Slipped Skin Disease

[Herpo]

Hi all,

The following are two link on the other forum I'm on regarding a all to little known disease. You can read the whole first thread if you want to, but it is only here for the very first image of the pythons wounds.

https://aussiepythons.com/forum/showthread.php/218482-Diamond-Python-Medical-Assistance

The next is the main thread, and I encourage you to read the PDF in there on a disease that a google search doesn't show anything about at all!

https://aussiepythons.com/forum/showthread.php/218557-Slipped-Skin-Disease

Cheers,
Herpo

[mysticmoon]

Very interesting. At the end of the PDF file it says.. "Clinicians have
proposed that the syndrome is sometimes associated with poorly organised collagen, and a vitamin C deficiency has been postulated as the possible cause."

How does one give a snake vitamin C?? Does this mean snakes, or at least this specific type need supplement?

[macandchz]

I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION IF YOUR SNAKE EATS RATS, HE GETS ALL THE REQUIRED NUTRITION HE NEEDS AND THAT'S WHY you try to GET THEM ON RATS as soon as they're big enough.

[bigsnakegirl785]

Very interesting. At the end of the PDF file it says.. "Clinicians have
proposed that the syndrome is sometimes associated with poorly organised collagen, and a vitamin C deficiency has been postulated as the possible cause."

How does one give a snake vitamin C?? Does this mean snakes, or at least this specific type need supplement?

UVB light may also help, I'm not sure how much in cases like this, though.

[dannybgoode]

UVB light may also help, I'm not sure how much in cases like this, though.

Interesting-I've been told never to use uv such snakes because unlike lizards a) they don't need it for vit d3 production and don't utilise it like lizards do and b) because the do not have eyelids, uv in close proximity and in the confines of a viv can cause damage to their retinas.

It was a breeder of boas and gtp's who advised me of this.

I haven't seen any papers to back this up but on the basis snakes (I think with one of two very rare exceptions) don't utilise uv for nutritional purposes then I'd avoid it.

If I come across any papers on the issue I'll update according.

[bigsnakegirl785]

Interesting-I've been told never to use uv such snakes because unlike lizards a) they don't need it for vit d3 production and don't utilise it like lizards do and b) because the do not have eyelids, uv in close proximity and in the confines of a viv can cause damage to their retinas.

It was a breeder of boas and gtp's who advised me of this.

I haven't seen any papers to back this up but on the basis snakes (I think with one of two very rare exceptions) don't utilise uv for nutritional purposes then I'd avoid it.

If I come across any papers on the issue I'll update according.

It's not so much as "don't use it" as "you don't NEED to use it."

Using UVB generally does not harm or benefit a snake. Most snakes can get what they need from their prey, but I would imagine it could help a snake that had problems syntesizing its own Vitamin A (or C, whichever one it is).

Snakes have been shown to make use of UVB light.

UVB light does not damage their eyes unless they are albino. You must be thinking of the purple/black lights, as those will blind a snake with extended use.

Even if they're albino, UVB is a great thing to use, all you gotta do is offer cover under the light so they can control their UVB access.