Reptile & Amphibian Forums

On occasion I have seen a tiny bit of fuzz on poop that maybe sat a couple of days before I saw it to clean it up. I have one boa in particular, a "farmed" colombian baby, that every time it defacates, there is this long gray hairy mold of some sorts that grows very quickly (within a day). Could this be a parasite or protozoan problem within the snake? Thanks

The resulting mold is most likely the result of both high humidity/heat, coupled with your own neglagence. Clean your cages.

You mean to tell me that you clean your snakes crap within minutes of it being made?? I think not. Do not imply that I do not clean my cages. I do not look in every cage every day. The longest something may sit is a day or two. My concern was that all the other boa mess looks a particular way except for the mess from this one boa. Usually something that odd might be cause for alarm. Hopefully someone with some real info will respond with something better than "clean your cages." Duh!

Would it help you repeat what has already been said ?
Clean your cages !! EVERYDAY !!

M/

>>You mean to tell me that you clean your snakes crap within minutes of it being made?? I think not. Do not imply that I do not clean my cages. I do not look in every cage every day. The longest something may sit is a day or two. My concern was that all the other boa mess looks a particular way except for the mess from this one boa. Usually something that odd might be cause for alarm. Hopefully someone with some real info will respond with something better than "clean your cages." Duh!

Sorry but I go on 'poop patrol' every morning and every night and clean out whatever my snakes messed up. It takes less than 10 minutes out of my day, total, so if I can spare the time, so can you....

No I dont scoop the poop seconds after it hits a ground, but it only takes a min to go through your cages and check to see if their water is ok, and if they dumped. Got alot of cages? realisticly it should only take 3 seconds or less:

1) water? ok, check.
2) Poop? nope, good, check.

Im not attacking you, but its the answer to your problem. Its like cat box fresheners... If you clean the cat box every day then it wont stink, If you leave it for two days its going to smell...

WOW...

Ok, I wouldn't worry about it too much, if the cage is hot and humid it happens...and it can happen FAST! Like within a day or two. Just make sure when you clean it that you are sanitizing everything in the cage, you'll be fine.
It's great if everyone has time to clean their snakes 8 times a day...Personally I have WAAAY too many to even think about it, Mine get cleaned top to bottom once a week, if theres anything gross in there, of course I'll clean it. I wouldnt call leaving one poop in the cage for a couple of days abusive...
Its not very nice to tar and feather someone for having a concern,At least it shows that they care about their animals. Ive seen and heard of MUCH worse things than that!
You people need to get over yourselves...Period.

WOW!! would be an under statement if one of your kids was found with 2 day old poop in their shorts !!!

Snakes are indeed animals,animals that "DEPEND TOTALLY" on their "Keepers" for their exsistence.For those that condone or attempt to down play substandard husbandry practices per context..... thank you for the charactor reference(s).

I dont think you need to hear of a solution to "To Many Snakes",but then again..........?

M/

>>WOW...
>>
>>Ok, I wouldn't worry about it too much, if the cage is hot and humid it happens...and it can happen FAST! Like within a day or two. Just make sure when you clean it that you are sanitizing everything in the cage, you'll be fine.
>>It's great if everyone has time to clean their snakes 8 times a day...Personally I have WAAAY too many to even think about it, Mine get cleaned top to bottom once a week, if theres anything gross in there, of course I'll clean it. I wouldnt call leaving one poop in the cage for a couple of days abusive...
>>Its not very nice to tar and feather someone for having a concern,At least it shows that they care about their animals. Ive seen and heard of MUCH worse things than that!
>>You people need to get over yourselves...Period.

I am firm believers that if you are unable to take care of something properly, then don’t keep it or have it. If you have too many boas to take care of, well then you said it yourself you have too many boas to take care of, GET RID OF ALL THE BOAS YOU NEED TO IN ORDER FOR YOU TO TAKE PROPER CARE OF THE ONES YOU DO INTEND TO KEEP.

Too many times I see people providing crappy enclosures, improper conditions and careless husbandry practices, if you can’t realistically provide the best care possible to the animal/s then don’t keep it/them.

For those that think it’s no bog deal then I think it shows a lower standard of value for what life means to them.

I only hope that the care of another human being is not entrusted with them. Life regardless of human or not is still life.

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Forever Trust in what we are,and nothing else Matters

In my opinion, if you are not able to check your cages on a every day basis yuo may have too many animals. You should reconsider your collection and think about getting rid of some.
Thank you,
Joel P

First of all, if your snake is in a cage that so small with so little newspaper in it that it has to sit in it's own crap then there's a problem.

Many snakes don't really appreciate being handled and taken out of their cages for a daily cleaning. Not very good advice to newbies who don't know any better buying "CB" imports that have been in the country for all of a week, and have had maybe one meal! They will stress out from that, and probably get nippy, defensive, not eat and die!...THAT'S abusive! It's not a puppy, a kitten or a toddler...Nor do they want to be. IT IS A SNAKE- TREAT IT ACCORDINGLY! They don't want to be messed with by you all the time!

Also I have a hard time believing that you are actually sanitizing everything as you go from snake to snake cleaning up after them ten times a day.
You ever hear of a little something called cross contamination?

Even if you are, you didnt specify, if and how you are doing it. Irresponsibility! These people look to you for knowlege, and this is what you do! You should be ashamed of yourselves!

Apparently you must have a problem with any big breeders who may have hundreds or thousands of snakes, are they all getting bubble baths, their scales combed and teeth brushed several times daily? I somehow doubt it. But you'll buy your snakes from them anyway, unless of course your getting all wild caughts from a reputable importer(is there such a thing?)..Because the conditions at the skinning station are so much better for the animals...Or I guess you could be buying snakes from some hillbilly with 3 snakes who thinks he's a breeder and has you fooled I guess...

Personally, I have a problem with people that keep their snakes in wooden enclosures or fish tanks, I have a problem with anyone using anything as a substrate other than paper, and use ceramic heat emitters and light bulbs on snakes. I have a problem with people that know nothing of reptiles that keep them and think they can breed them because they want to make money...A MUCH bigger problem with that than someone who may have a poop in the cage for A day, but all of the forums are PLASTERED with those people EVERY DAY!

I also have more respect for someone who comes on the forums trying to gain knowledge rather than people who come on here belittling people thinking that they know everything. Well you know what..if you knew everything you would know that if you want to change the world, and if you are such a HUSBANDRY EXPERT then maybe you should be offering help and advice to those people who are trying seek out knowledge to better themselves, and the lives of their animals, instead making them feel stupid for asking a simple question.

ANYWAY this thread is ridiculous, although I suppose it does bring a bit of life to the forums which have been really slow lately...

Yes, it's good to check on your snakes daily if you have time, is it the end of the world if you change the water on Tuesday, and don't check in again until Thursday, no..
BTW, all of my snakes get cleaned -at least- weekly, regardless of weather they have pooped yet or not...I'm just so mean...I should really give them away so they can live in a fish aquarium on cedar shavings with a 250 watt heat lamp.. They would be so much better off than with a tyrant like me.

*Whew* I'm done ranting now.

Just so you know, this post is a statement, not a question, I'm not looking forward to your replies, just leave it, go find someone else to argue with..why don't you go find some here:
www.peta.com

Don't forget the bleach

I came here looking for a possible answer to something that I thought looked out of the ordinary and I got bashed. Like you said, I was obviously concerned enough to seek out some info. My collection is not too large, well maintained, and the enclosures are large enough so that none of the boas sit in their crap. I have spent 'lots' of money with 'lots' of "big name" breeders and take 'lots' of care of my animals. But I guess I should listen to others and get rid of my snakes. While I'm at it I'll get rid of my dogs because I saw some pooh in my backyard that may have been there since yesterday. I also saw some pooh in my fish tank so I think I'll drain it and flush the fish down the toilet. I mean, why should I keep about $3000 worth of Discus if I'm just going to neglect them? Peace

I'm sorry guys you must of thought this was the it's okay to have fungus growing in your boa enclosure and feel good about it section or maybe you thought this was the let your boa inhale their dried calcium deposit section... in that case, great job guys!

You are right, many people do keep boas in the hundreds but uh I think they have something that is called a helper/s, and not try and keep numerous boas by themselves like um some people.

All those people that keep their enclosures clean must be some real idiots huh? I have never seen anyone try and justify an enclosure with crap in it, you must be proud.

Great job guys.... by the way, if you can't take criticism.... don't ask for an opinion.

Sometimes she will defecate in her hide or someplace way in the back behind something and I wont find it soon enough and it turns into a hairy monster...It doesnt happen in my colubrid tanks because they are not nearly as humid....Not a big deal unless the snake has been sitting in it, which Ive found they will avoid it completely if they have enough room.
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I'm trying to get kicked off this forum. JUST KIDDING MODERATORS!

But only after is sits for weeks because I didn't know I was supposed to clean my cages until I was told to do so in the above reply. Go figure!

i have seen the same thing, but my snake almost always "goes" outside, I live in central Florida and take my 6' BCI out in the backyard at least twice a week (when she's not trying to rip my face off.) The humidity here of course is high, so, in a way, your humidity level is commendable.

ive been booted off for less,thats why im a good boy on here,dang it's hard being so good`
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Forever Trust in what we are,and nothing else Matters

If you have mold....make some more air holes. And to the Boys who check their cages three times a day, one day,maybe, you'll have a girlfriend.

.

Got one, and you know what? She checks her bearded Dragon breeders 2 times a day too.

My boas get checked three times a day and guess what sometimes more because my wife checks too. Its called responsibility, once you purchase an animal you take responsibility for it’s life, I never seen a snake take a crap in the wild and swim in it for 2 or three days. Funny to see people down-play a crappy enclosure.

And SNAKE26 you do not get a fuzzy poop in just 48 hours so for you to jump on the same wagon as those complaining of the one day cleaners make no sense. Get on the wagon of those complaining of people that clean their poop in under a week.

I can god damned guarantee you that in this case the pooh was fuzzy in less than 24 hours. That's why I was concerned in the first place. This particular boas mess is the only one I have seen this happen with. Since you know that it can not get fuzzy in less than 48 hours, I will assume that you are a scientist. If this is the case maybe you have an explanation as to why this is happening so fast. If you need me to use time-lapsed photography, I will, and post it here. I also noticed that no one chimed in about the dog pooh theory. But if you have one I bet there's pooh in your yard.

As much as I love dogs, I know that I would not have the time to pick up after its poop EVERY DAY, take it for walks EVERY DAY and give it the attention it truly needs EVERY DAY....... that is why I don't have one!

So sorry no poop in my backyard. IT'S CLEAN, just like my boa tanks!