Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Will be be attending a reptile show in the next year or so nearer to Texas? You're in Florida, right? I ask because if you have something for sell I'd like to pick something up and see your snakes. I understood your favorite thing is not shipping.

Also thanx for the reply. Would you suggest a periodic fecal checking program? (My cost is 35 cents a fecal, nice to have access to vet stuff)

Linda

Linda,
. I used to live in Florida and even used to live in Texas but I am now trapped in Georgia. I have shipped a bunch of snakes in the past but the last few years I have produced fewer babies and so have not had the need to ship many of them. If I produce more in the future I will either attend more shows or advertise and ship like I have done in the past.
. If you can get fecals done for that price then you certainly should do them at least once a year. If you are doing them yourself just be aware that snakes can carry small numbers of some parasites and still be perfectly healthy and that much of the digestion which occurs actually requires beneficial bacteria. I have looked at snake fecal samples under microscopes and have seen many things I could not identify. My microbiology professor told me that I asked more interesting questions than anyone who had ever been in her class. If I see snakes that look like they are losing weight or that pass strange looking stools I go ahead and treat for parasites. I use the general principle that big parasites (visible worms or segments of worms or eggs) can be successfully treated with Panacur and smaller truly microscoplic parasites can be treated with Flagyl. I used to use both of these drugs when I was getting imported WC animals but have not needed them much in recent years.
Jeff

>>Will be be attending a reptile show in the next year or so nearer to Texas? You're in Florida, right? I ask because if you have something for sell I'd like to pick something up and see your snakes. I understood your favorite thing is not shipping.
>>
>>Also thanx for the reply. Would you suggest a periodic fecal checking program? (My cost is 35 cents a fecal, nice to have access to vet stuff)
>>
>>Linda