Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I took Baxter into the vet today for a recheck. I am concerned that he isn't more active, and so is the vet. Basically, he stays buried in the dirt except for when I dig him out, soak him, and feed him. He'll stay out for maybe 10 minutes, then bury himself again. He has no visible signs of illness--clear eyes and nose, no wheezing, no bubbles. His weight has increased about 20g, to 384g. We x-rayed him today and he may possibly have a very small bladder stone, but it's not nearly enough to cause an obstruction or obvious symptoms. We also gave him a second dose of Panacur as a precaution, although I have yet to find any feces to test--not sure if he isn't going, or I'm not finding any, at least he isn't pooping when I soak him!

He is kept outside, where the daytime highs have been between 70 and 80, and nighttime lows about 45. He gets 3-4 hours of sun in his pen, and the rest of the time it's shaded. He will only eat worms, slugs, and snails. I've also tried mealworms, a pinkie mouse, romaine lettuce, carrot, mushroom, squash, apricot, mango, blueberry, raspberry, blackberry, apple, banana, smelly canned cat food, corn, peas...I think that's it. He did nibble at the banana, but nothing else. Previously he was fed on lettuce (I think iceberg) and carrots, no protein.

If anybody has any advice, I'd really appreciate it. I'm going to try bringing him in at night so he doesn't cool down so much, but I doubt that's the problem, since the day temps are nice and warm. I'll be in touch with the vet over the next couple weeks, also.
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Sohni

0.1 Baja de L.A. Rosy Boa
0.1 Okeetee Corn Snake
1.1 Rubber Boas
1.0 Leopard Gecko
0.0.1 Hermann's Tortoise
0.0.1 Marginated Tortoise
1.0 3 Toed Box Turtle (rescued)
plus my kids' herps:
0.1 California King Snake
1.0 Mexican Rosy Boa
0.1 Leopard Gecko

it's too cold for him to be active, day time temps are okay but the night time temps are waayy to cold, 45 is brumation temp.
good night time temps are 60 or warmer, you could bring him in at night...
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My Site
1.2.1 Terrapene Carolina Triunguis
0.0.1 Nymphicus hollandicus
1.0 Melopsittacus undulatus
1.1 American Cocker Spaniels
1.0 American Short Hair? Cat
1.1 Rouen Ducks

I live in the San Francisco Bay Area (Sonoma Co.). Nighttime temps here are never higher than the 50s, unless it's really hot during the day (over 90). I know people in the Bay Area do keep boxies outside overnight, but maybe they have some kind of heating set up. I'll start bringing him in at night and see if that helps.
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Sohni

0.1 Baja de L.A. Rosy Boa
0.1 Okeetee Corn Snake
1.1 Rubber Boas
1.0 Leopard Gecko
0.0.1 Hermann's Tortoise
0.0.1 Marginated Tortoise
1.0 3 Toed Box Turtle (rescued)
plus my kids' herps:
0.1 California King Snake
1.0 Mexican Rosy Boa
0.1 Leopard Gecko

Sohni,

I kept boxies outdoors in SF, but provided supplemental heat in the form of a kane heat mat and ceramic infra-red heater bulb. If you suspect that the guy is under the weather, I'd suggest keeping him indoors where you can control the temps. Keep him on the warm side 70 - 90 and a good humidity. Monitor his behavior and feeding for a week to see if his activity or appetite increases any.

I'd talk to your vet about a possible round of flagyl, which you know is used for protozoan infections. That may be in play here, however flagyl is also used for increasing appetite and assisting in progressing impaction if any.

Your vet should advise. Lastly, do you know where the boxie came from? Long term captive or fresh caught? If fresh caught, I've found some to be simply stressed at first. These I've had to practice much patience and eventually they come around.

Good luck!

Paul

I should probably clarify that I had been told I could keep him outside overnight, which is why I've been letting him stay out, oops.

We were considering giving him a dose of Flagyl in a couple weeks, so I'll mention that to the vet again. BTW, I don't know much about his history, but he is a mature male, and the people who had him previously bought him from a pet store, so I'm assuming he was wild caught, and has been in captivity about 2 years or so. Before I got him, he was kept in a 20 gallon tank on sand, no heat, no UVB, no soaks. So stress and trauma are certainly a possibility, since I've only had him about a month.
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Sohni

0.1 Baja de L.A. Rosy Boa
0.1 Okeetee Corn Snake
1.1 Rubber Boas
1.0 Leopard Gecko
0.0.1 Hermann's Tortoise
0.0.1 Marginated Tortoise
1.0 3 Toed Box Turtle (rescued)
plus my kids' herps:
0.1 California King Snake
1.0 Mexican Rosy Boa
0.1 Leopard Gecko