WHAT is this horrid mess?!?

[mlededee]

just checked in on the snakes and saw some splatter on the front of one of my girl's tubs. pulled it open to see what it pictured below. she had just shed and passed normal, solid feces and urates and then...this. is it a tapeworm or other parasite? i am totally freaked out... if this is a parasite, should i treat my entire collection once i have a positive id from my vet?

[Nate]

woah.........................

[adizziedoll]

:eek: nooooooooooo idea - vet time.

[Kristy]

Looks like a tape worm to me, I didn't know bp's could get them though.

Anyway, as gross as it sounds scoop it up as much as possible and put it into a container or plastic bag. Put it in the fridge until you can take it into the vet with the snake. You probably already knew that but I would be in such shock I would have a brain fart and throw it away.

Please keep us updated.

Kristy

[Kristy]

Actually I take that back. Look to see if it has segments in its body. Tapeworms can break off and still live. It looks more like goo to me now that I saw a tape worm.

[rabernet]

Oh Em! I have no clue what that is, but I agree with collecting it and taking it to the vet!

[mlededee]

oh ugh eeeg eeew. i'm not usually the squeamish type but this thing is totally freaking me out. lucky me--i have a vet appointment for a gecko tomorrow morning at 9am--hope they'll see two animals and a glob of goo at the same time.

[dr del]

Hi,


It definately doesn't look normal does it?

I'd go with your instincts and stick it in a ziplock in the fridge till I could get it and a stool sample to a vet for identification - though I think your spot on with tapeworm as I see broken segments which (if I remember basic biology) are how they distribute their eggs.

I guess the vet will know what their life cycle is and if theres any possibility of contamination - it's always possible its a rodent tapeworm that somehow survived the snakes digestive process?

Hope everything works out ok and keep us posted.

How is the girl growing and behaving in herself?



dr del

[mlededee]

the string itself doesn't really seem segmented but there are a few little pieces of it that aren't attached to the main piece. it is really gooey and stretchy. it now resides ziplocked in my fridge (yum!).

the snake seems fine--eats great, sheds regularly, doesn't display any signs of distress or anything out of the ordinary. she's never had runny or loose stools before. she was on the thin side and had some belly rot when i got her, but that was quickly resolved. i've had her for almost a year.

[Nate]

snake snot?