A few questions on parasites

[Pandora]

I don't have any reason to believe Pandora has them but what do BPs get them from?
Is it possible they get it from their food?
Is there any way to avoid them getting parasites?
What exactly do they look like in their poop? Can it be seen in Urates as well as poop?
Are they short or long? I know what cat and dog parasites look like, but are snake parasites any different?
And finally... if they do happen to get parasites, what are the short/long term effects and treatment options?

[Pandora]

Anybody?

[ohyeahnow]

Parasites can come from pet stores, and trade shows. Parasites are common in wild caught animals. Poor cleaning prcatices can lead to infections. If one snake in your collection is harboring parasites, not properly isolating them, or cleanin and dissinfecting yourself after cleaning and handling them could spread them. Housing more than one snake in the same environment could also cause the spread. Sometimes segement of a parasite such as a tapeworm could be seen in poop. Other parasite can not. Depending on the parasite, you might not see ill effects for some time. It is best to take in a fecal sample of all new snakes, and try and do fecals on a yearly basis to make sure your snakes are staying healthy. This is done for dogs and cats, so why not snakes. Before treatment you would need to know the parasite. A vet can examine your snake and do a fecal exam. If parasties are present the type of parasite and size of your snake will determine what medicine and the amount used. Hope this helps you some.

[Pandora]

Parasites can come from pet stores, and trade shows. Parasites are common in wild caught animals. Poor cleaning prcatices can lead to infections. If one snake in your collection is harboring parasites, not properly isolating them, or cleanin and dissinfecting yourself after cleaning and handling them could spread them. Housing more than one snake in the same environment could also cause the spread. Sometimes segement of a parasite such as a tapeworm could be seen in poop. Other parasite can not. Depending on the parasite, you might not see ill effects for some time. It is best to take in a fecal sample of all new snakes, and try and do fecals on a yearly basis to make sure your snakes are staying healthy. This is done for dogs and cats, so why not snakes. Before treatment you would need to know the parasite. A vet can examine your snake and do a fecal exam. If parasties are present the type of parasite and size of your snake will determine what medicine and the amount used. Hope this helps you some.

Can they be seen in urates as well? Are they normally short or long?

[simplechamp]

Some worms might be visible to the naked eye, also ticks and mites, but many other common parasites, like amoeba, flagellates, and other protozoans are microscopic. You could do a fecal smear on a slide and look under a microscope if you knew what to look for.