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bloated babies???? HELP???

geckocrazy Mar 28, 2005 11:47 PM

Three of my babies are all swollen in the mid section. its air i think. Is it good,bad or really ugly? What happened and what could i do? Nothing changed food or temp. Fed sunday. When i put them up to light you can see air. Ant help would be very very helpful>

Replies (4)

ajfreptiles Mar 29, 2005 06:26 AM

Without knowing the details, it sounds as though they all ate something bad. Please provide more info. Andy

sunshineboas Mar 29, 2005 09:01 AM

I saw these snakes last night and I really didn't know what to tell him, but I can give you more info... Cause I know he won't be reading your post tell tonight.
He fed all his babies on Sunday and fed them the same things he always does, a fuzzy rat. (They are all 04 babies) Three out of five babies became bloated yesterday. 1 of them is pretty bad, if you hold it up to a strong light you can see the food inside and if you move the snake back and forth you can actually see the food sloshing back and forth. To me it was apparent that the bloat was caused by air, the food wasn't swollen the rat looked compressed and partially digested. And if you put them into soak the mid section of there bodies float.
Thanks Josh

Hoppy Mar 29, 2005 10:00 AM

Although the fact that you can see through your boa and see the food move back and forth is very interesting, I would suggest not touching the snake. Here is what is happening (more then likely) to the snakes.

For what ever may be the reason (too low of temps, food thawed out too long, prior frozen/thawed and refrozen food or just a freak bacteria) the snakes are producing too much gas during the digestion period. This is normally caused by the food decomposing quicker then it is being digested (which is why I would suspect that the temps are too low or the food was thawed too long). With this one of two things is going to happen. The food is either going to be regurged or it will be digested and the snakes will have a nasty case of diarrhea. Either way it is very important to re-hydrate the snakes as soon as possible after the event. Misting soaking etc… will work for that. Now the problem is going to be “how to get the snake past this issue”.
De-worming the snake to kill any bad parasites that may have gotten into the snake is important (seek vet for the need meds) to replace the important beneficial bacteria that the snake needs I would suggest some Nutri Bac be giving to the snake on its next feeding. The next feeding is going to have to be about two weeks out (giving time for the snakes stomach to settle) and much smaller then normal to assure that the snakes are digesting normally again. So to cover the info:
1) wait until the food is processed (regurges or diarrhea)
2) De-Worn the snakes for parasites (Flagyl @ .3ccs for every 100grms of snake and Panacur @ .075ccs for every 100 grams of snake trat once and then retreat in two weeks for each snake)
3) Re-hydrate snakes
4) Do not feed for two weeks
5) When feeding again feed small meal dusted with Nutri-Bac
6) Feed thee small meals for about two months until the snakes appear to be feeding with out any problems
I hope this helps, but here is a word of warning, do not try and short cut this treatment. In 4 weeks if your snakes appear to be doing ok (and they will) do not start feeding big meals again. It will result in a relapse and the snakes will go all through this again.
Good Luck
-----
Jim Hopkins "Hoppy"
Hopkins Holesale Herps
Hopfam1@aol.com

geckocrazy Mar 29, 2005 10:50 PM

Thank you so much i'll keep you posted BRYAN

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