The unusual story of Bluemoon Wolfboy...

I bought Wolfie back in December 08. I bought him knowing he was a WC yet long term captive snake, in the care of the previous owner for around 4 years. I also knew he had fatty lumps down one side of his body. We all know snakes sometimes get fatty lumps right? Wrong...

Wolfie to date has NEVER eaten voluntarily for me. I have kept him alive via assist and tube feeding, something I absolutly HATE doing. It's unatural. A snake should want to eat. Anyway, I was about to give up on him as he was unbelieveably skinny, almost unresponsive and looking like he was knocking at deaths door. I atributed all this to simply not feeding. WRONG.

One very expensive and long vet visit later, Wolfie is back home after having 2 foot long tape worms sucked out from his superficial fatty depositis. Can you believe it?! I couldn't. He spent 2 weeks in critical care at the surgery and is now home and has improved dramatically.

Arrows = Lumps = the parasitical worms eating away at my wee man from the inside out.



These shots are from tonight. He is so much more livley, has gained some weight and is back to his dark moody musky self. I forgot how bad he smells Surley thats a good sign that he is so freely spreading around precious bodily fluids which he would have been hesitant to do so when he was so drained by those worms.





His wormy war wounds...





SO lessons learnt...

1. ALWAYS treat freshly wild caught snakes for parasites. Whether you think they have them or not! To find out an imported snake has worms 5 years down the line is just ridiculous.


2. Never assume you know what something like lumps on a snake are. Get them checked out!

Poor Wolfie

Is he eating since the surgery?

Wow thats a freaking huge worm thank god you took him in to be looked at poor guy

I am currently feeding him blended up rat pups and critical care forumla to build him up slowly before trying the many tricks to get him feeding. I always try him before tubing, it's nice to give him a chance but I wont make any real efforts until he has gained some more weight.

Oh wow! I had no idea that an internal parasite could look like that on a snake! I'm glad you caught it, let's hope he eats now.

VickyChaiTea said:

Oh wow! I had no idea that an internal parasite could look like that on a snake! I'm glad you caught it, let's hope he eats now.

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Neither did I! Nor the seller who has been contacted about this and paid for most of his vet bill. He did admit to never treating them for parasites all those years ago.

Yay, Wolfie!!!!!!! I'm glad he's recovering for ya.

Thanks Robbie. I am just so glad they are out of his system now. He also got injected with a de wormer. But what baffles me is the fact they were between the ribs and surface flesh cavity....

Ok - admitting full ignorance here - what the heck is he? I mean what species of snake - I know he's a danged lucky snake!

glenhead said:

Ok - admitting full ignorance here - what the heck is he? I mean what species of snake - I know he's a danged lucky snake!

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He is an adult male Candoia Carinata. However he is a kofiau Isle locality along with the other male and 2 females I have. He is only about the size of a large corn hatchling yet he is a proven breeder. His lady is fit to burst again after an 8 month gestation period. For the worlds smallest boas they sure do take their time to develop...

I'm glad that Wolfie's back! Good luck with him, Elle.

Wow I can't believe those worms fit inside him. I hope he starts to eat on his own for you, he is such a pretty boy.

I'm glad you posted this, my corn has lumps like that and I think he may have been wild caught even though he came from a pet shops so now I think I'll take him in for a check up just to be safe.

Wow, that is bizarre...I'm awful glad things are working out well for Bluemoon Wolfboy (great name btw), especially in the light of your recent difficulties with IBD. He is beautiful, they sure are an interesting looking species of snake. But then I've been looking through pictures of your snakes and they're all quite beautiful

Wow, poor Wolfie. Did you get an ID on the species of tapeworm?

Iguanagirl8662 said:

Wow I can't believe those worms fit inside him. I hope he starts to eat on his own for you, he is such a pretty boy.

I'm glad you posted this, my corn has lumps like that and I think he may have been wild caught even though he came from a pet shops so now I think I'll take him in for a check up just to be safe.

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I know. I was SOOO shocked when my vet came back with these big worms on slides. I have photographs on my boyfriends phone as that was the only way to get "evidence" at the appointment. I'll post them when he figures out how to get them off his phone and onto my computer.

Hail_Britannia said:

Wow, that is bizarre...I'm awful glad things are working out well for Bluemoon Wolfboy (great name btw), especially in the light of your recent difficulties with IBD. He is beautiful, they sure are an interesting looking species of snake. But then I've been looking through pictures of your snakes and they're all quite beautiful

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Well you know what they say, when it rains it pours

diamondlil said:

Wow, poor Wolfie. Did you get an ID on the species of tapeworm?

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Not yet J9. My usual vet has been on holiday the last two weeks so I have been dealing with other staff. He is back this week though so I need to try and get an appointment although the rota said he was fully booked, even double booked. He wants to see Wolfie back in to discuss his blood work and what exactly those worms were.

Poor Wolfie! So glad that he is on the mend and, now, rid of the parasite (ugh).

Thanks Debs. I will be taking him back to the vet on Monday for the worm identification and to check on how he and Minerva is doing. She is looking excellent after almost 3 weeks on intramuscular anti biotics.