it was room temp and I could dose it it was also mixed up enough. Then I would syringe out enough and dose carefully so it didn't overflow and get spit out and stickify the whole place. With a snake as big as yours you are likely to be bathing in it unless there is a different dosage. BTW, definitely change to paper bedding for a while, less messy.
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Sonya

I'm not mean. You're just a sissy.
Happy Bunny

Especially since metronidazole can be found in the states without a prescription I just wanted to add that we are still only guessing and that the snake still needs to be properly diagnosed for adequate treatment.

This of course is mostly a note for whomever may be skimming this thread in the future and looking for shortcuts.

Ian

I just wanted to thank you all for your responses. I took "Eve" to her doctor and I found out she is perfectly fine. I took in a stool sample and it came back clean. He did a complete exam and a light dose of something I can't spell just in case she had any small parasites. Again thanks so much for your responses!
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Randa "Rai" Hallock
r.hallock@yahoo.com
Columbian Boa Constrictors