Aussie Pythons and Snakes

serpenttongue · #46 07-Oct-07, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cris

The snakes would favour the high hides because they would feel safer there, to them they would rather be warm for a bit than put themselves in a far more vunerable place.

Yes, that's exactly what i believe. Plus diamonds are extremely arboreal anyway.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cris

Is it possible a common virus or something may also play a role?

I have been told that DPS may be caused by a virus that only affects diamonds. I dont think so, though.

whatsup · #47 07-Oct-07, 02:34 PM

ST , do you reckon calcium additives may help at all with their bones? liqiud calcium injected into their feed maybe.

cheers dave

serpenttongue · #48 07-Oct-07, 03:33 PM

Whatsup, i really dont know. One would think that if a diamond has access to unfiltered sunlight, cool evenings and a proper winter cooling then calcium additives wouldn't be necessary. Someone really needs to do some work on that to see what the outcome is.

GSXR_Boy · #49 07-Oct-07, 03:52 PM

Any idea on why it only affects snakes 6 and older??
Had any die younger?

serpenttongue · #50 07-Oct-07, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GSXR_Boy

Any idea on why it only affects snakes 6 and older??
Had any die younger?

None of my diamonds have had DPS at an age younger than 7 years. 6 seems to be the age that diamonds will come down with DPS, possibly because they have stopped growing by this time, or at least slowed down considerably in growth. It is also possible that DPS can affect a diamond at a very early age but doesnt show itself until several years later when the snakes growth slows down. So how a herper keeps their diamonds while they're young may have a great deal to do with whether or not the snake gets DPS when it's older. This is all speculation though.

Newbies seem to think that if their diamond makes it to 6 years of age without getting DPS then their snake is safe and wont get DPS at all, but that is wrong. Some diamonds can make it to a decade before showing signs of DPS.

cockney red · #51 07-Oct-07, 05:09 PM

Top info ST on a very worrying subject for all us DP keepers.

Jason_Hood · #52 08-Oct-07, 11:46 AM

Has anybody had blood work done to check the chemistry and calcium levels of their diamonds at different ages?? I think this would be a great idea but a bit costly. Maybe somewhere like a nature center that can absorb the cost or a bigger breeder who has lots of vet work done. If it is a issue with calcium absorbtion or calcium blockage it should show in the testing. Brittle bones and some of the other symptoms sound like calcium issues.

Can't fix the problem until you ID and like many others on here they are on my list of future animals so I am very interested in all of this.

Jason

tempest · #53 08-Oct-07, 01:57 PM

ST thank you for taking the time to write about your observations and answer all the questions that have been asked. It was falling in love with a Diamond Python many years ago what drew me to keeping herps, they are my favourite snake without a doubt. With so little actually known about DPS it is beneficial to read of the symptoms and thoughts about it from someone who is knowledgeable from years of keeping Diamonds. Your experiences have given us Diamond keepers a lot to think about and I really hope that the only experience I have with it will be through reading about it.... here's hoping anyway. Thanks again ST!

mrsshep77 · #54 08-Oct-07, 02:04 PM

ST as someone who has diamonds it is great to have some more knowledge under my belt! I am so in love with diamonds and would have 100 of them if I could. I was always wanting more info on DPS and as you've said there is alot of "other" info out there not quite from an experienced point of view so thank you for sharing as it's good to know how it can be reasonably prevented.
I'm always learning new things and wanting more knowledge as I've never proclaimed to be an expert on anything, I just offer my advice on the things I do know.

Cheers,
Mell

bowks · #55 18-Dec-07, 10:25 AM

I have a 7 yr old diamond python who doesn't seem to have put on much weight for the last two years. She didn't eat that well last year, and this year has gone off her tucker completely (had only one meal 4 months ago). She will strike if annoyed eg by a rat being bounced around her cage and will constrict but will not eat. I took her to the vet yesterday who diagnosed DPS and dehydration. He suggested soaking her for 6-8 hrs in a tub of water, and leaving her in an airconditioned room for a week.

I live in the tropics (Darwin) and we had built in the front verandah for the snakes and other animals about 2 years ago. The Childrens Python thrived but I think at about the time we moved the DP out of the house (air conditioned lounge) he started losing his appetite.

I can keep him in the house which the vet suggested, but I'm wondering what his chances are. The vet suggested that at the end of this week he should be eating again. I have only started researching DPS and am devastated to hear how poor the prognosis is.

Moreliaman · #56 18-Dec-07, 10:47 AM

Thats some excellent observations, likewise, thanks for sharing that valuable information with us serpent.
I know allot of herpers over here keep diamonds & other species of herps in excessive temperatures with the common misconception that everywhere in australia is always hot.

ponybug · #57 18-Dec-07, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bowks

I can keep him in the house which the vet suggested, but I'm wondering what his chances are. The vet suggested that at the end of this week he should be eating again. I have only started researching DPS and am devastated to hear how poor the prognosis is.

from talking to serpenttongue about this issue i'm sad to say the chances are almost nil,

i'm in the same place now, i think my port mac has it and i'm just waiting until it's 100% certain before doing the right thing for her...

salebrosus · #58 18-Dec-07, 11:31 AM

My last visit with ST he showed me one of his animals who has it and he had also filmed what the animal was like during feeding. As an owner of three Diamonds it is terrifying to think of what may become of them. It really is heartbreaking to witness DPS.

Simone.

$NaKe PiMp · #59 18-Dec-07, 12:06 PM

these symptoms you talk about in DPS i once experianced with a female coastel carpet,
she developed brittle bones and her spine broke
and it was in the year following a birth to a clutch

rexs1 · #60 18-Dec-07, 03:48 PM

That's the best article I've read on D.P.S. serpentongue. I haven't kept diamonds now for about 3-4 yrs. My oldest female was 10yrs old when I sold her. She was bred for the first time at five yrs then another 2 clutches after that. The new owner bred her the following year and a year later she died. She lived for a good age for a diamond. She lived at Atherton N. Qld for 5yrs then in a Sth Qld coastal area. She was housed inside and heating was only a small heat pad. Many years ago when captive kept diamonds were commonly caught from the wild this D.P.S. was a very frequent problem. Now I think with captive bred animals easily sourced this disease is much less seen in collections.