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I bought a green anaconda recently from the kishwaki reptile show and he looked great! He had no signs of illness other than what looked like one cruched scale. Then a few days after getting him home I noticed a few raised scakes and what looks like tiny (1-2mm) white abcsess! Initially I suspected baby ticks of chiggers, but The more I look at them the less they resemble them. As time goes by, more and more spots are appearing and the appear to be growing, slowely but surely. I tried to include them in the picks but they are kinda hard to see. Please help me! I am familiar with most reptile diseases, but this is something I have bever seen before! I do not have access to a veterinarian, but really want to help the snake! I am very familiar with dosing medication and have the equipment to do so, so that wont be an issue but I am at a loss in determining what this is! I was told that he came from kelly haller, but I have heard so many good things about kelly that I am kinda sceptical about what I was told. If anyone could help me I would be forever greatful! Thank you!

My computer is not working right! If you think you can help please e-mail me at jaolech@ilstu.edu and I will email them too you! Thanx again!

Your description sounds like a type of tick that affects Anaconda sp. It's called Amblyomma fulvum. You can possibly search more on it for a picture-I didn't have time. I would treat it as I would treat mites/ticks on snakes & within the caging environment. If this snake is WC, it should have a physical for parasites by a qualified vet. WC Anacondas are prone to various parasitic worms, protozoal parasites, etc.

It is seen fairly commonly in very young green anacondas that soak themselves for extended periods. Even only slightly contaminated water can cause this if they are soaking in it for long periods of time. It is a bacterial infection of the skin beneath the scales and is many times referred to as blister disease. The best remedy is to remove all sources of water except a very small water bowl for drinking. Do not allow the snake to soak in water no matter how clean it is. Keep the cage environment as dry as possible and continue to feed the snake normally. Typically under these drier conditions the abscesses will disappear after one or two sheds and no antibiotic treatment is needed. This will usually solve the problem in 95% of the cases, however stubborn cases may require a topical antibiotic. Some individuals have trouble with the next shed under these drier conditions and it is alright the soak them for a few hours to help remove the shed. The young anacondas we have produced are kept from birth in cages with small water bowls only, no bowls large enough to soak in are used. We do however keep the humidity slightly elevated. Under these conditions I have never had young show these abscesses, and we have raised several young green anacondas to adults and produced young from them with no access to water other than small drinking bowls. Hope this will help you and let me know if you have any other questions on this. Good luck.

Kelly