Possibly sick hoggy, any advice appreciated.

[Pyrate81]

Got a Madagascar Speckled Hognose 3 weeks ago. He hasn't eaten for me as of yet and the pet store said he ate a week prior to me buying him(more on this later). He is 4 foot long and they said he is about 1 1/2 years old. When I first held him in the pet store, he was one of the calmest snakes I've ever handled. He felt strong and was a little curious. He does move around his tank and is active. Though I find it a bit odd that when he does move around, he sometimes has his head raised and waves it around like he's a blind man(if I can, I'll get video later and post it). Along with this he also looks like he's "dying" all the time. I know it's common for them to act dead when they feel threatened. I held him this morning for the first time since bringing him home and weighed him at 812 grams. He felt weak and just draped around my neck. I also noticed he doesn't flick his tongue which is making me wonder if something is wrong with him. He'll lay out in the open or wherever he feels comfortable.

So at this point I have a few theories why he isn't eating:

1. Brumation/hibernation: It's early for this to happen IMO, but it makes sense as 2 of my other snakes just shed and stopped eating in the last 2 weeks. I've never purposely done this for my snakes they do it on their own, though to help them along their heat/light sources get turned off during this time.

2. One of the tool bags at the pet store decided to feed him a leopard frog before feeding him a mouse with his last meal. I informed the one manager and the head reptile guy(whom are very knowledgeable and friendly) of this and they had a few unfriendly words about the guy being an idiot and did sympathize with me. They were unaware of him getting a frog until then. I have tired to give him mice in the time I've had him, the first 2 he killed and left alone, the second 2 I scented with frog scent and he didn't even touch them. He was on 2-3 mice/week in the store.

3. Possibly sick, either he was sick when I got him and it's now showing up or possibly from the frog he was given? Not sure.

4. There was a 4th theory but I don't remember what it was...


At this point I was thinking of getting some pedialyte and giving it to him to try and get his feed response going.



His setup:

40br with 2 hides and a fake plant/vine. Nice sized water bowl in the center and aspen substrate. Heat source is a basking light.
Hot side- 88-90(could be cooler, I lowered the light to raise the temps morning after I put him back in case he is ill)
Cool side- 80
Humidity- 45%


Any help/advise appreciated even if it's general hoggy info and you don't know specifically about this specific species.

[MootWorm]

Poor little guy! I've got a couple questions, hopefully you have the answers Do you know what type of leopard frog was fed? How long had he been in the pet shop's possession? Has he had any prior medical attention? My first thought is parasites. This is most likely a WC animal. Was he fed live or f/t previously? Most cbb hogs are on f/t for their safety. I, for one, wouldn't trust my adult male to take down a live mouse lol. I would try pedialyte and a f/t mouse soaked in tuna juice.

[Pyrate81]

ty for responding.


-Do not know what type of leopard frog.

-He was a the pet store for about 4-6 months. I frequent the pet store and would poke in on him regularly.

-No prior medical attention that I'm aware.

-He was fed live in the store.

[MootWorm]

Hmm. I personally would see if he has parasites, at least for my peace of mind. Everything else sounds good, he seems to have been eating well (if you can trust the word of the pet shop employees). The lethargy/lack of strength/whatever kind of worries me. Now, when you said he waves his head around, is it cobra-esque? Or more like he has neuro issues? One of my hogs likes to kind of wave in front of the glass and feint at the cats to piss em off, so I would think that's normal.

[Skiploder]

Poor little guy! I've got a couple questions, hopefully you have the answers Do you know what type of leopard frog was fed? How long had he been in the pet shop's possession? Has he had any prior medical attention? My first thought is parasites. This is most likely a WC animal. Was he fed live or f/t previously? Most cbb hogs are on f/t for their safety. I, for one, wouldn't trust my adult male to take down a live mouse lol. I would try pedialyte and a f/t mouse soaked in tuna juice.

Hmm. I personally would see if he has parasites, at least for my peace of mind. Everything else sounds good, he seems to have been eating well (if you can trust the word of the pet shop employees). The lethargy/lack of strength/whatever kind of worries me. Now, when you said he waves his head around, is it cobra-esque? Or more like he has neuro issues? One of my hogs likes to kind of wave in front of the glass and feint at the cats to piss em off, so I would think that's normal.

It's a madagascar speckled hognose, a leioheterodon- not a heterodon. There is a considerable size difference between the two.

You've only had him three weeks. Stop draping him around your neck and stop handling him until he eats for you. Make sure he has a deep substrate and plenty of security in that 40g breeder - which mean blacking out three sides if you already haven't done that. Put him in an area with no traffic and stay away from him for awhile.

After you've double checked his security situation, and he still doesn't eat, or he loses body mass, or shows any other signs of systemic disease, then a trip tot he vet is in order.

[MootWorm]

It's a madagascar speckled hognose, a leioheterodon- not a heterodon. There is a considerable size difference between the two.

You've only had him three weeks. Stop draping him around your neck and stop handling him until he eats for you. Make sure he has a deep substrate and plenty of security in that 40g breeder - which mean blacking out three sides if you already haven't done that. Put him in an area with no traffic and stay away from him for awhile.

After you've double checked his security situation, and he still doesn't eat, or he loses body mass, or shows any other signs of systemic disease, then a trip tot he vet is in order.

Uh was that directed at me or OP? Lol I only have westerns. And mine are all 3/4 blacked out and in a separate structure from the main house, no foot traffic aside from maintenance and feeding

[Skiploder]

Uh was that directed at me or OP? Lol I only have westerns. And mine are all 3/4 blacked out and in a separate structure from the main house, no foot traffic aside from maintenance and feeding

Let's make this easy for you.

The first part of the post was directed at you - as you were giving apples and oranges advice regarding feeding two completely different species where there is a considerable size difference.

Since you are not asking for advice, I'm not giving you any. The advice was directed at the person who asked for it.

[Pyrate81]

ty for the responses.


-I'll black out the tank when I get home. I'll also add more to the tank to be sure of security.

-He is currently in a corner of the living room. The only traffic he sees is the dog moving from couch to couch and me sitting on the comp when I get home from work.

-Aspen is about 4+ inches deep. He hasn't been borrowing which I find odd for a burrowing snake and he's been laying out of his hides.

-I'm gonna call the vet today and make an appointment. I'd rather not toy around with him being sick.

...
You've only had him three weeks. Stop draping him around your neck and stop handling him until he eats for you. Make sure he has a deep substrate and plenty of security in that 40g breeder - which mean blacking out three sides if you already haven't done that. Put him in an area with no traffic and stay away from him for awhile...

For clarity if you did not see it in my post:

"...I held him this morning for the first time since bringing him home..." I pulled him out to weigh him so I could track if he was losing weight while not eating and he seemed odd so I examined his behavor of him being in my hands and put him right back. He was out for about 5-10 minutes. It was a comparison to how he was the previous time I handled him. Otherwise he would not have been pulled out. I know better than to have him out before he's eaten for me unless there is an issue.

[Pyrate81]

Took him to the vet this evening. He's very dehydrated and may have a bacterial or viral infection. Blood work results should come back in 2-3 days. At this point he is touch or go...

[MootWorm]

Took him to the vet this evening. He's very dehydrated and may have a bacterial or viral infection. Blood work results should come back in 2-3 days. At this point he is touch or go...

Wow I'm really sorry to hear that. Hopefully the little guy pulls through for you. Glad you took him when you did though. Sending good thoughts your way.


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