Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I need some help here. I have two colubrids with the same problem. The problem started with some frozen fuzzie mice that went bad. (This is the only thing that was a common denominator). They were even on different parts of my room. They both ate the same day and regurgitated two days later. The mice they ate were green in color.I threw that batch of mice away. I treated their water with nutri back and made sure they stayed hydrated and waited 10 days until I fed them. I made sure it was a smaller than usual meal and dipped the rump of the pinkie in nutri back. Two days later one threw up the other keept it down. I waited for 7 days and fed the one that kept it down again after a normal stool. Again small meal and nutri back. Three days later he threw it up. Both of them now refuse to eat. So far they are not losing weight and act normal. (I don't suspect any parasite problems.) Their stool is the weird part. Every other day they both pass what looks like the color and consistency of small amounts of tapioca pudding.( An internal infection perhaps?) I am an experienced keeper but never have I seen this before. ANY help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. Rich

It sounds like you have a vet visit in your near future... When you do this it should be with a vet that actually knows about reptiles or you will be wasting your money.

Why would you feed a green rodent to your animals?

~ Mike Russo

Vets around here have no clue about reptile medicine. I might as well put them in a freezer. Keep in mind I'm out here in no mans land.(Montana) The rodents weren't green when I fed them to my snakes. I am a little smarter than that. They came from rodent pro and I keep them in air tight containers in my freezer like anyone does. I thaw them out in warm water and feed them promtly. As of late I have been using "fresh" feeders from my own stock as I raise rats and mice. Like I said, I have some experience (20 years) keeping and breeding snakes. This is the FIRST time I have an illness in my collection. Thanks for the quick reply! Rich

Sorry, I just re-read your post and i think your saying that the mice were green after the regurge??

P/M will be sent on my opinion on how to treat this...

~ Mike Russo

Yes! The mice were green after the gurge. That is what tipped me off they could have been bad. Sorry if the post wasn't clear. Just trying to put the most info in the shortest space. Thanks! Rich

I was sort of wondering what would turn a mouse green, and why anyone would feed one to his snake...
I have no idea, but wish you best of luck. I know what it's like just not having a good vet within easy drive.

Sounds like a perfect time for FLAGYL(metronidazole) TO THE RESCUE!!

This will knock it out at 50mg or so per kg of body weight given orally once, repeat in 10 to 14 days with NO MEALS until at least a week or so after second dose. This is because along with the regurges, the snake's stomach acids, electrolytes, and good bacteria flora are gone, and it needs this amount of time for the delicate system to be replenished. But if you don't have it, it won't do any good anyway, and you'd be right back to needing a good reptile vet in the first place. This is really the best path that I would recommend anyway, unless you've done this type of thing before.

In any case, the proper dose with a typical 250 mg pill is 1/16th pill for a 300 gram snake. Crushed up well to a fine powder, then mixed with about 1/4 to 1/2 cc of water administered via a long smooth eye dropper, syringe with thin rubber tubing, or a long thin stainless steel ball-tip tube on a syringe. The snake must be held straight up while the liguid is administered so gravity will help get the medication where it is needed, in the digestive tract.

This also comes in liquid and paste form.

Again, there MUST be a good reptile vet SOMEWHERE. The snakes could easily die if this isn't taken care of FAST! If you cannot find one no matter what,....then go to ANY vet and just tell him/her you want some Flagyl for your snake and YOU do the administration, but this is doubtful to get better before it gets worse. So do something quick!

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

sounds like the evil amoeba invadens. easily treatable with flagyl just make sure you completely understand and administer the proper amount you will have to weigh your snake to do this. overdosing can kill, underdosing will be ineffective so no guessing here. and its also much easier to administer in the liquid form, i get mine from mexico. best of luck.
,,,,,,,,,thomas davis
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Morphs... just like baseball cards BUT ALIVE, how cool is that???

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