T o Quote:::
Well so far she is ok however we had a little scare the other day as she was really really dehydrated. She just wont drink enough, she is still really active and all but looks all shrivelled up. her skin is really rough as the vet thought she needed to shed as she crackles like paper but only al little would come off it was mainly dehydrated skin.
You have a dehydrated snake with a retained shed....skin/scales will NOT come off a snake that has not got a retained slough.
I have been keeping olives for 14 years and mine have NEVER been exposed to temps over 35....at 40 to 41 most snakes will die if expsoed for a long period. Furthermore, studies by Gavin Bedford of wild Liasis olivaceus have shown that PBT (Prefer body temperatures) are 30.6 in the dry season to 31.2 in the Wet. this is way below what you have been told.
In reality its a shame you seem to have been lead up the garden path, I would seriously consider changing the snake over, however as seems not an option cut down the medication rates.
While open wounds in reptiles can be problematic the repeated bathing is causing stress and thus stress related illnesses eg Anorexia.
I would suggest to get a large Click Clack (from Big W) they are about 40 X 30 X 15 cms with solid sides and a clear lid.
With a Solidering iron melt air holes in half the lid (about 3 mm in diameter spaced about 10mm apart).
Get a heat mat with a thermostat and set the temperature to 30.5 deg C.
Get a 3 inch black plastic pot and cut down so it fits inside the closed click clack and place over the heat mat.
Use paper towel as a substrate and place a water bowl (something about 3 inches round by 3 high is perfect).
Place the enclosure in a bedroom with a window that you can leave the blinds open, however do not place near the window (heat from the sun will cause it to get too warm) and try to keep lights off at night in the room.
Get in contact with a good reptile vet ( a retained slough should be relatively easy to diagnose) and I am sure that John Weigel can recommend someone).
If you post a photo of the snake (especially the head) that will help.
Cheers,
Scott Eipper
0419 328 251
Well so far she is ok however we had a little scare the other day as she was really really dehydrated. She just wont drink enough, she is still really active and all but looks all shrivelled up. her skin is really rough as the vet thought she needed to shed as she crackles like paper but only al little would come off it was mainly dehydrated skin.
You have a dehydrated snake with a retained shed....skin/scales will NOT come off a snake that has not got a retained slough.
I have been keeping olives for 14 years and mine have NEVER been exposed to temps over 35....at 40 to 41 most snakes will die if expsoed for a long period. Furthermore, studies by Gavin Bedford of wild Liasis olivaceus have shown that PBT (Prefer body temperatures) are 30.6 in the dry season to 31.2 in the Wet. this is way below what you have been told.
In reality its a shame you seem to have been lead up the garden path, I would seriously consider changing the snake over, however as seems not an option cut down the medication rates.
While open wounds in reptiles can be problematic the repeated bathing is causing stress and thus stress related illnesses eg Anorexia.
I would suggest to get a large Click Clack (from Big W) they are about 40 X 30 X 15 cms with solid sides and a clear lid.
With a Solidering iron melt air holes in half the lid (about 3 mm in diameter spaced about 10mm apart).
Get a heat mat with a thermostat and set the temperature to 30.5 deg C.
Get a 3 inch black plastic pot and cut down so it fits inside the closed click clack and place over the heat mat.
Use paper towel as a substrate and place a water bowl (something about 3 inches round by 3 high is perfect).
Place the enclosure in a bedroom with a window that you can leave the blinds open, however do not place near the window (heat from the sun will cause it to get too warm) and try to keep lights off at night in the room.
Get in contact with a good reptile vet ( a retained slough should be relatively easy to diagnose) and I am sure that John Weigel can recommend someone).
If you post a photo of the snake (especially the head) that will help.
Cheers,
Scott Eipper
0419 328 251
