Reptile & Amphibian Forums

One of my beautiful and healthy female manokwari GTPs has a strange tail problem. The tip looks necrotic? She has never once refused a meal and has always been very healthy looking. I play professional baseball and I'm away from home a lot of the year, so I'm not sure if maybe she damaged her tail, or was poorly managed and had bad sheds cause poor circulation in the tip. Any ideas on what steps I should take?

Here is a pic
Link

Any help?
Link

Get it to a vet. If it's caused by a fungus, it could end up spreading, almost like gangrene or trench foot. It certainly won't get any better in it's current environment (ie. high humidity and heat will make this worse). if it's an open wound. Is it wild caught? Did it get bit? If you don't get it to a vet I recommend a topical (cortisol or corticosteroid) steroid, and a topical fungicide, keep it dry if you must continue with humidity. Really though, as a responsible keeper, a vet is your best option.
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Corn Snakes
1.0 Blood Red CB
0.2 Normal CB
0.1 Aztec CB
1.0 Anerythristic CB

Morelia Pythons
0.1 Morelia Viridis CB
1.1 Morelia Spilota Cheynei CB

Homo Sapiens Sapiens
0.1 Normal Neonate CB
0.1 Very Bizarre Adult WC

a proper diagnosis in in order to provide a realistic treatment.
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Corn Snakes
1.0 Blood Red CB
0.2 Normal CB
0.1 Aztec CB
1.0 Anerythristic CB

Morelia Pythons
0.1 Morelia Viridis CB
1.1 Morelia Spilota Cheynei CB

Homo Sapiens Sapiens
0.1 Normal Neonate CB
0.1 Very Bizarre Adult WC

It looks as though she might have had some ecdysis (shedding) trouble. I have seen similar situations in other python species. you can clean the area with a mild disinfectant. An experienced vet will be able to give you some more suggestions.

Is the animal still feeding regularly? Any other health problems besides the tail?

She has no other problems. She always feeds regularly and never refused a meal. Ever. I'm taking her to the vet today to get checked out. I soaked her in some luke warm water yesterday until her recent shed was off. We will see what the vet says about the tail. From what I researched it seems like it can happen to snakes especially GTPs to leave a little piece of shed on the tip of its tail, which can build up and suffocate it. This then kills that part of the tail until it falls off. When it falls off it can become infected, and thats when the snake is in danger. I'm gonna go ahead and take her in, probably cut the tip off, and get some antibiotics to be safe.

Def could use an amputation. It is a fairly quick healing issue and fairly easy as long as it is done while the area is small.

Be sure to keep cage VERY sterile and keep humidity low until fully healed. I would wait on antibiotics as many things are building resistance. Silvadene is a great ointment and will work nicely for healing. Healing usually takes about a week.
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Cindy Steinle
PHFaust
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You should closely monitor that tip as it could progress into a more serious case of "dry gangrene" which could then spread and cause other systemic issues and concerns. A knowledgeable exotics vet would remove the tip (for safety). It's a relatively quick, and simply procedure.

RCulver