A vet with herp experience great if you have one if not a vet that is willing to work with you is the next best thing. I learned that fecals really need to be done. I have a little snake that I know 100% have NEVER had live food not her first meal or any since. I assumed (you know the saying) that there was no way that she could have internal parasites... right? WRONG tapeworm.

Freezing takes up to 24 hours to kill all traces of tapeworms and apparently 36 is recommended.

Feeder rats do often carry tape worms too and transfer happens. I am in the process if getting all my animals fecal exams now. As for a basic check up my vet is quite good it is a fecal exam and a general condition, weight and RI for 120$ It is a lot but not a total rip off. I'm still not likely to take all mine for a check up if there is nothing wrong but I am having fecals done on all of them !