Terrified...

So I just picked up my first morph today, a tiny little pinstripe girl (75g!!). I know most herpers don't deworm, but I scheduled her a vet visit anyway since I was picking her up at the local show and I've had three friends' geckos die that they got there (and I love my herp vet). Vet said she was surprised at how awesome Vega looks, took a fecal sample and found a small indication of parasites, so she gave her a dewormer. She said she wasn't concerned enough about it to actually prescribe anything, she just wants me to make sure she eats and grows well.

I'm terrified, lol.

I am constantly peeking over at Vega to make sure she's okay and not freaking out. She's in the lower level of our house, away from my other established snake. I've read much of the quarantine info on here... but how important is it to change your clothes going room to room, not actually handling the snakes? If I feed live, how do I make sure my mice are healthy enough for my snakes? I feel like a first time mom all over again, lol. Can someone reassure me that people purchase new snakes all the time, and mine aren't going to die? :) Thanks!

You'll be fine, what I would recommend is doing anything that you need to do with your established snakes first, then wash your hands (maybe change your shirt) then do anything with your new pickup.

Another option is to only work with your established snakes one day, then the next only work with your new guy.

People purchase new snakes all the time and yours are not going to die :)

Just make sure you're giving your feeders good, healthy food. And with the QT question, Aaron answered pretty well :gj:

Actually it is a well known fact that a newly purchased ball python will play dead just to cause you to have a heart attack. ;)

She will be just fine, and so will you.

Actually, you sound like me. When I got my first two baby balls, they were shipped to me. I had to check their tubs about 15 times an hour just to make sure they were still in there and still alive. I was such a nervous snake mom it is a wonder they ever settled down, what with me peeking at them constantly, and when they went into their hides and I couldn't see them anymore, I had to open the tub and lift the hide to make sure they hadn't died! I was a wreck for at least two weeks.

The good thing is, eventually I settled down so they could settle down, and this year the happy couple should be giving me babies!!

Gale

Im not 100% sure if this is true, but I heard that most viruses that snakes can get are usually transmitted through physical contact, and not through airborne transmission (which would be much harder to prevent!). Washing well between quarantine and established should always be done. Getting a big box of nitrile gloves isn't a bad idea either.

so when do we get to see Vega ? I love baby balls and there big heads lol

Yes pics or it didn't happen :D

Parasites are never fun, my first snake had pinworms and was fine once I started the treatment. You know, most vets will allow you to bring in only the fecal sample for the test, and they don't have to see the animal unless it's positive for something....could save you some money down the road. Just a thought, my vet didn't offer this info, I found out from another herp friend :) But I was able to bring in fecal samples only and save at least $50 per animal that was negative.

75g is tiny lol! She should be fine. Be sure to post some pics of her soon!

http://img.tapatalk.com/a6f960b6-b0eb-096e.jpg

I posted one on another thread but here she is :)