Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Today the vet called after checking my Burm's fecal sample and said that he has coccidia and that they are sending me some medicine to treat it. My python acts normally and is actually quite active. So is this a serious problem or something easily treated with medicine? Also, will freezing his rats kill this parasite?

Well this all depends on how bad the infestation is. There are several thing to do if you deside to take care of this proble. Ifst and foremost is strict cage cleaning. i recommmend once or in a bad case twice daily thorough cleaning. There is a drug that will help lower the amount of paracites, it is call SULFADIMETHOXINE commonly known as Albon. I would recomend that you do both of these were it is a bad or light infestation.

C. Stutz

Some coccidia will show up in the feces of non-host snakes fed on rats or rabbits which are infected. The snakes do not have a coccidia infection, but eggs in the prey's feces will be passed in the feces of the snake and make it appear as if the snakes are infected. Mammalian coccidia cannot infect a snake. It is still possible that your burmese has a reptilian coccidia infection, but I would rule out the rats as the cause of the positive fecal result first, before treating the python. Just my thoughts on it.

Kelly

Thanks for the info. As far as the cage cleaning, he just got a new 55 gal. tank and I cleaned it thoroughly before putting him in it. But really, he spends more time out in the room (just "his" room) than he does in the tank, but I'll do some cleaning just to be safe. The vet technician told me not to worry too much about the coccidia that the medicine would help, but now I have to give it to him by mouth which I don't know how well that will go :-0