Behira - 2016 Female Ivory Ghost - First BCI

[dakski]

Well, Behira is in blue again.

I have not installed the misting system yet, as it's a big job, and I haven't been feeling well. However, I have managed to keep her humidity higher than I had.

This puts her on track to shed at about 25-26 days since past shed, or less. We will see.

I know her hormones are going nuts, it's a change in season, etc. However, I want to make sure I am doing everything I can for her.

I will be keeping humidity up high during her shed process as soon as her eyes clear. Hopefully she has another good shed.

Also, I posted this in another thread, but great to see Katie handling Behira and interacting with her, etc. She was even explaining to her cousin (in the picture) what a Ghost BI was. I was super impressed.

[dakski]

Behira shed again - 19 days this time.

I am very concerned. She sheds, then sheds again. She seemed to have a good shed, but her belly is red and irritated.

Anyone every heard of this?

I spoke with Jeff Ronne who said when he had Boas get rapid shed syndrome, it was a total of 2 in 30+ years of breeding, and both were older females.

However, he's concerned.

I plan to up humidity back to the 65% range and see if that helps. Could the sheds be causing irritation, or the lower humidity bothering her for some reason?

Any thoughts please let me know. I am really worried about my girl.

Below is a picture of her belly and here is a link to what Jeff wrote about Rapid Shed Syndrome.

http://forums.kingsnake.com/viewarch...24246&key=2008

[Bogertophis]

I've heard of snakes getting a pinkish belly when fighting a systemic infection, & while I've not had any snakes (boas or otherwise) with "rapid shed syndrome",
I think this makes some sense, since snake bodies that are trying to heal will shed more frequently...I'm not sure they can differentiate between a physical injury &
an internal issue...? Therefore, I'd have the vet see if there's any sort of infection they can find? (stool, saliva?)

I don't ever recall any discussions of hormones in snakes, but I assume they have them, so if that's the case, it makes sense that they might get "out of whack" just
as they do with humans (as with hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, etc). This could also be due to some sort of chemical exposure, I suppose, or an allergic reaction?
But good luck finding a vet that treats snake allergies...

Dave, I'm just brainstorming here, I'm so sorry you're having to deal with this. I'd lean toward suspecting a low-grade infection, but again, that's only my guess.
Snakes are awfully stoic patients just when we need them to give us some good solid hints at to what's bothering them. I assume you've tried changing everything
that you use in the enclosure? (cleaning solution rinsed completely out?, different substrate, "furniture" sanitized...?)

Has she been handled by anyone who might have had something on their skin that transferred & irritates her body? There are hormones in some creams, & for that matter, there are sometimes toxic chemicals in new clothing. (see link) And don't get me started about plastics...ahem! Remember that some individuals are more sensitive to things than others, whether they're humans or snakes.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/02/busin...uit/index.html
"But the employees' lawsuit said they conducted their own tests of the uniforms that found the presence of "chemicals and heavy metals far in excess of industry accepted safe levels for garments." Chemicals cited in the suit include formaldehyde, mercury, chromium, antimony, fluorine, and bromine."

[dakski]

Bogertophis,

Thank you. I really appreciate the "brainstorming."

The only thing that has changed in her enclosure in the past 2 months is humidity dropping from about 60-65% down to 50-55%. I have since, in the past week, upped to 60-65% again.

However, last winter, this wasn't an issue.

The only cleaning solution I use, and always have, is F10SC. I have also, for years, used "Healthy Habitat" to keep the tanks smelling fresh.

Nothing has changed there.

I like the idea of doing a stool sample and bringing her in for bloodwork. I do have a (fairly) local vet I really trust.

We can at least see if something is off, right?

At the moment she's eating, which is a good sign, and I should bring in the sample ASAP. She's due to drop one soon.


EDIT: The healthy habitat is sprayed and wiped up. Not left in the tank.

[Bogertophis]

Might try rinsing off the F10 etc...in case she is somehow sensitive to it? & then whatever the vet can check. Keeping fingers crossed that something shows up.

I do vaguely remember something about a snake with internal issues that shed more often, & I know for a fact they do with external injuries. It may be that those
"mystery cases" had something undetected internally that triggered repeat sheds to "repair"? Did Jeff have a necropsy done on those 2? I'm guessing not...

[jmcrook]

I definitely understand the concern. Hope you can get things sorted out, Dave. Best wishes!


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[richardhind1972]

Hi dave, a friend of mine came to work yesterday and said he had lost 3 of his geckos all was eating but all was loosing weight and shedding more often so he had a faecal done on one of his remaining and turned out to be worms , the vet said it could of easily come from the crickets or other live foods he feeds, it's been a month now since he's wormed them all and all are now putting on weight
I know it's not. A snake
Hopefully it's something than can fixed with behira, I'd definitely try get some faecals done or blood test just to try rule worse case scenario at least
All the best mate

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[dakski]

Rich,

Good point on the weight.

10/18/19 Behira was 1,650G and had been shedding every 3 months (roughly).

12/19/19 Behira was 1,670G (both dry weights by the way) and had started shedding frequently.

I haven't weighed her since, but I want a dry weight.

I cannot imagine where she would get worms eating F/T prey, but I do have bugs in the area for the lizards.

Either way, something is up and I will get to the bottom of it.

Take care mate.

David

[richardhind1972]

Rich,

Good point on the weight.

10/18/19 Behira was 1,650G and had been shedding every 3 months (roughly).

12/19/19 Behira was 1,670G (both dry weights by the way) and had started shedding frequently.

I haven't weighed her since, but I want a dry weight.

I cannot imagine where she would get worms eating F/T prey, but I do have bugs in the area for the lizards.

Either way, something is up and I will get to the bottom of it.

Take care mate.

David

Fingers crossed for you dave

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[dakski]

Behira goes in for bloodwork on Wednesday this week. In the meantime, I hope she gives me a poop sample prior so I can bring that in right away for a fecal.

There was a newer vet at exotic vet I trust on Monday and Wednesday is the doctor I've known for a while and helped Yafe get over his RI. I'd rather see her.

I'll keep everyone posted.