Recovering Nicely

[Donald C]

At the last Columbia Repticon, I picked up the only drymarchon at the show: an unfortunate and under-the-weather YT cribo. As was apparent just from looking at it, it was (1) an import, and (2) severely neglected.

After the much needed vet exam, it was determined that the animal was underweight, several layers of retained spectacles on both eyes, a horrendous gut-load of parasites, and a bacterial infection starting just behind the head and extending back about 3" and going completely around the snake's neck.

Thankfully, after some small time and attention, she is down to just one retained spectacle on a single eye, the bacterial infection appears to be gone (with the affected and recovering scales appearing white and scarred belly scoots), and the parasite load is down to a single specie. She is also moving toward eating regularly on unscented quail left for her, usually eaten within 30 min of being shown to her.

 

[JColt]

Nice to see this. With your dedication I'm sure she will thrive. Keep post updated and Happy New Year!

 

[Helenthereef]

Well done, that must have involved a lot of work. Glad it paid off.

 

[Donald C]

Thanks. I was very certain what all was needed when I saw the animal, which made things easier.

 

[hotlips]

Lucky snake, that you bought her!

 

[Donald C]

She's doing quite well. I have a fecal sample to send in next week to get the all clear (hopefully) next week. She's also taking f/t quail off of the tongs now.

 

[hotlips]

That's awesome! I can remember wanting one of these magnificent creatures (back some years, I don't any longer, as I got involved with many other kinds instead, lol).

 

[Donald C]

She's making nice progress. The fecal sample came back negative for parasites and she is now taking food off the tongs, including rats. Just one last retained eye cap that I should be able to clear in her next shed.

 

[hotlips]

Hey, that's great news. I'll bet she feels a whole lot better.

 

[Donald C]

So, it's been a while since my last post. This girl has thrived since I got her treated for internal parasites and nixed that nasty scale infection. Since my last post here, she has doubled in size from ~3 feet to ~6 feet in length, and she is now taking feeders off the tongs, both rodents and quail. She's still quite cage defensive, but settles down once out. She has even tolerated and done well with several education events I have assisted with.

 

[JColt]

WOW! Doesn't even look like same animal. You've done a terrific job. Kudo's!

 

[Donald C]

Thanks, Joe. She's come a long way, and I should be able to breed her next season.

 

[minicopilot1]

Well done! She's beautiful.

 

[hotlips]

Wow, she looks AMAZING! You've really made a world of difference in her life- Great job!

 

[Snookdaddy772]

That's AWESOME. GREAT JOB

 

[Helenthereef]

She really looks fantastic, well done!

 

[CanoesAndSnakes]

good job, bud

 

[Donald C]

She's come quite a ways over the last three years in my care. Her aversion to eating off the tongs has completely gone away and she's also been a joy to work with in education events pre-covid.

This season, I took another step with her by introducing a male into her enclosure supervised back in September and was rewarded with courting behavior and several confirmed locks. For the last few weeks, she has gone off feed and has completed a shed cycle a few days ago. Hopefully, she will drop a nice, healthy clutch of eggs soon.

 

[hotlips]

Sweet! Good luck with that, keep us posted.