Im just SICK and need help with BP accident

I KNOW you are all going to yell at me and be upset. It has taken me a LOT to come here and even write this, but Im doing it for our snake Medusa.

I did something REALLY stupid last night. The probe for the thermostat came loose & fell down from side of tank last night. Medusa kept climbing over it earlier in the evening. So before I went to bed, I decided to use some better hot glue and tack it back up again out of the way.

She was sound asleep at the front of the tank. I KNOW I should have had her out. I thought of that, Im SO upset that i didn't get her out. but she was sleeping. so I thought I can do this easily and not disturb her.

Well i put the glue on and when I pulled the gun back quickly, so I could attach the wire before it cooled, out of the corner of my eye, I see this tiny drop of hot glue fall.. it was like a slow motion horror movie. OF COURSE, shes a very small snake, but some how it managed to hit her- about 3 inches from end of tail. She wiggled immeadiately, and a bit of her "eco- substrate" stuck to it.
That was a small blessing, because it seem to cool it instantly.

I was/ AM just SICK. I know you are all going to yell at me-and I deserve it. It was just a completely Freak accident, but it makes my stomach turn to think about. Sorry to write out all the details for you. But I wanted to make sure you all understand what an accident it was. and how AWFUL im feeling about it.

Now the obvious question.. Any suggestions?? She was acting totally fine afterwards. Crawling all over the place- her usual routine when I have the tank open- trying to seek a way out. :) I spritzed some water on her tail end.. hoping that might clean some of the "dust" off, so I could get a better look.
I certainly didn't want to pick at it and pull on her skin at all.
Do you think it will come off in the next Shedding?? What about infection??
UGH --Im just Sick, sick SICK!

I was SOOO happy yesterday, I have tweaked & tweaked her home to make it just perfect and yesterday I felt we were finally there. Perfect humidity and temps. Ugh.. then this accident happened.

PLEASE dont yell at me to much and consider helping me just for the sake of our snake. Its bad enough what im feeling every time I look at her or my daughter (who the snake belongs too) :(

Thank you

A picture of your snake would help, accidents do happen and it sounds like you really lucked out. If nothing looks/seems wrong I would just keep an eye on it.

What type of gun where you using? A low heat or high heat. If it was a low heat gun then I doubt that any damage was done.

Accidents happen learn from it and move on, taking care of your animal.

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

A picture of your snake would help, accidents do happen and it sounds like you really lucked out. If nothing looks/seems wrong I would just keep an eye on it.

What type of gun where you using? A low heat or high heat. If it was a low heat gun then I doubt that any damage was done.

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Thanks Aaron, I could honestly just cry about it, every time I mention it.
I'll get a pic of it a little later. We are just letting her rest and keep her normal routine at this point- dont want to stress her any more.
Sadly, i would guess (dont know for sure) that it was a high heat. my lower heat "crafting one" didn't seem to hold the wires. so I used a larger gun that we had last night. :(
I'll post a pic in a little bit.

It's ok. We ALL make mistakes - don't let anyone tell you they are perfect!!

By now, that glue is going to be cool and dry. So if any damage was done, it's been done and no more damage should occur from this point forward. It's our job now to help make sure that doesn't happen.

First, I wouldn't worry too much about infection. Glue is routinely used to seal cuts on both humans and animals. It should create a seal on the skin and actually help keep dirt out and the skin should heal underneath just fine.

Don't pick at it - you could tear the skin more if you try to peal it off. If it's loose, you could try a touch of mineral oil to soften it and see if it'll slowly lift off. Again, just be sure not to pick and peal at it. If the skin looks raw underneath, leave it alone and just keep it clean and let it come off on it's own. Think of it as an elaborate scab that you don't want to remove too early.

If left alone, it should come off with her next shed. If it doesn't, let us know and we'll go from there, but I don't think you'll have anything to worry about. Don't beat yourself up! The important thing is to learn from our mistakes and I'd say you've certainly done that - and so has your daughter. I'll bet she'll never do that again either!! Keep us posted on how it looks and try to get a couple pictures posted so we can see just what's going on.

;) :hug:

Did the glue stick to medusa? Often it drops but does not stick and is not actually that hot. Some times it does however. How is it looking now is there still glue there? if it is a small drop I am not sure if it would be best to leave it or remove it I am leaning to leave it. If it is a smeared drop I'd absolutely leave it. It should come free with the next shed. I'd suggest photographing it partially to post it but partially to track the changes around it if you photograph it every few days that might help see if there is improvement or not. I might also use some Flamizine creme (silver sulfadiazine) it was made to treat burns.

I'll not growl at you unless you do the same thing a second time... I am guessing lesion learned?

Thanks so much for the kind words & understanding. I really appreciate it. Im so thankful I found this group to help me make the perfect home for Medusa, and hated to think of you all getting upset with me. :oops:

She was awake when we checked her, so my daughter took her out for some pics for you guys.

thanks again for your help & understanding.

ps. oops, looks like I can't just attach pics inside a post? need to upload them first to url? I'll figure it out and get them posted :)

And YES Kitedemon- LESSON very much learned. Also when examing, it looks like smeared drop. I think everyone is right to leave it alone for now- but i'll post pics as soon as i figure it out :)

Upload the images to photobucket, then copy the "IMG" code and paste it into a post here on BP.net

Ok.. got them uploaded to my photobucket- I'll try again. :)

Again.. thank you!

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/m...2/IMG_0564.jpg

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/m...2/IMG_0563.jpg

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/m...2/IMG_0561.jpg

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/m...2/IMG_0562.jpg

THanks for your Help!!!

I'd just leave it and let her shed it off. Didn't look like any damage was done.

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I would leave it. Pics would definately help. If its starting to look infected or red irritated , we use betadine for wounds. I'm not sure if it would still be ok on a burn if it was severe? I would thisnk come next shed you will see it come off. If it looks bad, also take out Eco earth and put her on papertowels to keep the area clean.

Next time make sure you stick some pretty flowers to her, she can be decorative while it sheds off.

Seriously, it's just a accident and not only have you learned that the snakes will get into the worst position just when you don't want them to... you've POSTED about it which means it will be a lesson to everyone else to not be complacent about using hot glue guns around critters that SHOULD know to stay away.

It should shed off next time she sheds without any issue. I'm sure she's fine. It's really no different than a bit of tree sap and I've found plenty of colubrids with bits of tree sap stuck to them(and assorted bits of bark, leaves, pine needles, dirt stuck to the sap) and they weren't bothered by any of it.

x5 or so. I wouldn't touch it, but keep an eye on it in case she rubs it off herself. Should she rub it off, she may loose a few scales, in which case you'd want keep some Betadine on it until it scabs. If you don't have any Betadine on hand, this might be a good time to run out and grab some. Just in case.

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Originally Posted by Slim

x5 or so. I wouldn't touch it, but keep an eye on it in case she rubs it off herself. Should she rub it off, she may loose a few scales, in which case you'd want keep some Betadine on it until it scabs. If you don't have any Betadine on hand, this might be a good time to run out and grab some. Just in case.

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I agree - pick up some Betadine so you have it on hand. After seeing the pics, I definitely think it'll come off without any trouble when she sheds. It's a bigger area than I first thought, but it seems like a thin layer and I doubt it'll cause any further issues. I would put her on paper towels now just so you can see her better and the area won't get any further dirt on it. If she'll tolerate it, you might try that mineral oil and see if you can rub more of that dirt off of it - for no other reason than you can more easily keep an eye on it, not because the dirt would bother her. :gj:

I wouldnt really worry about it. Ive burned myself with hot glue before and it heals fine. (ya i know its not exactly same, shutup everybody lol). Take a look at some of the burns that snakes survive when people have no tstat regulating the temps. Your snake will be fine, you really did nothing wrong. Was a freak accident imo :)

THANKS SO MUCH everyone for helping me to feel a little better.
Going to get some betadine. And I'll keep you all posted after she sheds.
Keep your fingers crossed. NEVER thought in a million years I would get so attached
to a snake in such a short time :)

Have you tried a warm water soak? Hotglue tends to soften up and fall off when its warm and wet. I'm thinking the glue was not hot enough to penetrate the scales/skin so there shouldnt be any open wound. At most this is a cosmetic issue so it will come off with the next shed. But try a warm soak and keep us posted. Good luck

i agree with slim. She will more than likely rub this off though, as hot glue tends to peel off of skin after a while. She will probably lose some scales, and so keep an eye on it. It may blister. She will probably have a little scar, but it will more than likely fade. aww, i'm sorry, poor thing! Our bolivian boa got a burn from her UTH...we had her on a shelf, and the glass was black, and i didn't realize it was getting so hot in this one spot where it was against the glass. Of course, she had to find just that spot. She had a blister on her belly, and we kept some medicine on it. She healed up and shed off most of it. She's still a baby so as much as it's faded with the past few sheds i think it will clear up as she gets older. i felt *awful*. So i've been there!

Edit: i would *not* try a warm water soak. Warm water on a burn feels horrible. You may try a soak, but i would actually just try a damp pillowcase instead, or moss for her to rub in on her own. I would try to keep heat off of the area if you can.

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Originally Posted by Missy King

I would try to keep heat off of the area if you can.

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Agreed x2. It doesn't LOOK like she is burnt but you can't know for sure until it comes off and adding heat to a burn will cause more inflammation, more cell death, larger area of tissue damage, longer healing, etc. etc. Especially this soon after the accident.

I think I would leave it be. I would not suggest water as you may introduce bacteria that is not currently under the glue. hot melt is not sterile but is close. It should be a fairly good protection for the healing process. If you have a good relationship with your vet they may listen and have better advise. (usually that is I need to see it but...)

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Originally Posted by emeraldwinter

Agreed x2. It doesn't LOOK like she is burnt but you can't know for sure until it comes off and adding heat to a burn will cause more inflammation, more cell death, larger area of tissue damage, longer healing, etc. etc. Especially this soon after the accident.

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Agreed!! Keep heat off the area. Leaving it alone is your best bet for now. :gj:

Depending on how calm she is, trimming some of the long strands might not hurt to reduce the risk of them getting caught and ripping off. Otherwise, I think the next shed will be the best medicine.

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Originally Posted by Jeo123

Depending on how calm she is, trimming some of the long strands might not hurt to reduce the risk of them getting caught and ripping off. Otherwise, I think the next shed will be the best medicine.

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Thanks- We did do that. One end was sticking up and I was fearful of that very thing, that she might catch it and tear it off. Its barely noticable on her now, so keeping my fingers crossed it will come off with her next shed.

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Originally Posted by Lisn123

I did something REALLY stupid last night. The probe for the thermostat came loose & fell down from side of tank last night. Medusa kept climbing over it earlier in the evening. So before I went to bed, I decided to use some better hot glue and tack it back up again out of the way.

She was sound asleep at the front of the tank. I KNOW I should have had her out. I thought of that, Im SO upset that i didn't get her out. but she was sleeping. so I thought I can do this easily and not disturb her.

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I think everyone has addressed the glue issue sufficiently, so I wanted to mention something else I noticed. First, if this occurred just before you went to bed, it's very unlikely that your nocturnal snake was "sound asleep." :P More importantly, why do you have the thermostat probe inside the tank? It should be outside the actual enclosure for this exact reason (BP climbing on it and knocking it down). Did you mean to say thermometer? And why would either probe be on the side of the tank? Or did you just mean the cord for the thermometer probe?

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Originally Posted by Annarose15

More importantly, why do you have the thermostat probe inside the tank? It should be outside the actual enclosure for this exact reason (BP climbing on it and knocking it down). Did you mean to say thermometer? And why would either probe be on the side of the tank? Or did you just mean the cord for the thermometer probe?

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Well maybe im wrong but this seems to be one of the topics where there is some debate?.? I've read both sides and most opinions told me to put the thermostat probe inside the tank, right on top of the UTH. (Through the glass, the heater itself is NOT inside the tank) but i've heard that putting the probe on the heater outside the tank will give false readings to the warmth, through the glass, & what your snake is feeling. TRUST me, I would have much rather kept it on the outside all together. (especially after this adventure) but I wanted to get the most accurate reading to what she is feeling.
Yes, it is the cord, that actually runs up the corner of the tank.

Thanks for the response, i certainly enjoy hearing everyone's opinion.

FYI- the glue spot just popped off today. No sign of damage at all to the skin :gj:
Yay!! we were VERY happy!!

Thanks for all the support, kind words and help!!

That is great news...

Super to hear!! I am very happy to hear it! Thanks for letting us know! :gj:

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Originally Posted by Lisn123

Well maybe im wrong but this seems to be one of the topics where there is some debate?.? I've read both sides and most opinions told me to put the thermostat probe inside the tank, right on top of the UTH. (Through the glass, the heater itself is NOT inside the tank) but i've heard that putting the probe on the heater outside the tank will give false readings to the warmth, through the glass, & what your snake is feeling. TRUST me, I would have much rather kept it on the outside all together. (especially after this adventure) but I wanted to get the most accurate reading to what she is feeling.
Yes, it is the cord, that actually runs up the corner of the tank.

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The thermoSTAT probe should be between the glass and the UTH (outside the cage). If your UTH is stuck to the bottom and you can't wedge the probe between them, then you can also use aluminum tape to attach it directly to the underside of the UTH. The thermoMETER probe should be hot-glued on top of the glass inside the tank, directly over the UTH. You then adjust the thermostat setting based on the thermometer's reading. As you already said, what is important is the temp of the glass where your snake can come in contact with it, even if that means the UTH is actually set higher than the hot spot temp (lost heat when going through the glass, air, etc.). Placing your probes like this allows you to monitor the temp of the glass without the risk of your BP knocking the thermostat probe loose and the UTH overheating.

I'm glad your little one is okay. :gj:

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Originally Posted by Annarose15

The thermoSTAT probe should be between the glass and the UTH (outside the cage). If your UTH is stuck to the bottom and you can't wedge the probe between them, then you can also use aluminum tape to attach it directly to the underside of the UTH. The thermoMETER probe should be hot-glued on top of the glass inside the tank, directly over the UTH. You then adjust the thermostat setting based on the thermometer's reading. As you already said, what is important is the temp of the glass where your snake can come in contact with it, even if that means the UTH is actually set higher than the hot spot temp (lost heat when going through the glass, air, etc.). Placing your probes like this allows you to monitor the temp of the glass without the risk of your BP knocking the thermostat probe loose and the UTH overheating. I'm glad your little one is okay. :gj:

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I agree this is a great way to set things up as long as the room is reasonably stable. I don't have many of my snakes in a stable temp room. I have a ten degree shift in room temp nigh to day this time of year it is more than that... With the set up you are describing my hot spots also varied by ten degrees or more. That is FAR FAR too much I found and as is recommended by Dion Brewington the Herpstat designer that a probe in the enclosure allowed the tstat to adjust to the variable room temp and prevent the gain and loss associated with an in direct probe placement. The way you are describing works fine for some but some like me see 80-100º hot spot temps in a 24 hour period, and I am sure you will agree that that is unsafe.

With the modern hi tek systems out there today there is no logical reason why not to place the probe interior. There are safe non toxic glue systems that well done are strong and immobile. There are protections against over and under temp alarms and if people follow my advise a failsafe that caps the interior temp.

OP, My comment above made me think on the methods I use and am going to suggest it to you. Stick the whole wire down. Not just the probe end but all of the wire where it is inside. I don't like the idea of a stuck wire loose and then stuck again my the door. I glue (no snake until it is cool... ;) ) the whole lenght of cord inside the enclosure down. When I was testing my set up the first time I could lift the weight of a twenty five gallon tank by my sample bit of cable (same type as a typical probe cable) until the cable broke the glue never let go. It must be secure. The other thing is I would recommend a failsafe if you don't already have one. If you have a new herpstat that is more debatable if it is needed but still I do not feel it is 100% not needed.