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I found this girl a few nights back in the middle of the road. When I stopped to pick her up she had this weird sideways jerk to her that made me think I was too late and she had already been hit, but I could not find any "damaged area on her" So I took her home for a better/closer look to see what might be wrong.
The next morning when I went to check on her she had regurges the remains of a frog (most likly a Leapord frog as they were all over the road that night) I looked her over and still could not find any "injury" other the the odd neuro type of head movement she was showing. So I went ahead and treated her for parasites in and out and set her up in a temp cage. When I came back out to take photos of her I noticed that she was blind in one eye and the pupil is out of shape. I took this photo and came to this theroy.
I assume that this snake was once before damaged by a vehical that may have just nick her, but cause some serious damage to her. She survived and healed but now can only feed on the road kill frogs because she is unable to catch her own, making her sure road kill at some point. I set her up and tried to feed her a f/t hopper mouse last night. although she struck at it, her aim was so far off the she would hit it only with the side of her neck. so I left the mouse in there and checked back five minutes later to find her eating it!
So I think she is going to becaome a house guest here, to make sure she does not eand up as road kill, other then her blindness she is a very colorful animal and almost seems gratefull to be taken off the dangerous streets!
Here is here photo you can see the glazed eye and the broken pupil in it.

Thanks
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Jim Hopkins "Hoppy"
Hopkins Holesale Herps
Hopfam1@aol.com

Nice story! She really does have fantastic color. Thanks for taking the poor girl in.
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::i believe in joy > http://www.winds.org/nekomi/hope.html

::my homepage > http://www.winds.org/nekomi

My Growing Zoo:

1.0 Husband (Byron) ^_^
0.1 black cat (Shade)
0.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boa (Zia)
1.0 Leucistic Ratsnake
1.2 Cockatoo cichlids (A. cacatuoides yellow-gold)
1.1 Panduro cichlids (A. panduro)
2.0 Endlers' Livebearers (P. sp. Endlers)

Hi Hoppy,
I think you are most likely right about being hit. I have a male that I picked up from North of Baton Rouge where I live, that was hit in the head. I knew immediately b/c of the way he was sitting in the road in a loose s shape and not stretched out. If it is warm, they cross the road and get on with it. I saw a corn snake get hit in the head by a pretty good sized truck one and he had bleeding in the mouth. I took him home and he refused food for 3 months, but after brumation ate well. I have found that if they are hit in the head, they can often live. THe one I picked up last week was wobbling his head unsteadily for a couple of days, but now is steady. I will try and feed him today. I have found that snakes that are hit in the posterior 2/3 of the body seldom make it, even though they live for a couple of weeks. I think it is because the brain case offers much more protection. Than the backbone and ribs. I did find a beautiful bright red cornsnake in the middle of the interstate at Gainesville with a compound fracture right in the middle of her body. She recovered. I guess the speed of the traffic made the difference in this case. I would never release a snake that had been hit though.
Jim McLean

Hoppy-

I'm trying to get a set routine for bringing in new snakes to my house-

What do you consider a standard "delousing" treatment for a WC?

Please tell us specifically what you do for exterior and interior examination and treatment-

Thanks!!!!

Wombat

Ok for the mites and exterior parasites I use bug spray with .25% pyrethrins in it. I spray it onto the news paper that is going to line the new or WC snake cage (but I spray it out of the cage by itself). I then let it dry for about an hour and place it as the substrate for the snake. This is normally enough to rid the snake of any mites but I will retreat again in two weeks to make sure.
as far as the internal stuff I use Flagyl at .30cc's per 100 grams of snake and I use Panacur at .075cc's per 100 grams of snake. Again repeat in two weeks.
It is pretty easy and I have not had any real issues ever with it, however it can not be stated strongly to make sure that you quarentine your snakes (even colobrids) for at least 3 months or so.
I hope this helps
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Jim Hopkins "Hoppy"
Hopkins Holesale Herps
Hopfam1@aol.com

Thanks Hoppy-

Do you administer the Flagyl and Panacur subcutaneous or orally, and if the latter, how?

I wonder if people dose Flagyl and Panacur at different rates or if that is very standard...especially for vvery small snakes...

I have a Brown Snake that I would like to treat that is a whopping 7.5 grams!!!

I give the snake the meds orally. As far as at different rates, yes, I know that the rates can vary much, but trying to giv your snake a does at only 7.5 grams is going to take more math skills then I have the brain power for LOL. It will abviously require mixing the meds with water.
When you say a Brown Snake, I assume that you are referring to a Stori Dekay snake, small brownish/gray slug eating snake that has a racoon type mask on its eyes?.
I have never tried to keep them, how are they as a captive?
Thanks
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Jim Hopkins "Hoppy"
Hopkins Holesale Herps
Hopfam1@aol.com