Reptile & Amphibian Forums

ok i just picked up a flying tree snake off this guy... which i believe to be an ornate tree snake... anywyas he said that the snake was rubbing on the screen alot and it was because the tank too small for him.. so i took the snake from him and put him in a 55 gal tank and with brush and the whole nine yards simple awesome set up BUT...... the snakes mouth on is left side is messed up (it reminds me of mouth rot) and his eye on the same side is swollen like crazy... the guy said that was because of the snake rubbing on the screen is that possible or is my animal sick and needs help... please help me i dont want this snake to get any worse... thanks ALOT

Stephen "Joefctr85" Eastridge

0.0.1 Normal Ball Python
1.1 Painted Turtles
1.0 Red Eared Slider
0.0.1 Ornate Tree Snake

It sounds like he has in infection which could have been caused by the rubbing against the screen. This would have made the skin raw and bleed and having an open wound creates unlimited possibility for infection to set in.

I'd take the snake to a vet. You could rub antibiotic ointment on it but I'm not sure if this can be used around eyes and mouth.

Also... the guy who had the snake should have known not to keep a snake like that in a screen enclosure if it was rubbing. Generally with small active, nervous snakes you have to keep them in glass because they tend to rub a lot and this can be very harmful. They can rub on glass as well but it's not nearly so detrimental as screen. It's good you got it out of that situation.

Another reason to take it to the vet is that it is almost definitely wild caught and you don't know if the guy who was keeping it had it treated for parasites. You probably want to get a fecal sample done to check for these.

Might try posting this in health forums for better answers.
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