Snake pooing blood, please help

[Parkinson]

image.jpgimage.jpgGarter still not feeding it appears that they are both we'll not distressed the female is feeding loads just earth worms as I wanted to rule out the orange blood that comes from trout but as for the male nothing for a couple of weeks so worried now any advice would be great fully revived x

[guidofatherof5]

I'm a bit confused. Which snake is the possible blood photo from?
Is the female the only one that is eating and is she feeding on worms only?

[Parkinson]

Female only eating earth worms placed some vitamins in the water for them and the bloods from both although that particular picture I have to say I'm unsure think its time I split them up? I just don't understand the female and male both off there food for a couple of weeks both blood? Then the female started taking food again the other day! Was great but still so concerned... Nobody seems to know, my eleven year old son said maybe there fighting but they get on so well always wrapped up together and besides there albino so I'm sure I would see marks? Just feel lost keep thinking I'm going to find one has died...

[ConcinusMan]

My advice: forget vitamins in the water and that might be the source of the color. All they need is perhaps tiny dusting of calcium about every other month. They wouldn't even need that if you will just get them eating pinkies and/or whole fish. They also wouldn't need a supplement if you gut loaded the worms with rich black dirt from decomposed leaf litter and add a pinch of bone meal to the soil. Water should just be that. Fresh clean clear water and don't use distilled. Spring water or tap is fine.

[Parkinson]

image.jpgimage.jpgAll my garters have vitamins that what I originally thought it could be but they would all have it?? So concerned just bathed the male he was covered in blood it's defiantly him...

[d_virginiana]

You need to separate them immediately. When you think a snake might be sick the first thing to do is separate them. Nothing in that glob looks like poo or urates... It looks like infection. Could be some sort of parasite issue? If this has been going on for weeks, my advice is take him to a vet. He probably needs antibiotics.

Just wondering... I have no idea what a mating injury looks like, but could that have something to do with this? I know the males' parts sometimes get damaged during mating.

[ConcinusMan]

You need to see a vet straight up. Very well could be flagellates. (single celled parasitic amoebas) They'll have to look at that under a high magnification microscope and if it's what i think it is, you're going to need a prescription for metronidazole. It's an antibiotic so it will kill those and any possible secondary bacterial infections. They'll all have to treated simultaneously and everything they come in contact with, as well as the surrounding area and any equipment you use in the area will have to be disinfected thoroughly during and after treatment otherwise they'll just get reinfected. If I were you I would disinfect your hands any time you go anywhere near them AND wear gloves. You can get infected too.

They do very well in plain water but to make matters worse, you're feeding them nutrients. Change the water very frequently and disinfect the bowl every time.

Your snakes have parasites dude. Highly contagious ones. OTC antiparasitic drugs aren't going to cut it. You need a vet.

[Parkinson]

Thanks for all the feedback x after that last photo I think parasites was in my mind he is kept away from all the others and the first sign of blood I wore gloves and took extra care,he was until yesterday with the female but after that bath photos showed last he's now split from her too..going vet today thanks again all Sarah xxx

[ConcinusMan]

It's not going to be an easy thing to get rid of. They will however get better almost immediately after being medicated. It's the reinfection that's difficult since this parasite can live in a dormant state on dry surfaces all over the area. Simply touching your snakes or anything they come in contact with, then touching something else spreads them. You're going to need a strong disinfectant such as F10 and use it even on the doorknobs in the house, virtually everywhere you touch. Follow the vet's instructions to the letter and be vigilant even after treatment to nip it in the bud should they become reinfected. Good news is , it's not a death sentence. Fight the good fight and your snakes will be OK. Untreated it can lead to secondary infections, anemia, and death though.

One more thing. call the vet ahead of time and tell them what you suspect they have and wait for instructions. don't just bring them into the vet and plop them on a scale. You don't want to spread it in the vet facility!

[BLUESIRTALIS]

Agreed! I have dealt with this before and it is highly contagious and can spread like wild fire so you need to treat both the male and female. Listen to richard and disinfect everything and it would be a good idea to keep the infected animals in a different room until completely treated and be very sanitary! I hope this is not what your dealing with, but it looks and sounds very familiar! A vet visit will be required to clear this up! I hope all goes well! Good luck!

it's not going to be an easy thing to get rid of. They will however get better almost immediately after being medicated. It's the reinfection that's difficult since this parasite can live in a dormant state on dry surfaces all over the area. Simply touching your snakes or anything they come in contact with, then touching something else spreads them. You're going to need a strong disinfectant such as f10 and use it even on the doorknobs in the house, virtually everywhere you touch. Follow the vet's instructions to the letter and be vigilant even after treatment to nip it in the bud should they become reinfected. Good news is , it's not a death sentence. Fight the good fight and your snakes will be ok. Untreated it can lead to secondary infections, anemia, and death though.

One more thing. Call the vet ahead of time and tell them what you suspect they have and wait for instructions. Don't just bring them into the vet and plop them on a scale. You don't want to spread it in the vet facility!