www.petdirectory.com.au - Pet Directory
Banner Ad
Posted in Reptiles

All About Snakes


All About Snakes

Snakes Alive!

“Depending on the variety, snakes can live for decades and grow to lengths in excess of 5 feet.”

They require at least a 30-gallon tank, frequent checkups, and care by a veterinarian who specializes in reptiles. Fresh water and a spotless environment must be provided at all times. Most are carnivorous. They are susceptible to a variety of parasites as well as blister disease, respiratory and digestive disorders, and mouth rot. Strictly controlled daytime and nighttime temperatures and the careful application of pesticides are required in order to guard against mite infestations.

Stomatitis In Snakes

In general, disease occurs due to an imbalance between the number and virulence (nastiness) of the disease organisms in the environment and the defence forces within the animal.
 
 Stomatitis is an infection in the mouths of snakes. It may occur when the environment the snake is living in becomes heavily contaminated with pathogenic organisms (the bugs capable of causing disease) or the snakes defences are damaged or weakened.

The sources of heavy environmental contamination in the captive environment include faeces (from the snake or prey) and other excretions from the snake, dead food left in the cage and areas where the substrate (floor covering) has become damp, especially where material of plant or soil origin is used as floor covering material. Bacteria and many other pathogenic organisms grow rapidly on decaying matter and numbers build up exponentially – 1, 2, 4, 16, 256 etc. When a large number of organisms are present even a healthy snake can succumb to disease.

Contamination is only part of the story.
For disease to occur the pathogen must get into the snakes system and overwhelm it. The organism can get in through the skin or mucous membranes (the soft lining) of the mouth, gastrointestinal system or respiratory system, especially if they are damaged by wounds inflicted by live prey, wounds inflicted by other snakes (as when two or more animals are fed in the same enclosure),and areas left open for short periods of time during the natural shedding of teeth.

Once the pathogen has broken through the skin or mucous membrane barrier, normally, the host’s immune systems fight off the organism using cells and antibodies to destroy the pathogen. The cells involved in this fight are usually the white blood cells.


Photo of Brown Tree Snake by SimonWatharow


The antibodies are chemicals formed within the special cells in response to previous encounters with the same pathogen. These chemicals bind to the wall of the bacteria and other pathogens and break it open causing the bacteria or other pathogen to die. 

If the host, in this case, the snake is under stress for any reason the immune system may fail to overcome the pathogen and disease occurs. The snakes immune system may be damaged by many things including incorrect temperature or humidity, exposure to chemicals, incompatible cage mates, concurrent diseases such as worms or mites etc., breeding, excessive handling and during shedding. In order to breed snakes they are often cooled during winter and while this may be necessary to breed the snake it still constitutes a stress. Only snakes in peak condition should be cooled and bred from since when the snake experiences torpor so does its immune system!

Signs of stomatitis:
In the early stages signs include inappetence, increased reddening of gums and the appearance of petechiae (little pinpoint blood spots on the gums), loose teeth, swelling of the gums, excessive mucous in the mouth – usually seen as dried mucous on the lips or mucous bubbling from the mouth or nostrils. Only in severe cases do we see very swollen gums and face, purple/red areas on the gums and pus exuding from the dental ridges. Pus in reptiles in very thick, with a consistency of cheese and can be very hard to get out.


Jungle Carpet Python (Morelia Spilota) by Alma Ted SearleQRAA

Treatment of stomatitis:
In the early stages of the disease treatment may only require topical application of antiseptic medications such as chlorhexidine mouthwash, gently applied to the gums with a cotton bud on a daily basis AND correction of any stress factors in the husbandry – bring the temperature in the cage to optimal for that snake, scrupulous cleaning of the cage, and removal of any incompatible cage mates. Later in the disease therapy may include antibiotics, sometimes combinations of antibiotics, fluid therapy, vitamins to stimulate the snakes immune system and even surgical debridement (cleaning and removing dead tissue) of damaged tissues in the mouth under general anaesthetic.

Some animals may still die especially if treatment is not sought until the later stages of the disease. Some animals may also be carrying other diseases which have damaged the immune system, including the viral infection Boid Inclusion Body Disease, which is to a python what AIDS is to humans. These animals are more likely to die from infections than snakes which are otherwise healthy.

What makes someone a snake catcher? As told by Snake Catcher Simon Watharow

Snake catching is a popular past time, hobby or profession for many herpetologists (man who study /work with reptiles) around Australia. What makes a snake catcher?
 Why do it?

A snake handling man tells some snake tales

For me I sort of fell into it. I had never really caught snakes at all and had mostly been a lizard person. It began when I was around 26 years old, unemployed, Australia was in a recession. (You remember the one we had to have?) Jobs were hard to come by and I was lucky enough to meet another retiring "snake handling man". That man taught me the skills, knowledge and a few tricks that would come in handy. He showed me how to handle snakes, first aid and best of all told me how to do it safely and sensibly. This I have followed in his stead and have since taught many of Victoria’s and in other states future handlers the best and safest way to deal with venomous snakes. What is the job that pays you, and is your dream come true? Being a professional Snakehandler is mine.

SNAKES
Not all snakes are venomous and even less are dangerously venomous. Snakes are not aggressive but merely defensive when provoked, harassed or attempts are made to kill them. Snakes are fully protected just like all other native vertebrate Australian wildlife. Snakes are absolutely essential to the environment.

I have several tips for people who have snakes around their residencies. 

  • Always clear away excessive vegetation in early spring, keep fence
    lines and lawns trimmed as low as possible.
  • Remove unwanted rodents via baiting regularly.
  • Store firewood and other outside items well away from the house.
  • Keep the immediate house perimeter as clear and open as
    possible.
  • Remove all exotic vegetation especially large clumps of
    agapanthus, ivy, vines and creepers As these provide excellent hiding locations for snakes.
  • On hot nights watch for snakes with a torch if walking around the house.
  • When working on rural properties
    watch where you place hands in holes, under tin, iron, logs, rubbish outside etc.
  • Never ever try to kill a snake, call an expert for advice or help.
    Snakes usually move reasonable distances during spring (reproduction), very warm days, during natural disasters fires, flooding or during drought conditions.

Snake sees man

SNAKEHANDLER ON THE JOB
So let’s get to some of the jobs I have I done in recent times. Snakes can pretty much go anywhere, as thee next stories will show. A gracious retired couple in Warrandyte, Victoria rang me up frantically asking me to remove a snake from their sauna bath on the second storey of their house! The snake, a Lowland Copperhead Austrelaps superbus had somehow climbed up through plumbing and into the bathroom. When the snake fell into the sauna, the smooth material allowed no grip for the snake to climb out!! Fortunately, snakes on a slippery surface are relatively easy to catch.

A lovely lady was playing tennis on a very hot gusty February day. She had left her handbag near a bush on the court. Once finished, she collected her bag and went home, reaching into the bag several times to get her comb, car keys and make up. At home she got her bank statements, put them in the handbag, went back to the car, threw the bag on the seat, and drove to the bank to see the manager. Arriving on time she promptly sat down, spoke to the manager and reached in to get the statements. When she saw the snake and heard the hiss she jumped up onto the managers table. The surprised man followed two seconds after he saw the snake. A sub adult tiger snake emerged from her handbag and hit the floor. The scared snake quickly disappeared behind the table and the staff called Snakehandler. I walked in and quickly found the “little tacker” hiding behind the computer. I think she got the manager’s loan approval!

Not all Snakehandler jobs are snakes, recently a local power provider called on Snakehandler to remove a Lace Monitor Varanus varius from the main power pole. I was quickly told if the goanna goes all the way to the top 35, 000 volts of electricity will kill it and the entire local area will be without power. The goanna seemed happy enough basking in the sun, facing downwards. I was told not to hold or touch two lines and decided to suit up in a power prevention suit, wear a safety harness, and climb into a cherry picker. The pickers bucket soared towards the goanna about twenty feet off the ground. The goanna was quickly grabbed and pulled down into the waiting bag. Goannas have very sharp claws and extremely sharp teeth, if bitten they are often infectious (bacteria on teeth) and require medical attention. Needless to say, I was careful to avoid those teeth.
In Scoresby a local developer was told to remove all the freshwater turtles from a pond before it was backfilled and a house built on it. Snakehandler was brought in to wade through mud, sludge and any remaining areas of water feeling around for turtles. All in good fun and spirit we found ten animals and subsequently relocated them but you really would not have invited us out to dinner that night.

Whew!
Finally a couple with two children rang Snakehandler for help with a large snake they found living in the wood pile. The woodpile thankfully was not too large. We dismantled it starting from each end, working towards the middle. We reached the last three logs, and after rolling over the first of the three, a big fat happy blue tongue lizard Tiliqua scincoides opened its mouth hissed and said, “What have you done to my house mister”!!! These lizards are very common in metropolitan areas of eastern Australia and are frequently mistaken for snakes. They are harmless and a great natural source of snail control.

I hope that these stories and some tips have helped you see a piece of the scaley world. Please leave wild reptiles alone and call for help when in ‘snaky’ trouble.

 


Leave Comment Below



Search Website

Join Our Community

1. Register a member account
2. Create a searchable listing
3. Connect with more clients

Get Listed Today
Banner Ad
Banner Ad
Banner Ad
Banner Ad