Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm not sure if this is the right forum or not but here goes. I just recently purchased an Anrey Honduran milk snake adult male. When I got him he was covered in mites, dehydrated, untamed, and had/has these odd sores. I have taken care of the all of the problems except for the sores and the tameness (he is getting used to being handled though and no longer musk’s me!! thank goodness). I was wondering if anyone knew what they might be... I can’t get a good pic sense he won’t sit still but I can try to describe them as best I can. They are kind of yellow and look like dried up puss. They are about the twice or three times the size of the space between the normal scales and aren’t too big. Some of them are located between scales along the back, a few on his belly scales, and some on his face that run from his eye to just before his nostril, as well as down to his mouth on both sides of the head. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I would like to treat it myself as there are no herp or exotic vets close to me. Once I gave him some water he perked up and is feeding fine, and the sores don’t seem to bother him too much. Thanks in advance for any and all help.

It sounds like old pustules from the snake being kept in a very wet environment to me. The ventral(belly) scales usually turn a brownish coloration as well. These pustules are caused from the moisture getting up under the scales and start to get fungus/bacteria built up in the skin. This can be remedied with gently submerging the snake in a Hydrogen Peroxide solution(except for the nostrils) for a few minutes once or twice a day until they clear up,...Putting some Betadine in this solution can also be beneficial.

These sores should start to look much better within a week or so, but continue this for a bit longer, as you don't want them to have a chance of reappearing. Also, make absolutely SURE the snake is NOT allowed to soak in it's waterbowl!, as this is sure to foul things up even more. Put a SMALL waterbowl in the enclosure to prevent this from happening, you want things to get better, not worse.

I don't know where you acquired it from, but it could have been forced to stay in substrate that the waterbowl got tipped over in, and never changed from the previous owner. Another strong possibility, is the snake was kept at temperatures that were too high......Honduran's often seek their waterbowls if temps get around 85 degrees and above.

Good luck!, ~Doug

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

Thanks for the help. That would make sense that the snake was kept in a festering environment... hence the mites, dehydration, and sores. They have already started to go down since I keep him on blank newsprint but I will do the hydrogen peroxide as well. Do you dilute it at all?

No,.....it will be just fine full strength.

BTW,...That sounds like a very lucky snake,....I'm sure it will do MUCH better in your care now,........talk about neglect!..

Best of luck with your new snake!

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