Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Here are 3 more photos of this mark. Thanks a lot everyone who has at least checked this out. Any guesses or information you may have about this I would really appreciate. It worries me!

Well my guess to what that could be is either going to be a water blister, although water blisters are usually white and not just a pink bump... It could be a tick underneath the scales. You might want to try and put some neosporean on it... Take out it's water bowl for a few days (put it one that it wouldn't be able to soak in) and just try and keep it dry, but not too dry. I'm sure someone else might have a better guess than me though.

Thanks Ben! My best guess would be a tick too. I just dont understand how it could have picked up a tick. I never even take it outside. I have also just been keeping a small water bowl in there for the last month and a half or so. So I dont think it would be a water blister. But thanks for your input if you know any other knowledgable people tell em to check out the forum and help me out. Anyway I will keep in touch. Thanks again!

This is my guess of what it may be if it isn't a tick. To me it looks like an abcess. An abcess is a swollen area that has infection accumulated underneath the skin that bumps up. I do hope that it is just a tick as an abcess can be costly to remove(as in surgery). Good luck and I'm praying for you and your conda
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"I am all that is Divine, I am all that is Evil.
I am the one who brings forth Death,
On the wings of a Weevil." JSKII

` 'Water blister' is one of those pseudo-medical terms that is generally used when the cause is actually unknown. Like consumption, wasting disease, or IBD.
` A 'water blister' is almost always a bacterial infection, or more rarely, fungal, and usually secondary. What you've got there looks to me to be secondary. In other words, something caused trauma, but now it is infected. Boids don't have very sophisticated immune systems, so don't let that go too far. Immediately, clean thoroughly with peroxide. Use Listerine, too, after the peroxide, if the snake will allow it, that close to its head. Then, thoroughly rub in clean, fresh Neosporin. Not a tube that has been exposed to atmosphere, and has started to oxidize. A new, unopened one. Do this at least every 8 hours. Get the snake to a vet who knows reptiles, soon.

` For all you folks who allow your Anacondas soaking water, please keep this in mind. The warm soaking water, full of dissolved metabolites, is a bacterium's paradise. Fresh water can be lousy with bacteria in 1/2 hour!

Now that I keep just a few Anacondas, I have time to clean water daily, and more often after feeding, so I let em soak. I bring the pH of the water down to 5.0, or just a little below. This acid water inhibits bacteria, doesn't kill em all, but helps, and the pH will start to rise immediately from the carbonate buffer residual effect in the water. So, if you don't change at least every day, it not as effective. All races of Anacondas will tolerate acid water just fine. The bacteria won't. Use clear, white vinegar to acidify the water and check the pH with a test kit, till you get to know how much vinegar/water you need. It would take a lot, but too much vinegar could be harmful. Clean soaking container with HOT water, then peroxide with brush, then vinegar with brush. Rinse with HOT water. Nice thing about vinegar and peroxide is that it isn't extremely noxious, unless you're a bacterium. You can even use them to clean the snake's gums and mouth, yours too. They don't seem to notice the peroxide, but vinegar and Listerine, with their strong odors can get a reaction. Also, you can use vinegar and peroxide, in separate sprayers, as a spot cleaner in their cage.

` Remember, I just looked at your pix, a vet's opinion is a good idea. I gently probe sores like that with a toothpick, GENTLY, looking for puss, other body fluids, and foreign objects, a jeweler's loupe helps immensely. If the peroxide foams, even a little, you have an open sore, no matter what it looks like. Also, I often use a toothpick to work antibiotic into the wound. This depends on your experience, and the snake's disposition. You can do serious damage with a pointed probe, so be careful.

` If you can't change water every day, don't give them soaking water. Don't give them any water. Twice a week, give them drinking water in a small bowl, overnight. They can go weeks without drinking, adults much longer. You should give them water for a few days after feeding, too, but just overnight.

` I've found that soaking water can improve an Anaconda's disposition, when grumpy. All my Boas like to soak, so I let them. It's just got to be clean.

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Stop the world-I want to get off!

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Stop the world-I want to get off!