Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I bought my MBK about five months ago. a month after I bought her, I noticed she had mites. No other snakes in the care of the person I bought her from had mites, nor did the rest of my collection. It truely baffled me as to how she got them. I treated her, and since then no more mites. However, she's had shedding issues ever since. I've been soaking her in a small container with warm water with damp towels, shedding aids from pet stores, ect, and nothing. This is her third problem shed.

Also, there is noticable (I want to say swelling, but I'm not sure it's the right term for it) of her mouth. She cannot close it properly, and gets aspen shavings in it now and then (which I take out during the daily exercise). She is still eating live or f/t, and I can feed her by hand. Her temperment is amazing, and by far the most easily handled snake I've ever had, despite the initial problems I had at first. (I had an escape scare, which resulted in the little thing being knocked out of her cage ( a small shoebox type set up) and harassed by my cats for a night and day. She had tiny little sores on her, treated with neosporin, and now is doing great, other than what I described here).

What I'm asking is, is there anything else I can do to help ease her shedding? As for the "swelling" I'm aware that can occur during shedding, so it'd make sense. I'm just worried about my little girl, and unsure as to what my next move should be. I have a vet visit scheduled for this Thursday the 13th, but I'd love to know if I'm missing a simple little remedy that I could do, instead of spending a couple hundred dollars at the vets.

My set up currently is simple, as I've been watching if there will be another outbreak of mites. She's in a 20gal long terrarium with aspen shavings about 3 inch thick on the bottom. A shallow water dish, and a small hide. I have a heat pad by her hide.

>>>"Also, there is noticable (I want to say swelling, but I'm not sure it's the right term for it) of her mouth. She cannot close it properly, and gets aspen shavings in it now and then"

**** This is not a good sign at all, and it sounds like either signs of "mouth rot"(infectious stomatitis), and/or a sign of gaping because of a respiratory infection. Both these ailments are seen fairly often in the hobby. I would definitely recommend you keep your vet appointment, and get the snake looked at as soon as possible, quick diagnoses of either illness are key to the snake surviving. With a gaped mouth, I'm really surprised that the snake is still voluntarily feeding, usually they stop, and go on a decline from there.

best regards, ~Doug
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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"

That's the thing that puzzles me. When she feeds, it's instant, though not aggressive. I was able to take a peek inside her mouth after she fed, and I didn't notice any irregularities. I supposed I should just be happy that she has a healthy appetite still.

Thanks for your advice. I plan on keeping my appointment now, and will continue trying with the soaking to see if she'll shed before then. I'll try to post a picture later on, so you can see the mouth gaping.

n/p
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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"

So I took my MBK to the vet college on Thursday. They took a bacterial culture, and prescribed Meloxicam and Enrofloxacin, for an ulcer in the mouth, and inflammation. My vet advised to place her on a vitamin supplement as well. I also continued with soaking her in a small container with warm water and a towel. She shed around 7pm, and then ate a small pinky, though refused the pinky coated in a vitamin supplement, picky girl. Her energy is up, and looks SO much better.

Thanks to Doug for his advice, you're amazing!

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