Hello people.

[Tarzier]

Oh, also, whats the best way to deliver liquid medications? I seen your video, but he's very head shy, and I have problems holding him still like that. Am I able to inject the liquid into a food item for him? Like into the belly of a Pinkie, Silverside, or even into a piece of Fillet?

[guidofatherof5]

Well, after looking through some more info on Striped Keelbacks, I think I may go ahead and buy some of that Panacur now. I didn't realise how dire the situation could possibly be until I ran across a thread on here about them. I hadn't really thought about looking through here for info on them, but searching goggle brought me to the thread. It was there I found that alot of people have major problems with them, and that for them, they had a tendency to die, even if they were doing well. I'm not too worried, but I will now definately take him to the Vet.

Also, most of the info you find on these things tell you pretty much the same thing. To use Garter care sheets but with slightly higher temps and humidity, with a larger water dish. And to take them to a Vet.

Screening for and treatment of parasites in the species is money well spent. They are a beautiful snake but kept in such unsanitary condition when caught and shipped. They are one non-garter species that I would take on here at the Ranch if I could only find some captive bred animals.
Please keep us post on your snake. Looking forward to some photos.(hint. hint)

[Tarzier]

Sorry if these pictures are huge, I'm new to forums and didn't know how to make thumbnails.100_0586.jpg100_0587.jpg100_0588.jpg100_0589.jpg100_0590.jpg


Edit: Guess it does it automatically, cool. Also, I think he may have been sleeping, and was a little spooked. He kept running around and didn't tolerate being held this time. Usually he's fine with it.

[guidofatherof5]

Good looking snake.

How are you heating the tub? What is the black wire for?

Having wires going in from the top is a sure fire escape area for these masters of escape. You could drill a hole in the side just big enough for the sensor. Don't apply too much pressure as you drill or the plastic will crack. Holding a piece of wood on the opposite side of the plastic will help it not to crack as you drill. Some people also burn the whole in the plastic with a soldering gun.
Use a hot glue gun to seal the hole once you have the sensor placed.
Just an idea.

[Tarzier]

The black wire in the back is the 'outside' thermometer for my Thermo/Hygrometer, and the one in front is the thermostat probe for the UTH. I also keep the ambient heat up during the day with the overhead bulb, and turn it off at night. I never thought about sealing the holes back up with a hot glue gun, which is why they came in from the top. The probes are pretty big at the front, and any hole big enough for them would have been an exit area. I was already worried at first about the wires coming in from the top, but they don't leave big gaps, and I've been playing with the idea of just melting the plastic where they come in from a little so they sit in the frame. And the little gaps they leave now, are held down by the lid, which he isn't strong enough to move...At the moment.

Hot glue gun is an idea though, thanks.

[chris-uk]

Hot glue gun is an idea though, thanks.

Hot glue is the answer to many problems involving vivaria.

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

Your striped keelback is beautiful and looks to be in very decent condition. These snakes are pretty easy to keep, but they do tend to suffer from the "drop dead syndrome" that many fragile imports suffer from. Truthfully, you can keep this snake set up just as you would a garter snake, and feed it as you would a garter snake. The only thing I might suggest you do differently is slightly higher humidity, and provide a moist container filled with damp sphagnum moss or coco fibre. These guys seem to have delicate skin that dries out and has shedding problems easily. As with many imports it is pretty common for these guys to harbor a number of internal parasites which may or may NOT be harmful to the snake. Many parasite live inside of their host for the host's entire life and cause no ill effects. Certain types, especially in an immune-suppressed animal, can cause harm, and if you keep other reptiles, then it's more of a concern because the species of worms that may be harmless to your snake, can be much more harmful to a snake from another country that has no natural resistance or experience with this type of worm. The thing with imported snakes, especially more delicate ones like these, is that medications made to kill internal parasites, are likely a cause of death in some cases, whether acute or delayed for years. Remember, these medications are toxins designed to kill, and the ways they interact with various species, especially a little worked with one such as this, is still pretty much unknown. So if it is your only reptile, and it is thriving, I might consider not having a bunch of medication pumped into it. Internal parasites aren't always the end of the world. Heck one in three of us has them and we don't even know it. The major cause for concern is if you have other reptiles, that the parasite is not native to, they can potentially cause more damage there and will have to be dealt with. And if you do seek a vet, make sure you seek one that is well versed in exotic reptiles, particularly tiny ones. They are few and far between. I have seen vets that have never treated a snake in their life claim they knew what was going on with a snake, only to almost kill the poor thing. My local reptile vet just chewed my friend out for not having a desert UVB lamp on her leopard gecko, and for keeping it on tile instead of calcium sand. And I thought she knew what she was doing, until then.

[Tarzier]

Thanks for the info. I had already pumped up the humidity a little but thanks nonetheless. I knew that some internal parasites are fine, but I didn't know that trying to treat for parasites might kill him. I may take your advice and wait a bit on the medication, unless the Vet says otherwise. Also, I'm not sure whether or not this Vet has alot of experience with Exotics, but he does specialize in Exotic animals, so I hope he does. Unfortunately, this guy is probably the closest Reptile Vet to me, and hes an hour away, in a different state. So if he doesn't work out too well, I'm not sure what my other options would be.

[Foxrun402]

He does look good a little thin as well, I would try and find some DMF nightcrawlers at WalMart, and you can also find Tupperware there that would be suitable to create a moist hide for cheap! I got a small container for 3$ and its got plenty of room for my 8 month old Parietalis to dig around in, just keep it loaded up with sphagnum moss and water to keep it moist, just need enough for the moss to be moist dosent have to have resting water on the bottom. But nightcrawlers are mostly made up of water and are a less fatty food and they can eat more of them and more frequently then pinkies. will produce a runny watery fecal matter and might clean the snake out a little.

[Tarzier]

He does look good a little thin as well, I would try and find some DMF nightcrawlers at WalMart, and you can also find Tupperware there that would be suitable to create a moist hide for cheap! I got a small container for 3$ and its got plenty of room for my 8 month old Parietalis to dig around in, just keep it loaded up with sphagnum moss and water to keep it moist, just need enough for the moss to be moist dosent have to have resting water on the bottom. But nightcrawlers are mostly made up of water and are a less fatty food and they can eat more of them and more frequently then pinkies. will produce a runny watery fecal matter and might clean the snake out a little.

I may have to try out the tubberware idea, but as for worms, I've tried those already and he just ignores them. Literally. Looks like all he wants is fish(Or fish-scented pinkies). And he is thin, but it doesn't seem to be for any reason, I feed him well and everything. Maybe his species is just thin? I'm not sure, but he seems to be very healthy and active in all other matters. He's about two feet long, maybe a few inches longer, but he's only about as round as a dime, maybe slightly less. By slightly, I mean millimeters.

Thanks for the advice.