Mary Allen
More and more reptiles are living in Swiss households. But many animals pay for the lack of knowledge of their owners with serious damage to their health. A few measures are enough for species-appropriate husbandry.
The corn snake is not happy about the vet visit. Nervously tongue-in-cheek, she explores her surroundings and tries to wriggle out of her owner’s grasp. “The snake is currently seeing almost nothing, which is why it is so irritated,” explains reptile veterinarian Paul Schneller. In fact, the animal’s eyes are milky cloudy. “The shedding is disturbed, which is why the glasses didn’t come off by themselves,” says Schneller, who runs a mobile practice in north-western Switzerland. Spectacles are the transparent scales that cover the cornea of all snakes and some lizards. “When they molt, they are usually shed together with the cornea,” says the veterinarian.
And this for life. Because snakes, like all other reptile species, never stop growing. However, since their skin does not flake continuously, they have to change it regularly and all at once. The length of time between each molt varies greatly. While young snakes shed their skin about once a month, the frequency can decrease to up to twice a year in older animals. Lizards and turtles shed their skin in shreds, while snakes shed their old skin in one piece.
Poor Posture is the Most Common Cause of Molting Problems in Reptiles
How serious is the disease of our corn snake? “Basically, it is wrong to speak of a disease when there are problems with molting,” Schneller corrected. Rather, insufficient molting is a symptom that has another underlying cause. «Skitting problems are like a fever. We always have to look for the trigger,” explains Schneller. These can be health disorders such as pneumonia, kidney problems, or an infestation with gastrointestinal parasites. “In most cases, however, incorrect posture is the cause,” says Schneller. This includes in particular an incorrect setting of the temperature or humidity in the terrarium. “The ambient temperature has a strong influence on the metabolism of the reptiles. If the temperature in the terrarium is too low, the animals cannot generate enough energy to molt without any problems,” explains the veterinarian. The humidity in the housing often does not correspond to that of the animals’ country of origin. However, if the air is too dry, the old skin is not sufficiently detached from the body.
“On the Internet, you can find climate tables with the species-appropriate environmental conditions for most of the genera that are available from us. Owners should ensure that these values are consistently observed,” advises Schneller. Because what actually seems logical is often forgotten by the owners: animals from desert areas need drier conditions than species that come from jungle regions.
Snakes Can Burn Themselves on Hot Lamps and Heating Mats
The owners should also find out about the necessary size and equipment of a terrarium. If the animals lack the space and the opportunity to withdraw, they can prepare themselves insufficiently for molting. In addition, they need rough surfaces or branches in their housing to shed the dead skin layer.
If there are problems with molting, the owners can bathe the animals and then try to pluck off the skin with their fingers. However, this must come loose without resistance. “Don’t use oil. This closes the skin’s pores, which severely impairs the animals’ sensory perception,” Schneller warns. And: «Never try to loosen unruly glasses. This can lead to serious eye damage, even blindness.”
For this reason, the vet limits the treatment of the corn snake to the application of an eye ointment containing vitamin A. After the husbandry conditions have improved, the glasses should come off by themselves the next time they molt. But the patient is still not allowed to go back into her transport bag. Faster examines them along their entire length. Because a wrong climate in the terrarium can result in further health problems. “Many owners are afraid of skin fungi. They, therefore, reduce the humidity, which, however, dries out the mucous membranes of the reptiles. This can cause respiratory diseases and even pneumonia,” says Schneller. Animals with burns caused by lamps, heated stones, or heating mats are also presented to the vet. Reptiles respond poorly to heat, such as staying wrapped around an unprotected lamp or lying on a hot rock for too long. The result is extensive burns.
Reptile Keepers Have to Make an Effort to Acquire Specialist Knowledge Themselves
Many health problems can be avoided with species-appropriate husbandry. This is confirmed by Jean-Michel Hatt, professor at the zoo animal clinic of the Zurich animal hospital: “The majority of our patients suffer from the consequences of poor posture. We’re trying to change that.” In addition to a telephone hotline, the animal hospital also offers leaflets for download to owners. “This service is heavily used. Basically, the owners of exotic animals strive for species-appropriate husbandry,” says Hatt. However, since most reptiles can be purchased and kept without a certificate of specialist knowledge, the keepers must acquire the relevant knowledge themselves. “Of course, mandatory courses analogous to dog courses would be welcome, but that’s just not realistic despite the steadily increasing number of animals,” explains Hatt.
There is little information about the actual number of reptiles in Switzerland. The Federal Veterinary Office assumes that there are over 100,000 animals. A study by the University of Zurich between 1994 and 2003 also shows an increase of around 50 percent in reptile patients at the Clinic for Zoo, Domestic and Wild Animals.
Paul Schneller also feels the increasing popularity of exotic animals in his outpatient practice. One of his patients has now completed the vet visit. The corn snake can go back into its transport container. Although still with cloudy eyes, the prospect of a normal molt in the next month.