severe weight loss in baby checkered garter that refuses to eat

[astraltressa]

Another consideration in a snake with severe weight loss and inappetance is to get a fecal specimen and double zip lock bag it for the exotic vet to analyze it for parasites. Especially in any wild caught animal. But this applies to captive bred also. 6 month old snake is still juvenile and not a baby but the ravages of severe weight loss is problematic.

We don't really have an exotic vet around here. Is there any way I could find out myself if it has parasites? Also I only call it a baby because It's practically still the same size. Hasn't grown much in length or weight. Still fits in my palm, even.

[Albert Clark]

We don't really have an exotic vet around here. Is there any way I could find out myself if it has parasites? Also I only call it a baby because It's practically still the same size. Hasn't grown much in length or weight. Still fits in my palm, even.

. Well there may not be a exotic vet close by but you need to have one that you can get to reasonably. You can't necessarily tell definitively without a fecal test but there are signs of parasites in reptiles. Inappetance heads the possibilities as does loose stool (diarrhea) discolored stool as well. History of feeding on live goldfish, minnows (roses reds), amphibians are all high risk. Oh, I understand why you referred to her as a baby. The uth that you are using needs to be plugged into a thermostat so you can be sure of the exact temps that the snake is exposed to. It's probably too hot on the warm side on the plastic underneath the substrate.