Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My '07 male albino is NOT looking good! At first, I thought it might be mites, so I treated him for that. He seems to be getting worse... I need help! He looks awful.

These pictures were taken today. The spot on his head started as a scab, then that came off.

These pictures were taken about a month ago.

Is this contagious? He was housed with a few others and I isolated him when I noticed the scab on his head. Everyone else looks fine right now... Please help!
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Rachel Squier
"The more we live by our intellect, the less we understand the meaning of life." -Leo Tolstoy

Was it burned? I'd put neosporin on the wound so it doesn't get infected.

That snake looks very sick. GET TO A VET ASAP!!!!!

It's unlikely he got burned... I'm going to have to go get some neosporin, I thought I had some but can't find it.
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Rachel Squier
"The more we live by our intellect, the less we understand the meaning of life." -Leo Tolstoy

Do you feed live or dead meals? If he was bit by a rodent, neosporin usually does the trick. He should look like new in a few sheds. What kind of bedding does he live in? Allergies to unsafe beddings can be an issue occasionally, but this looks more like a localized injury from the pics. I hope he gets better soon for you.

What product did you use for the mites?

Natural Chemistry's Reptile Relief.
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Rachel Squier
"The more we live by our intellect, the less we understand the meaning of life." -Leo Tolstoy

I feed f/t so he wasn't bitten. I use newspaper as bedding... Here's a closer picture of his mouth, which doesn't look right either. It's not closing all the way, like it's swollen and I have no idea what those black dots are...

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Rachel Squier
"The more we live by our intellect, the less we understand the meaning of life." -Leo Tolstoy

His mouth can be a little swollen from the injury on his nose. Looks like a bad nose rub to me. If I were you i'd put him in a new tub with more room and a higher roof and see if that works. I'f it is just a nose rub that should help. As far as the Neosporin goes,make sure it's just plain old Neosporin and not the kind with the pain relief in it. Theres something in that pain relief thats said to be toxic to Boas. Also make sure his cage is nice and dry. I've had something simular happen to one of my Boas that looked the same or a little worse and now it's all but gone and can't really notice it. If the swelling gets worse,then some antibiotics are in order and you need to see a vet. Goodluck with him.

Looks like a bad nose rub to me. Boas prone to a nose rub will often stop if you simply provide them a climbing stick. The exception is the Boa that is rubbing his nose because he is too warm and is looking for a cooler place to go. A lower temp will help that. This is true even if the stick is only 2" off the floor for a neonate. I supposed it would have to be higher than that for this guy because he looks a little larger.

I had tons of Hogg babies that are notorious for rubbing their noses raw. I stuck in plastic sticks in all my baby Hogg drawers for the first time several years ago. I had about 60 baby Hoggs that year and I did not end up with a single nose rub. Normally I would have had 20 or more that would have some degree of nose rub in the first month if I set them up individually in shoe boxes.

Neosporin or other topical antibiotic will work along with a stick for the poor guy to climb up on will do the trick.
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Jeff Ronne Sr
The Boaphile
Director USARK

Originator of Boaphile Plastics
The Boaphile Boa Site

bubbles....Upper respiratory

I would also check the inside of his mouth for mouth rot just to be sure.

Looks like a bad case of nose rub. What are you keeping it in?

Warren
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Dr Warren Booth
North Carolina State University
Department of Entomology

USARK Director