Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey,
i relized today that i have never seen a water blister. i think i should no what one looks like. so if anyone has a pic of one, or has a link to a pic of one that would be great. thanks. o and by the way, my brb is simi nice now and eating. so it is all good. o and my anaconda is in shed. yep
peace, jonathanM

You're talking about a water blister on your hand right? It looks a lot like a normal blister, but it's usually soft and pale in color. The blister skin looks white usually. The easiest way to get rid of one is to just pop it, and it goes away. But usually you don't even notice them.

Hey,
lol, no i was talking about water blisters on snakes, like from soaking to long or something, i hear people talking about them. I think they are called water blisters, like from to damp of conditions. if that isnt what they are called then what are they called? Umm ya., thanks
peance, jonathanM

They look very similar to the water blisters on the hands that was posted above. They look like little 'blisters' filled with fluid. Hence the name. I have only had one snake in all my years ever get them and that was years ago. I kept the area disinfected and rectified the condition that caused it in the first place and they went away after a couple weeks.
I have never heard of a case of a conda getting them. Since they are aquatic by nature it seems like they are more tolerant to long exposure to moisture. They should always have a place to get completely out of the water, however.

Arik

Oh, well, I have no clue. i wouldn't think that anacondas got them, being semi-aquatic and azll. Sorry I can't help ya there.

I have never had the problem, but I know of others who have. Some young murinus seem to be prone to these blisters if keep in an environment were they cannot get to a dry area. I don't believe over-soaking is the main cause in most cases. From what I have determined from others who have experienced this, it appears that a wet substrate of paper towels or newspaper is the environment that most freqently initiates the infection. Frequent soaking does not seem to be as big a problem as laying on a constantly wet substrate. The causative bacteria seem to proliferate on a wet substrate to a greater degree than in a pool environment. Frequent soaking in clean water does not seem to present a problem as long as a dry substrate is available. Clean water being the critical point.

Kelly

` The water blisters I've seen on snakes have been bacteria colonies, and can look like blisters, or look otherwise. The cage, and especially the water, don't have to look dirty to have much bacteria present.
` I let my Anacondas soak as much as they want to, so I keep the water very acid, to inhibit bacteria. I add vinegar to the water, using a pH test kit to lower the pH to 5.0, or a little lower. The vinegar will defeat the carbonate buffer in the water for 48 hours, or so.
` Anacondas tolerate acid water very well, as much of the water in their natural habitat is quite acid. The vinegar, as a spray, along with a peroxide spray ( not mixed ) are great for spot cleaning and general disinfecting. Neither is dangerous to the snake, or you, this allows you to spot clean without removing the critters. Vinegar and peroxide are convenient to use because when you start spraying them, the snakes get out of the way.
` It's also very important to give them completely dry, warm substrate. Some of my Anacondas spend up to 90% of their time in water, with no problems.
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when I first got Annie hse had a water blister right on her back. i came off in the first shed and i have not ever had a problem with them with any of my snakes.

CrazyCody

I have found that water blisters are very frequent on water snakes. They are semi aquatic and all too. It is from bacteria. If the water is not old and bactereia infested you'll have no problems with it. It is just damp substrate. I know nerodia are extremely prone to it. The vinigar and peroxide sounds liek a good idea though.
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Justin