Spilotes pullatus cloaca problem- help and advice please!!

[Will0W783]

Hi guys,

I bought a tiger ratsnake (Spilotes pullatus) at a show. It was on eco-sand at the show. When I got it home and took it out of the snake bag it was in, I noticed the cloaca was open and pale. There appeared to be sand all over it, and the scales around it didn't look too good- the snake could not close its cloaca. I didn't notice redness or discharge, but it looks AWFUL and there is a strong odor coming from it. I emailed the seller who told me he'd work with me. I want to know what I should do for this poor guy. I soaked him in warm water in the tub and he drank and drank and drank. I noticed scales and such coming off of him, but didn't find mites. I am going to soak him again, but I am wondering what I can do to clean his cloaca out. Can I use a q-tip to swab in there, or a sterile snake probe to try to scrape it out? I have antibiotic ointment (I think teramycin)- should I put that on it? I am going to feed him tomorrow and watch him to see if he can defecate. I have no idea if it is infected or just has sand inside- it just looks nasty. I took a picture which I've attached- it isn't the best but does show how it can't close to cloaca. I have the snake in a 55-gallon tank with white paper towels, in quarantine. I have a vet close by I trust that I can take him to if I need to.

[Aaron_S]

The snake probably won't eat for you right away. In it's current condition it almost seems like it's W/C. Was it CBB? I'd personally leave it alone and see how things develop. I don't want to recommend any treatment as I haven't experienced something like this.

[Will0W783]

It is an import.

[Chu'Wuti]

Poor snake! I have no clue what to tell you other than good luck, Kimberly!

Sandy

[Smilts]

I would tend to agree with a soaking but not to long of one and give it a week or so to see how things are going before futher treatment or feeding.. I would stay away from using anything like a Q-tip to try and clean inside it since it may push some sand or debree in further if anything causing more irritation...

[Will0W783]

Thanks Coy. An update so far. I was told it was being fed 2-3 live mice a week. I gave it a mouse and it wanted nothing to do with it. That didn't worry me all that much as it is new and might not be comfortable enough to eat yet. It did pee a copious amount this morning. After all the water it guzzled yesterday, no wonder! At the center of the pee was a lump of greenish sand with white cheesy looking stuff around it and a little spot of blood. It was able to close the cloaca now, but it still looks inflamed and nasty. I also think the scales around it are from the last shed and didn't come out. They look dried out and yellowed. I will soak him again tonight for 10-15 minutes. For a wild caught, he is quite calm and docile about everything. He is very alert and inquisitive at least, so I don't think he's in life-threatening condition. Poor little guy- he's soo neat. The scales along his back are like a ridge, and he has ridges of scales down the sides of his tail. The scales are large and triangulated; he feels like what I would imagine a mythical dragon would feel like. I named him Darth Vader (I'm not a Star wars nut; just thought it fit with the alien look and feel of him..lol).

[Smilts]

Tiger rats are pretty cool. I havnt owned one but have been around them... The soaking should help with the irritation, but it sounds like he just needs some time and care. Importing WC's is very hard on the snake they get dehydrated often and care in general is bad. Good luck, with him I hope he keeps improving...

[Will0W783]

The poor guy didn't make it. He seemed a bit lethargic today and showed no interest in the mouse I tried to feed. I went upstairs about a half hour ago and he was limp and twitching. I tried to get him to the tub to warm him in warm water but he was gone before I got him in. I am in contact with the seller to try to get a refund. Lesson learned- check cloacas and DON"t deal with WC. :(

[Aaron_S]

I doubt he was eating at all if his back was 'ridged'. It's a sign of weight loss. The guy probably lied to you.

[Will0W783]

Honestly, I don't think this guy knew too much about snakes. He had put them on sand at the show "because it was the only open tank" (he had other open ones when I was at the stand) and he told me in his opinion vets kill more than they save. Also the show claimed all animals had been examined by show vet which I found out is not true. There is a vet on premises, but the vet does not examine all the animals. Needless to say, I'm pissed. A poor snake's life was thrown away for no good reason. Some people's lack of care for the animals infuriates me. That poor poor little snake. I did all I could, but I guess it just wasn't enough. The tiger rats do have a teardrop-shaped body so the "ridge" in the back is actually triangle-shaped scales, but I do not know if the snake was actually eating or when it had last had a meal. I sent the guy an email and called him but haven't gotten a response yet.

[jparker1167]

sorry to hear about the tiger. but i dont think being in the sand for a few hours at the show caused it that fast it was probably unhealthy to begin with. i see your in philly so i imagine this was hambrug. i was talking to a friend and he said a guy up there had a pair of tiger rats that where marked at $650 im trying to find out what kind of tigers they where and who the vendor was if you have any idea that would be awsome..

i have a tiger rat too and he would not eat when i was watching i had to leave the rodent in over night. they are amazing snakes if you get a chance to get another one dont pass it up just check it over.. its insane watchign one eat a mouse in 5 seconds lol.

[Will0W783]

The only tiger rats I saw were a pair marked at $65 from Creatures of the Night. Is your tiger rat wild caught or captive bred? I found 2 month old ones online for $200. Is that a good price?

[Will0W783]

I really liked the snake. It was so gorgeous and incredibly unique. I definitely want to get another one.

[Will0W783]

Ok, so I talked to the seller on the phone last Thursday August 6 and was told that he would go online and issue me a refund for the snake, since I paid for it with Paypal. He claimed he had a tornado hit his house and needed a new roof, gutters, etc. so I don't want to jump down his throat, but it's now August 12 and I still haven't heard anything or gotten the refund. I am starting to get worried. I do not want credit from this guy as I don't want another one of his animals; I just want my money back and I was given a 2-week guarantee on the animal and told him and sent pics the day it died. How long should I wait before I threaten a Paypal dispute and Bad Guy thread on Fauna? I want to get my money back and I was furious with the condition of the animal when I got it home and found out how dehydrated it was. Would it be fair to send him an email tomorrow?

[gonesnakee]

Read everything but the best advice I can offer is too stick with Captive Bred specimens.
WC imports are nothing but problems & should be left to those with lots of experience dealing with illnesses & parasites.
Why risk ones entire collection? Even with quarantine what about the potential of airborne virus?
Importers at any given time have fresh WC specimens from all corners of the globe in close proximity to one another. Just asking for trouble IMHO Mark

[Will0W783]

I finally got my refund last night.

[Chu'Wuti]

Glad to hear it, but sorry that you had to go through all that & lose the snake. :(

[Will0W783]

It was awful and I felt so horrible for the snake. I have gotten another Spilotes, this time from a seller I know and who has a good rep. Still an import, but this one is clean and active and eats f/t. I don't want to tarnish anyone's reputation, but I sure won't be doing business with the guy who sold me the one that died.

[siz]

Aww I'm really sorry Kimberly...it really sucks to lose an animal even if it's a new addition. My boyfriend bought an ackie monitor once at an expo and it got severely injured and died a couple days later. Not the exact same situation but still sucks a lot when you just bought the poor thing. I was so upset, I can imagine you must be too. It sounds like the guy was a bit sketchy.. I am curious though, and this is NOT an attack at you at ALL, but why did you buy from the guy if you didn't think he knew his stuff? Of course, looking back you always see or remember things you didn't really notice at the time it happens to the best of us, I am just curious. It;'s awesome you got your refund though, post a picture of the new guy!

[Will0W783]

Their stand was so busy at the show and I talked to him about what the snake had been eating and what size tank, bedding, etc it was on at the show and he seemed fine then. The snake was also upset so I didn't get to give it as good an exam as I should have-looking back I will never do that again. He also gave a 2-week guarantee so I figured it would be healthy or he wouldn't offer anything. It was a mistake; I was so excited I forgot a few key points. However, when I emailed him about the problem later his responses made me think maybe he didn't know as much about these snakes as I'd thought. Now I don't want to totally trash him because it was wild caught and I know the risks one takes when buying wild caught, but he should have been able to notice that cloaca and not sell it like that. But then, he seems so busy and overwhelmed every time I've talked to him he probably doesn't leave himself the time to check all his animals. Even more infuriating is that on the Hamburg show's website, they say all animals are examined by the show vet prior to being sold. I have talked to a few people I know that sell there and that's a lie. They've never had their animals checked by a vet. That pissed me off more than anything- why put it up on the website if it isn't true?

[gonesnakee]

Somebody likely walked by & glanced at the tables right?
That counts as Vet inspected apparrently LOL
It would be imposssible to have evey animal even looked at by a Vet let alone inspected. Mark

[Will0W783]

I understand that it would be incredibly difficult- but what irks me is that right on the homepage for the show it says all animals have been inspected by the show vet- I think they should just remove it from the page if it isn't really true. Doesn't bother me if they haven't been vet examed (I can look them over or only buy from those dealers I trust), but I'd prefer not to be lied to.