Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am looking for some advice or similar experiences from anyone who has ever had this happen or knows what might be causing it.

We have a male hypo that is about 2 years old that gets very dry, almost crunchy skin. This is not due to lack of humidity and he sheds on a regular basis. In fact, his sheds are always perfect, one piece donuts. However, between sheds he gets very dry feeling. If you look very closely at the picture of his back you can see how the scales are dented or deflated looking.

I noticed it, but never thought too much of it, until last night. We were cleaning cages and changing water so I had him out. I was holding him and noticed he felt particularly dry, and then I saw what appears to be a gash or tear on his neck. I can only assume that the skin on his neck split when he ate his last meal, because there is nothing in his enclosure that could do this.

We feed F/T, so he was not attacked by his dinner. I have heard of this happening to a rescued animal that was dehydrated and then fed a rabbit that was much too large for that particular snake. That is NOT the case here. We tend to feed rather conservatively and I am positive that the meal was in no way to large for this guy, if anything, some people here might considerate it rather small. His body weight and muscle tone are excellent and there is no reason for him to be dehydrated, if that is what is causing this. His stools and urates are all normal and regular. In fact every thing about him is normal, except the dry skin.

The only thing I can think is it some sort of vitamin deficiency or possibly dehydration. But I am at a loss as to what might be causing it. Humidity is good, he has fresh water and eats regularly. He is not kept any differently than our other 40 some, perfectly healthy boas.

Any thoughts or similar experiences welcome, because this one has me really scratching my head.

Thanks,

Kathy & Denny

very interesting. This is third time THIS week I have seen this problem in hypo boas.

well i would like to know where the two that already know of came from. hypo is next on my list.

I would like very much to know where this problem is coming from, so I can avoid it, please. If you are not comfortable posting it, please contact me directly by clicking on my username, thank you.
I think it is important if someone is distributing animals that have a health issue of unknown consequence, then we should make people aware of it.
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Jeremy J. Anderson
Gem State Reptiles
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From the other responses, this could be a genetic problem, or it could be coincidence. I have seen boas like this before, and like you, thought nothing of it. They did not advance beyond the few wrinkled scales.

You are an experienced boa keeper, and have many other happy healthy boas. I am going to risk insulting you and suggest that humidity (like temperature) is measured with a meter. While many novices make this mistake, there is also a certain comfortability that comes with experience that sometimes takes us away from the basics.

While veterinary medicine neck and neck in advancement with human medicine, the exotic species lag long behind when it comes to describing specific diseases and defects. There is just to many problems possible in to many species. The problem that you have will have to be worked up in a generalistic way. This is likened to snow leopard geckos being immunocompromised. We know that this is likely, and some cases have been described in detail, but we do not know about this genetic disorder as a whole.

When taking your snake to a herp vet there are two courses often taken. Often through assumptions and/or impressions made, the case is treated with minimal expense, and you may be sent home with a topical cream or the like. What the vet would really like to do (look for a vet that is passionate about herps )is some bloodwork to assess organ function, immune processes, and of course, hydration. Dehydration may be from the environment, or it may be secondary to a disease process. After examination, a culture and sensitivity may also be indicated if the DVM sees antibiotics to be a suitable treatment for the wound specifically. A stool sample may be indicated, moreso if there is a history of soft or runny stool.

Good luck with your snake. I don't feel that this is a very pressing issue, but it may snowball without promptness. It makes sense to quarantine this snake from your others as certain transmissable diseases may have rendered your snake immunocompromised.

Ian

Forgive my ignorance & inexperience, but have you thought of moisturizing him w/ something like Vitashell? My skink gets dry skin & I rub him down with Vitashell periodically & it really helps.
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2.1 Corn snakes Snake Plissken, Jack Skellington & Abby
1.1 Hog Island Boas Harley & Isaboa
0.1 Albino Sonoran Gopher Snake Jasmine
1.3 leos, Yoda, Geo, Tang, Ginger
1.0 Blue Tongue Skink Indigo (Indy)
0.1 Pacman frog Buffy the Cricket Slayer
0.0.1 Sulawesi Red Toad Mr. Toad
1.1.3 firebelly newts Wayne Newton, Isaac Newton, Fig Newton, Olivia Newton John & Thandie Newton
1.1 cats Gus & Mena

Vitashell?? I have not heard of this. What is it and where is it available?

Denny

Humidity has been checked with 2 different meters and stays in the 60-80% range.

As far as being immunocompromised, he appears in all other ways healthy, with normal urates and stools.

We soaked him for a part of the day in pedialyte in efforts to rehydrate and will do so again tomorrow. I guess time will tell...

Denny

Is a product made for shell & skin conditioning in reptiles. It's normally used for turtles, but I have used it on my skink & even on my corn snake. It's like lotion for reptile skin/shells. It's a cream, rather than a lotion. It comes in a small pot with a green label. I got it at my local herp pet shop, but I'm sure I've seen it at the big stores as well, Petco/Petsmart...
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2.1 Corn snakes Snake Plissken, Jack Skellington & Abby
1.1 Hog Island Boas Harley & Isaboa
0.1 Albino Sonoran Gopher Snake Jasmine
1.3 leos, Yoda, Geo, Tang, Ginger
1.0 Blue Tongue Skink Indigo (Indy)
0.1 Pacman frog Buffy the Cricket Slayer
0.0.1 Sulawesi Red Toad Mr. Toad
1.1.3 firebelly newts Wayne Newton, Isaac Newton, Fig Newton, Olivia Newton John & Thandie Newton
1.1 cats Gus & Mena

Thanks, I'll look for some!

Denny

Sounds like a plan.

Something to consider though, is the pedialyte is a sticky mess for nothing. Water is fine, and if your snake was dehydrated enough to need the electrolytes than oral administration isn't sufficient enough. Fluid is not taken through the skin.
The pedialyte won't hurt though...

Stool and urates are can be normal in immunocompromised animals. The only thing noticed is often that they are "poor-doers" for however you want to describe that.
I only mention this possibility because it never can really be ruled out.

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