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Q: what are those soft lumps on my python skin?
Posted By:

netosogo

In Relation To:

flipper

Im not that much into snakes, I've had some wildcaught mexican boas, and a ball python and never had a mayor problem, they were healty and happy.

A month ago I went to a new petshop looking for tarantulas cuz thats what im in to and saw a beautiful black snake, I asked the guy about the snake and he told me they have had the snake for about 3 months already, that she was eating well but that was kinda aggressive so they couldnt sell her and he offered me a good deal. I asked if I could take her out of her tank and the guy told me to be careful and stuff, Im really not scared of getting tagged by a constrictor so I just grabbed the snake and nothing happened.

The first thing that I noticed when opening the tank was a strong smell of rancid snake poo, that was lame, I guess they didnt clean the tank that often because they were afraid of the snake. Anyways, I inspected the snake, she was strong and climby. I noticed some scratches on her skin and also little lumps. Then I saw some darken thing on her chloaca, I took a close look and It seemed to be dried poo, then the guy asked me to leave the snake on the thank so I did and I left the place.

I couldnt resist so I came back 1 week later with the money and bought it cuz besides the bad conditions the snake is beautiful and I belive its not a common specie. I personaly like exotic's so I brought the snake home.

The snake was still very stinky, like poo so the first thing I did was gave her a nice warm bath and she seemed to like it :). The solid dried thing on her chloaca felt off and a little not too deep wound came to sight on the right side of the chloaca.

I let the snake alone for about a week so she could adjust to the new terrarium and stuff and then I feed her, she ate well and she seems to be fine.

Still Im woried about what could the chloaca thing is and also the lumps on her body, those are soft when pressed and seem bigger when the snake is twisted.

My father is veterinarian but he really doesnt know much about reptiles, he's specialized on small species (common pets). He told me to put some stuff on the wound but I dont know if there are better solutions, also want to get rid of the lumps. I have acces to many meds so I could apply them myself.

Thanks in advance guys.

Also sorry for my english :)


Attached Photos:




Points: 150
Topics: General Health , Skin
Species: Pythons > Pythons > Leiopython albertisii
Administrative: Show/Hide

Member Comment 5/21/2013 5:30:13 PM

Sonja K. Reptiles

Do the ones on the body feel fluid-filled and move some or are they fixed in place?

 
Assisted Answer 5/21/2013 6:05:24 PM

snlash

It could be a wide variety of things such as tumors, internal abscesses or even possible parasites.   A lot of people confused abscesses with tumours in snakes.  This is because abscesses in snakes are hard to the feel unlike with most other animal species.

Although the above possibilities seem fatal, but most are treatable if you discover them early and follow through with the proper treatment  Recovery will likely involve time, (a lot of) patience, and money. Unfortunately exotic pet vets are sometimes expensive. However you REALLY need to take it to a veterinarian experienced with exotics.

 
Member Comment 5/21/2013 6:15:50 PM

Creature.Addiction

From experience I can tell you that you should get her checked out, I had a Jungle Carpet girl pass away last year from cancer that started as a small lump.

snlash is right it could be a number of things including displaced tapeworm larve, giving the condition you said she was living in this  could be a huge possibility. If so they will need to be opened up, removed, drained and then a course of antibiotics giving.

The same goes for abscesses.

 
Author Comment 5/21/2013 7:20:58 PM

netosogo

The lump feels soft and fluid-filled, dunno if they move, the snake its on shed so ill wait till she's done to check again. 

Unfortunately there are no exotic vets where I live so I'll stick to what I get from here.

Im also gonna get a blood sample and take to the lab, what kind of test or things should I be asking for?

Anyone knows something related with abcesses draining? 

 
Member Comment 5/21/2013 8:02:56 PM

Sonja K. Reptiles

I have to assume this is an imported animal? I'm had imports/ farm-bred come in with oddities, and sometimes proper husbandry and a good, clean environment takes care of it. I wonder if rather than a blood sample, or in addition to one, a sample of the fluid within the area would prove more telling? I had a farm bred come in and shortly after being shipped to me, developed a number of water filled / small blisters. I had them take a sample and it only contained skin flora... with continued proper husbandry, the condition cleared up and no treatment was needed... Not saying what you have is the same, but just wanted to throw that additional testing idea out there.

Have you pressed at all in the cloaca area? Is there any sign of infection or pus that is discharged when the area is pressed?

How are you currently keeping your WLP?

 
Author Comment 5/21/2013 8:30:07 PM

netosogo

The cloaca seems to be fine, the smell its totally gone, the snake its very active, she eats well and no regurgitation at all. 

The terrarium setup its pretty basic, there's a branch where she stays all the time (I got the branch from my ranch and puted it in the oven at 245º for 1 hour), theres a hide made of half coconut that she never uses and a large bowl with fresh watter, she usually soaks in for about a day. I mist the terrarium once per day. Where I live the humidity levels are always between 65 - 85%. 

My dad told me that we could inject ivermectin to a mice and fed her but Im not sure. Also said that we could open the lump and drain the thing.

 
Member Comment 5/21/2013 8:46:09 PM

Sonja K. Reptiles

What temps do you have for her?

You've had her ~3 weeks then? With the natural humidity that high and with a decent size water dish, you likely don't need to even mist - mine shed great even with humidity in the 50s. If she is eating, active, etc. I'd personally be inclined to keep a real close eye on the areas through the shed after this one, and go from there. Of course changes would prompt sooner treatment. WLPs are a high stress animal, and being most likely an import vs captive bred, I'd be most concerned with giving her a good chance of settling into captivity without further stress.

 
Member Comment 5/21/2013 9:18:40 PM

snlash

I'm going to reiterate the need for the snake to see a reptile veterinarian...it could be a LOT of things and without proper treatment the snake has much less of a chance of recovering properly.

 
Member Comment 5/21/2013 9:35:54 PM

Creature.Addiction

I would take a fluid sample and I really advise against invermectin as it is highly dangerous and can cause neurological problems and in some reptiles even death. However, I would treat her with Panacur, its very safe and if the lumps where pus filled they would be hard. They could simply be water filled blisters.

Another thought is to treat her for mites. If her conditions where that poor its a good chance she could have/had mites and her scales/skin is irritated. Check her water after soaks and you should see mites if she has them. They will be little black dots.

 
Author Comment 5/21/2013 11:15:20 PM

netosogo

Unfortunately there are no specialiced veterinarians here, otherwise I would have visited one by now and I agree with you snlash. I will take samples to the lab as soon as I can so correct me if im wrong, I need fecal samples and lump fluid samples right?

The snake has been on the water dish all day long and I dont see mites or stuff, yesterday she started with the shed thing, greyish and stuff, so  should I wait till she finish or should I go ahead and take the samples?

Also what kind of test  should I ask for?

 
Member Comment 5/22/2013 8:44:30 AM

bullwhipcracker

I would slow things down a bit. Do a fecal floatation ( any vet can handle that), treat with panacur and flagyl if necessary. Asian imports usually harbor a parisite load. I see skin lesions and wounds on wild snakes all the time and especially when kept in unsanitary conditions. They usually sort themselves out a couple sheds later they are tip top.

 
Member Comment 5/22/2013 8:50:50 AM

NikiP

Just a suggwstion, before your dad treats her, could he contact a reptile vet and get advuce on how to treat for parasites? Thinking it might be better fir him to get the correctcamounts and delivery method.

 
Assisted Answer 5/22/2013 9:31:28 AM

Sonja K. Reptiles

Rarely, if ever, have I seen my WLPs soak... what temps are available within the enclosure? She could be just be preparing for her shed, but If she continues to soak after she sheds, and since there isn't evidence of mites, I'd wonder if she's using it as a way to cool herself?

Mine typically defecate with or shorty after shedding, so I'd get the fecal then / when it comes... but as I said I'd do before, and now "bullwhipcracker" has stated, too, I'd keepa watchful eye... a couple shed cycles can really change things for the better. A shed cycle, itself, is a period of stress for the animal, so I'd definitely not mess with her at this point.

 
Author Comment 5/22/2013 11:57:07 AM

netosogo

Now its at 28ºC. She has done that 3 times since I got her, she usually stays there for a day, shes still in there all soaked but the head. Ima follow your instructions guys =) Thanks for guiding me through this. I really appreciate 

 
Member Comment 5/22/2013 12:03:54 PM

Sonja K. Reptiles

Often the first shed after acquisition is a tougher one, perhaps she's trying to prepare for that. : )

Is that her hot spot or the ambient temperture?

For the hot spot, I'd recommend 31 to 32C

 
Member Comment 5/22/2013 12:17:12 PM

bullwhipcracker

What Sonja K said is spot on.

Also, do you have hides on both cool and hot sides? She may be choosing her water bowl as a cool hide if one is not provided.

 
Author Comment 5/22/2013 2:02:06 PM

netosogo

I only have one, she doesnt use it at all, its half of a coconut, what do you guys use for hides? Ima try something else with two hides

 
Member Comment 5/22/2013 2:38:51 PM

bullwhipcracker

Try a piece of cork bark, or something "flatter" snakes prefer hides in which they have body contact.

 
Member Comment 5/22/2013 3:19:27 PM

Sonja K. Reptiles

I choose to use items that are easy to clean. Here are pics of the types of hides I have for my WLPs currently. More often than not it is under the water dish they choose. They also like to perch in a branch that incorporates some plastic greenery.

 

 

 

 

 

 
Author Comment 5/24/2013 3:15:28 PM

netosogo

She already finished with the shed thing, looks awesome =), the scratches on her scales disspeared, those might have been like scalecracks due to lack of humidity right?

But the lump its still there, when I press it down it seems to dissapear but in a few seconds its there again, also the old skin on the cloaca wound was still there, I carefully removed it with my hand.

Ill proceed and take the sample to send it to the lab

 
Member Comment 5/26/2013 5:44:58 PM

Sonja K. Reptiles

Thanks for the update. Please let us know how it all goes.

 
Member Comment 6/7/2013 11:56:41 AM

Cenobite

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