Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi,
I acquired 2 female balls from a breeder in SC in July which were around 650 grams each for $150. The breeder that sold them to me stated that he just picked them up from a deal he had made and does not know much of their history and that they have not eaten while in his care. When I first received them, one looked healthy, and the other looked like she just had ticks removed from her entire body because of how many of her scales were lifted, and they both were hissing and very timid. A couple of weeks later the sickly one actually shed and her scales looked much better but still neither one ate ft or pre-killed mice. One week later the sickly one made a terrible noise and when I ran to see her she looked like she was heaving! Her mouth was wide open making a horrific sound, and her body looked as if she was going through convulsions and then she shot out some feces from her back side that did not look like anything I saw before. I emailed the breeder to ask if he had any history he can give me and 2 weeks later he finally replied stating that they were his friend’s snakes and he was doing him a favor and that a vet checks all his animals and that they are clean. I took the snake to the vet and it cost me roughly $300 for the office visit, swab test from mouth and rear, gram stain and fecal exam (which I paid for but still have not received results for because she still has not eaten). I would have had them force feed her but that requires that she stays in their care and they are charging around $100 a night for who knows what which I cannot afford, so I am desperately seeking help!

Sounds like it could be a parasite infection. Flagyl should take care of it.....and while you are at it you might as well worm them with Panacur as well. Your vet will be able to give you those meds.

Good luck,
Corey

I have one snake who has exhibited that heaving you described on three or four occasions over the past two winters(open mounth, noise, etc.). Interestingly, she certainly did not appear to be sick at the time, although it was winter and she was fasting. I have deparasitized her a couple of times, and she is perfectly healthy as far as I can see (I've had her four years or so).

I'd be interested to find out if your vet finds a problem. I have written off this infrequent behavior to just a quirk about this particular snake. Could you let me know what your vet finds?

Thanks, Christy

Thank you for your response and I will surely keep you updated, but I would like to know if you took your snake to the vet and if you did, what did the vet tell you? Or did you just deparatize your snake? I spoke to my vet and he asked for a fecal sample but it costs too much for me to ask them to tube feed it in order to obtain a fecal sample because they told me that the snake would have to spend at least 3-4 days in their care, so I think I will just deparatize her. I would also like to know if you have more snakes and if it was infectious? I have 1.1 100% het pieds, 0.1 50% het pied, 1.4 normals each housed seperately but I am afraid that what ever this is might spread. Anyway, I will definetly keep you posted.

Sounds like you need to find a new vet. At any rate, it sounds like you might have a couple of imports and in not too good of shape by your description. You can attempt a shot-gun approach to treating for parasites. This may get all, some or none of the parasites. It may also kill the snake so be careful. I treat any animals I suspect with parasites with Panacur, Flagyl and Albon. They are tested and we go from there.

Tube-feeding. Are you talking about the meds or food? You will need to tube the meds so I would get the syringe and tube sooner than later and start treating.

Good luck!
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Jay A. Martin

The total was actually $258
$38 office visit
$38 fecal
$72 culture vent
$72 culture throat
$38 gram stain
I called the vet today and he stated that he will need the fecal sample first before administering medication in order to know what parasite to treat. He also told me to give the snake a luke warm bath for 20 min for 3 days and then she should eat on the third day right after her bath. So thank you all for responding so quickly and I will keep you all posted.

...this vet should have given you a discount on the double cultures and gram stain, if for no other reason than to build GOOD WILL...
...you DON'T need a fecal to know what to give to this snake. It's just another way to get a $38 fecal done. And besides, the fecal may be negative and the snake STILL BE parasitized.
...In addition to Panacur and Flagyl, ivermectin (200 micrograms/kg, injected) is good for a 1-2 punch. Albon is for coccidian infestations, and snakes with these rarely have negative fecals, but it is possible. Any parasite can be shed intermittantly.
...now, if there's cestodes (tapeworms), and this is quite possible, then Droncit or Niclocide are indicated, in addition to the above.
Remember, if you approach it diplomatically, you can negotiate fees with any REASONABLE vet! Scott J. Michaels DVM