Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi everyone,

I just want to know if Salmonella can be deadly for a ball python or any other snake ?

Here is why (my story) :

I loss a snake who was looking perfectly healthy. It was in my collection for over a year and nothing was introduced to the collection in the last 6 months and they were quarantine.
The only thing was that the snake was not eating well in the last weeks but nothing special.

I have been keeping snakes for over 10 years and it's my first sudden death (other death was in a shipment).

To be sure, I cleaned and desinfected all tubs and water bowl in the proximity racks.

One of my normal adult in another rack close to it, started to have a big anormal belly. So I took her to the vet, she was full of air. So we took a sample test and sent it to the lab.

I received the results today, there is Salmonella in a % a little over the normal.
I am waiting for a feedback from a specialist vet, but could this be deadly and a big concern ?
How do you treat it other than a clean tubs ?

Thank You

Salmonella is a bacteria. It is susceptible to a wide range of antibiotics. Baytril is one. All bacteria can be harmful in concentrations above the normal amount. So yes, Salmonella can be harmful and potentially fatal if not controlled. Best of luck to you and kudos for testing your pet!
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Best regards,
AlanColesReptiles

Did they do typing on the salmonella species?

There are certain types that occur commonly in mice and rats. You may want to check your food source.

>>Did they do typing on the salmonella species?
>>
>>There are certain types that occur commonly in mice and rats. You may want to check your food source.

Unfortunately, not that I know of, but will ask again tomorrow.

I know all reptiles have salmonella, up to a certain degree there is no problem. What the vet told me is that the bacteria can grow after a stress, like moving etc...
I moved back in january, but don't think it's related.

But the girl in question, she laid eggs about a month ago, so may be this could be. She ate after but refused meal last saturday.

I am getting a lot of concern on the rats that were fed, but my source has always been good, I know them personnally, they also feed others breeders that i know pretty well.
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love this world, don't hate it.

I know a woman that got bitten by a python and a boa...they both died..(the 2 snakes)...turned out she had salmonella , probably from iguanas....she worked in a huge pet store....true story...

I also know I have been botten at least 1000 times...never a problem....(well...6 foot carpets grabbing the neck area does hurt a little )...so snakes don't usually carry salmonella...

I would check with the vet and check for coccydiosis....

ask the vet for a bottle of meds....we prefer to use liquid flagyl metronidozole...but it isn't sold here in the great old USA...and people coming from Mexican vacations can't bring it back anymore...thanxx to people making bombs out of shampoo bottles....yea terrorists!....morons...

I forget the other med.....Albon ?....ask the vet....and get some syringes without needles ....(vets charge alot...farm stores like Tractor Supply and Agways will sell syringes MUCH cheaper than a vet markup...like a nickel each vs a dollar)....

....good luck....
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........JY