Endoparasites in Ball Pythons
Reptile · Python regius · typical adult weight 1.00–2.00 kg
5 cited drugs treat Endoparasites in ball pythons: Fenbendazole, Mebendazole, Praziquantel, Pyrantel Pamoate, Thiabendazole.
Gastrointestinal helminth and protozoal infections. Macrocyclic lactones, benzimidazoles, and pyrantel cover the bulk of nematode treatment; protozoal indications require dedicated drugs (metronidazole, sulfadimethoxine).
The overview above describes Endoparasites across species; the citations below are the ExoticRx dose rules scoped to ball pythons — a reference list, not new species-specific clinical guidance.
Fenbendazole(Panacur)
Antiparasitic| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 50–100 mg/kg | once | Single dose; repeat in 2-3 weeks | Nematode infections | Weak | Plumb's Fenbendazole REPTILES, corpus p.534; Carpenter's 6th ed. Table 4.4, p.225, ball-python-specific row; Mader's Table 127.4, corpus p.1406 ('All species/nematodes') — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.4 (Antiparasitic Agents Used in Reptiles). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — LOCATOR CONVENTION 2026-08-07: the bare 'p.534' in this citation is the PDF index of the held scan, not the printed page. The PRINTED page is p.507; verified by finding the drug named there. If you are holding the book, turn to p.507. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207; Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929; Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery (Divers & Stahl) — ISBN 9780323482530, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323482530 — PROVENANCE (wave 3, two readers): the served 50-100 mg/kg ONCE regimen is printed only in BSAVA Small Animal Formulary 10th ed Part B, printed p.128 — "Reptiles: Nematodes: 50-100 mg/kg p.o., per cloaca once". Both cited formulary tables print a DIFFERENT regimen — Carpenter's Table 4.4 and Mader's Table 127.4 both give 25-100 mg/kg PO q14d for up to 4 treatments, and Plumb's gives 50-100 mg/kg PO repeated in 2 weeks. Class caution, BSAVA p.128 — profound leucopenia in Testudo hermanni after two courses of 50 mg/kg daily for 5 days. |
Mebendazole
Antiparasitic| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 20–25 mg/kg | repeat in 14 days prn | Strongyles, ascarids (nematodes) | Weak | Klaphake E, Gibbons PM, Sladky KK, et al. Reptiles. In: Carpenter JW, eds. Exotic Animal Formulary, 5th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2018:81-166. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.227 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.4 (Antiparasitic Agents Used in Reptiles). Located 2026-08-05: the only table covering this species in which the drug's own row prints this dose. The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929 |
Praziquantel(Droncit)
Antiparasitic| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 8–10 mg/kg | once, repeat in 14 days | Repeat in 14 days | Cestodes (tapeworms), trematodes | Anecdotal | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed — Antiparasitic Agents Used in Reptiles, p.230: 'Praziquantel 8-10 mg/kg PO, SC, IM, repeat in 14 days' (Most species/cestodes, trematodes). Superscripts 243, 396 = Klaphake E, Gibbons PM, Sladky KK, et al. Reptiles. In: Carpenter JW, ed. Exotic Animal Formulary, 5th ed. Elsevier; 2018:81-166 / Rockwell K, Mitchell MM. Antiparasitic therapy. In: Divers SJ, ed. — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.4 (Antiparasitic Agents Used in Reptiles). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929 |
Pyrantel Pamoate(Strongid-T, Nemex)
Antiparasitic| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 5 mg/kg | repeat in 14 days | Nematodes | Weak | Klingenberg RJ. Understanding Reptile Parasites, Advanced Vivarium Systems, Irvine, CA; 2007:1-200. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.231 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.4 (Antiparasitic Agents Used in Reptiles). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929 |
Thiabendazole(Mintezol, Thibenzole)
Antiparasitic| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 50–100 mg/kg | Once, repeat in 14 days | Single dose; repeat in 2 weeks; fecal check at 4 weeks | Nematode infections | Weak | Mader's Reptile Medicine and Surgery 3rd ed (Divers & Stahl), Ch.127 Reptile Formulary, Table 127.4 Antiparasitic Agents, printed p.1197 (PDF p.1407) — SOURCE EDITION: Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery (Divers & Stahl) — ISBN 9780323482530, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323482530 |
Sourced from published veterinary references; awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer. See our editorial process. Reference only — not veterinary advice. Verify against current literature before clinical use.