Red-lip - sick juvinile

[Brussel]

Hi guys and gals,

I picked up this little guy in a drain earlier today in the northern suburbs of Cape Town. He is about 15cm long and is very lethargic, hardly moving at all and if he does very slowly. What concerns me is the look of his underbelly, as per pics, particularly under his tail, it may be something illness wise.

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any ideas what I should do here? as this does not look like a hopeful situation

[nvlooi]

Ive seen this exact thing with a Brown House snake also from a gutter.

It could be a injury or disease - keep it away from your own animals!!!
I think it is due to very filthy conditions in the drain and is most probably an infection.
I was not able to save that specific snake and it died soon after I found him even after a visit to the vet and antibiotics.

My advice would be to make sure it is wel hydrated and try feeding it.
Deworm it asap.


Keep us updated...

H

[Aaxel]

I dont know about the lethargy,
but the belly thing is most probably what nvlooi said, or just the fact that it is young and its insides are disorderly.
good luck!!

P.S. Herald snakes have fangs, and should be classified as mildly venomous.

[Bushviper]

P.S. Herald snakes have fangs, and should be classified as mildly venomous.

Noted and moved to the correct section. Thanks. BV

[nvlooi]

How is the little one doing.. any better?


H

[Brussel]

update:

the little guy is much like I found him. I have given him a few warm baths to keep hydrated and to wash any residue from the drain off him. I also managed to get a large gecko tail down him with some assistance just to ensure he has some nutrition in his body. He is still very lethargic and so we wait and see.....

[snake kid]

You should try frogs they go crazy for them and tadpoles work just as good.

[Westley Price]

I am no vet, but that looks like mechanical damage to me.

Possibly he had been attacked by a cat or the drop down the drain broke his back.

Does he move normally now or is he still lethargic?

[nvlooi]

I am no vet, but that looks like mechanical damage to me.

Possibly he had been attacked by a cat or the drop down the drain broke his back.

Does he move normally now or is he still lethargic?

After a second look and your opinion it seems like there are possible mechanical damage!


Thanks Westley


H

[Brussel]

Hi Guys

I've been so busy I have not had a chance to post here. The little guy died a few days after I originally posted. I agree that there may well have been mechanical damage, there is a dog and a few feral cats at the building where we found him.

thanks for the replies!

Brent