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Heavy parasite load found in ball python from Ed Clark

cookreptiles

cookreptiles

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On November 1, 2006 I received a group of 2005 female ball pythons from Ed Clark in trade for some crested geckos. Ed told me that they were captive bred and assured me that "all [his] stuff is as clean as you will find" and, as he was in good standing with the reptile community at the time, I took his word for it.

Last Thursday one of these females passed something in a bit of runny stool that I had never seen before (see photo below). I took the snake and the suspect tapeworm to the vet Friday morning. The vet ran a fecal sample and confirmed tapeworms along with strongyloides and a high number of coccidia.

The snakes in question are 2005 females that eat very well, yet haven't put on much weight since I have had them. They have not been in direct contact with any of the other snakes in my collection, nor do they share prey items. I have had fecals done on several other snakes recently, all of which were clean. The only snakes that I have added to my collection since acquiring these girls are 2 cbb ball pythons that I got in Daytona several weeks ago; these snakes are currently in quarantine.

This is proof enough for me that the snakes I received from Ed were infested with parasites at the time I received them. I should have been wise enough to run fecals on them immediately even though, at the time, I trusted the source.

The point of my post is not to start drama or debate, but to inform those who have also purchased from Ed Clark that their snakes may also be carrying a heavy parasite load. Regardless of the source, always get a fecal done for the sake of your animals!

grossness.jpg
 
You bought the snakes in Nov. 2006... basically 10 months ago. A lot of things could happen in that amount of time. Mice/rats carry tapeworms just as humans do. Unfortunately tapeworms are very common, my bet would be they came from a mouse/rat. Maybe that rat was fed to the snake at Ed's place, but likely he was unaware of it. If the snake doesn't have outward symptoms of illness there would be no reason for him to suspect a problem.
 
Ed stated that the snakes were captive bred. I will post all correspondence shortly (e-mails).

The kind of tapeworm that infects reptiles is different from the tapeworm that infects mammals. The snake has the reptilian version of the tapeworm along with strongyloides and coccidia.

I was assured before the trade that these snakes were clean, therefore I expected to receive clean snakes.
 
I agree with the above poster. It's been nearly a year since you bought these animals. Had you had a fecal smear and float done shortly after you acquired them and it was positive for some sort of parasite then I would agree that Ed would owe you for the cost of the vet bill or would need to refund your money and take the animals back.

Have you contacted Ed about this situation?
 
cookreptiles said:
Ed stated that the snakes were captive bred. I will post all correspondence shortly (e-mails).

The kind of tapeworm that infects reptiles is different from the tapeworm that infects mammals. The snake has the reptilian version of the tapeworm along with strongyloides and coccidia.

I was assured before the trade that these snakes were clean, therefore I expected to receive clean snakes.
Click to expand...


are you able to also post vet reports stating that is what these animals have?
 
It is common knowledge that Ed imports animals. Are you now whining because you bought a cheap import? I bought a Festiva, and expected a Cadillac. Get my drift?
 
bullfrog100000 said:
You bought the snakes in Nov. 2006... basically 10 months ago. A lot of things could happen in that amount of time. Mice/rats carry tapeworms just as humans do. Unfortunately tapeworms are very common, my bet would be they came from a mouse/rat. Maybe that rat was fed to the snake at Ed's place, but likely he was unaware of it. If the snake doesn't have outward symptoms of illness there would be no reason for him to suspect a problem.
Click to expand...


I agree,Anything can happen in that amount of time. :iagree: :D :yesnod: :)
 
I just want to say that I totally understand your frustration, and I am sorry this happened to you/your snakes. It's just real hard to put 100% blame on Ed when so much time has passed, sorry.
 
ed has been contacted about the situation via a pm here on 9-15-07:
cookreptiles said:
hi ed,

remember the group of female ball pythons that you sent me last year in trade for a group of cresteds? one of them passed a mass of tapeworms yesterday so i took her to the vet today. a fecal found tapeworms, strongiloides and a high number of coccidia.

the girls all eat great but none of them have really gained much weight, which makes sense now. i have had fecals done on a few of my other snakes in the recent past, which all came out clear. my other snakes are also all growing normally, so i am almost 100% certain that the only snakes that have internal parasites are the ones i received from you. i will be having fecals done on all of my snakes over the next few weeks in order to confirm this.

i wanted to let you know this so you can take the necessary measures to test and treat your collection, especially since coccidia is fairly serious. i feel that this is something that others with snakes that came from you should know, so that they can test and treat their snakes as well. i hope that you will take the initiative to issue a public alert, however, should you choose not to do so, i will post a warning so that people can take the appropriate action.

thanks,
emily cook
Click to expand...

ed's reply:
ECLARK said:
Emily, thanks for the message. dont remember if the Balls that I sent you were captive bred or captive hatched. will look into it to find out and get back to you.
Click to expand...
my reply:
cookreptiles said:
hi ed,

you had said that they were cb from your collection and that you were letting a bunch of your younger females go to make space for new morphs.

thanks for looking into it,
emily
Click to expand...


i will scan the vet report tomorrow and post it here.

i did not buy imports. i traded for captive bred snakes.

i do realize that it has been some time since i received these snakes, however, in that amount of time, with no exposure to parasites since being in my care, how would this snake suddenly get tapeworms, strongyloides and a heavy infestation of coccidia?

i am not asking for any compensation from ed. i am only posting this as a warning to others who have purchased from him so that they can take the proper care to get their own snakes tested and treated as necessary.
 
i am not asking for any compensation from ed. i am only posting this as a warning to others who have purchased from him so that they can take the proper care to get their own snakes tested and treated as necessary.
Click to expand...

I can understand and respect that. But think about something for a minute. Reverse the situation, and let's say that someone bought some geckos from you and 10 months later they contacted you to tell you the geckos had _____ (coccidia, crypto, hookworms, whatever). Then that person posted the information on here, on the BOI, for all the reptile hobby to read, that you "might" have parasitic or disease ridden geckos. Surely you would be upset if the tables were turned... :shrug01:
 
KelliH said:
I can understand and respect that. But think about something for a minute. Reverse the situation, and let's say that someone bought some geckos from you and 10 months later they contacted you to tell you the geckos had _____ (coccidia, crypto, hookworms, whatever). Then that person posted the information on here, on the BOI, for all the reptile hobby to read, that you "might" have parasitic or disease ridden geckos. Surely you would be upset if the tables were turned... :shrug01:
Click to expand...
It's not about feelings Kelli.

It's about honest representation.

Coccidia, strongyles and tapeworms are VERY common in imported ball pythons. I don't know of any captive produced animals having them that were not exposed to wild animals or their feces.

IF mr. clark misrepresented these animals, then that needs to be brought to light. After all, mr. clark has sold many many ball pythons in the last few years and if he has sold wild caught as captive bred then some folks who have high end morphs need to get some fecals done.

Maybe it was just a mistake. Maybe it was greed. We already know his loyalty can be purchased and that he will post his animals in someone elses ad, that he's not real strong on genetics and is a liar.

While I have no personal good feelings for mr. clark, this is, as I said, NOT about feelings but about the truth. I know he knows what it is, I've seen him both use and abuse it.

What's the scoop mr. clark?
 
cookreptiles said:
On November 1, 2006 I received a group of 2005 female ball pythons from Ed Clark in trade for some crested geckos.
Click to expand...

Just out of curiosity, have you had any of the other animals you got from Ed examined? Or any of your animals besides this particular female?
 
cookreptiles said:
On November 1, 2006 I received a group of 2005 female ball pythons from Ed Clark in trade for some crested geckos. Ed told me that they were captive bred and assured me that "all [his] stuff is as clean as you will find" and, as he was in good standing with the reptile community at the time, I took his word for it.

Last Thursday one of these females passed something in a bit of runny stool that I had never seen before (see photo below). I took the snake and the suspect tapeworm to the vet Friday morning. The vet ran a fecal sample and confirmed tapeworms along with strongyloides and a high number of coccidia.

The snakes in question are 2005 females that eat very well, yet haven't put on much weight since I have had them. They have not been in direct contact with any of the other snakes in my collection, nor do they share prey items. I have had fecals done on several other snakes recently, all of which were clean. The only snakes that I have added to my collection since acquiring these girls are 2 cbb ball pythons that I got in Daytona several weeks ago; these snakes are currently in quarantine.

This is proof enough for me that the snakes I received from Ed were infested with parasites at the time I received them. I should have been wise enough to run fecals on them immediately even though, at the time, I trusted the source.

The point of my post is not to start drama or debate, but to inform those who have also purchased from Ed Clark that their snakes may also be carrying a heavy parasite load. Regardless of the source, always get a fecal done for the sake of your animals!

grossness.jpg
Click to expand...

I purchased a group of ball pythons from Ed around the same time as you did. Mine are in perfect health and are the pride of my collection. Ed Clark is a fantastic seller. I would buy from him again anytime.
 
brucestephenson said:
I purchased a group of ball pythons from Ed around the same time as you did. Mine are in perfect health and are the pride of my collection. Ed Clark is a fantastic seller. I would buy from him again anytime.
Click to expand...
Not a surprise at all. mr. clark is one of the VERY few you've managed to purchase, er purchase from, that will still back ANYTHING you say.

I am glad your pieds are doing well.

I wonder who will buy FROM you though?
 
Wilomn said:
Not a surprise at all. mr. clark is one of the VERY few you've managed to purchase, er purchase from, that will still back ANYTHING you say.

I am glad your pieds are doing well.

I wonder who will buy FROM you though?
Click to expand...

It should be known that Wes Pollock has a long history of stalking Ed Clark and myself and others on these forums. In my opinion, Wes is a psychopath whose babblings should be ignored by rational persons.
 
Yes, I agree it is not about feelings. I just cannot see that Ed is to blame when the animals have been out of his hands for nearly a year. I have no doubt that Emily has a high degree of ethics and that she takes extremely good care of her animals, but I just can't see how it is the fault of Ed this many months later. Maybe I am not seeing it clearly but for the moment, that is how I see it.
 
brucestephenson said:
It should be known that Wes Pollock has a long history of stalking Ed Clark and myself and others on these forums. In my opinion, Wes is a psychopath whose babblings should be ignored by rational persons.
Click to expand...



AHAHAHAhahahahAHAHAhAhaHAHA!!!

Keep it on topic there..... :rolleyes:
 
brucestephenson said:
Wes is a psychopath whose babblings should be ignored by rational persons.
Click to expand...


Yeah, as yours should as well. Now go away Jedi-boy.

This thread is about Emily and Ed and some tapeworms.

Not you and Wes.
 
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