Possible problem with my coastal carpet. Very worried.. please help..

[Akasha81]

Hi all,

I have an 11 month old coastal carpet python, and I am worried about the brown colour that is appearing around her mouth. it looks as though she has dark brown lipstick on and there are a few brown scales under the bottom of her mouth.

I believe she is about to shed, as the tip of her tail is getting flaky and she is getting darker all over, but I have never seen this strong colouration around her mouth before.

Is this normal during a shed? I have stopped handling her as I know that shedding is a stressful time for them. Both of the local vets in Bowen refuse to treat snakes, and my python reference books do not have any advice for this problem.

If someone could please spare a few minutes to reply, I would be very grateful, as I am a Herp beginner, and I am very worried about it.

Many thanks in advance,

Judy

 

[beatlloydy]

A Picture is worth a thousand words

 

[billiemay]

Can you look inside her mouth? Is there any discolored or excessive mucus? Are her gums a healthy colour and not swollen?

A picture would be very useful

 

[Renagade]

mouth rot. vet. batril injections...

 

[pyrodarknessanny]

ive seen "brown spots" under the chin associeated with mites before. but hard to say with out a pic.

 

[billiemay]

If it's mouth rot i've read that you can get anti fungal medications from vets and pet shops?

 

[Renagade]

if you were "worried" about your dog you would take it to a vet.

 

[AMY22]

My Monty boo had a little brown patch on the bottom of his mouth recently, it was just due to the fact he kept splashing in his water bowl and making his tank wet all the time, so the excess moisture gave him a blister. That could be a possibility, but yours sounds much worse so it may not be the answer. I hope your snakes okay.

 

[pyrodarknessanny]

If it's mouth rot i've read that you can get anti fungal medications from vets and pet shops?

uh NO, not from pets shops, that stuff, or the stuff that works is prescription ONLY.
i.e from a vet!

 

[billiemay]

Well maybe someone who lives somewhere around this area could offer advice on vets??

 

[billiemay]

This is a while from bowen but it says they treat reptiles.
Marlin Coast Veterinary Surgery

Captain Cook Hwy, Trinity Beach QLD 4879(07) 4057 6033‎

 

[Akasha81]

Hi Billiemay. Thanks for the quick reply. Ive just had a look in her mouth, everything inside the mouth appears to be normal. there is no mucas and nothing is swollen. Ive also noticed that the top of her head (between the eyes) looks to be darker than normal as well.

She is starting to slough at the tip of her tail. This is also looking very dry and 'muddy'.

I am fairly certain all this discolouration is because she is about to slough, but it looks very 'dirty' and Im still very worried. Should I bath her or put a shallow bath in her vivarium?

I am trying to take a few pics at the moment, when I get a good close-up I will post it.

 

[Chris1]

she shouldnt be startling to slough on the tip of her tail, she should start from her nose and it should come off in one piece, mine are generally rolled up like condoms.

does she have a water bowl big enough to soak in?

what kind of substrate are u using?

the darker colouration probably is related to shedding, after mine go milky they do really dull, some almost lose their pattern they go so dark

could the darkness around her lips be retained shed from last time?

does she strike at teh glass (bruising?)

bad sheds can cause problems, u should be working out why she isnt sheddign the way she should be.

 

[billiemay]

When I've seen my snake coming up to a shed her skin colour has been faded but her skin hasn't been flaky and she starts shedding from her head. Did its eyes go milky a few days ago? I have seen pics of dehydrated snakes where their skin looks flaky.

 

[Chris1]

and yes, bath her.

u can use plain sorbolene cream (fragrance free) or lucas paw paw ointment on her after her bath

 

[billiemay]

You can look at videos on youtube that show what a snake shedding should look like.

 

[pyrodarknessanny]

im still gunna vote "mites" by the description,
the skin looks dry and flaky, starting to peel from the worng end, and the dark patches. under the chin, and a few other verry dark random scales.

still hard to say with out seeing pics but it sounds like mites.

 

[Akasha81]

Thanks for your help and advice guys.. Akasha and I thank you both very much

There is only a small water bowl in there - I will put a bigger one in there straight away.

The last time she sloughed, she did not turn this brown colour, and the slough was half rolled up with a couple of tears in it. I dont think that the discolouration is from the last slough. Her eyes went milky about a week ago. I have tried a light mist water spray once per day to help with the dryness and to add humidity, but dont think that has worked.

Her substrate is clean woodchips that I buy from the petshop. I clean out her enclosure once per fortnight and fully replace the woodchips once every 2-3 months.

I will admit though, that she does strike the glass a fair bit, when I put my fingers up to the glass, however I don't think its bruising, as the brown colour is all over her, but especially around the front of her mouth at the opening, and a couple of tiny light brown scales underneath. inside her mouth is fine.

As for the sorbolene cream and lucas paw paw ointment, I will buy some tomorrow and give her a bath.

Again, thankyou so much for your advice. As my local vets are useless and dont treat snakes, I have to travel over 2 hrs to get to the next reputable vets in Townsville or Mackay, and I dont want to transport her unless its totally necessary.

Cheers

Judy

 

[Renagade]

if the brown isn't inside her mouth, then i think you can rule out mouth rot which is a good thing. i agree with increasing the size of the water bowl.... really pics are needed. does it look infected?

 

[shellfisch]

if you were "worried" about your dog you would take it to a vet.

In her opening post, Akasha81 says BOTH of the TWO vets in Bowen REFUSE to treat snakes.
In Bowen, it's not like you can duck around the corner and find another one....