Vote for BP.Net for the 2013 Forum of the Year! Click here for more info.

» Site Navigation

» Home
 > FAQ

» Online Users: 3,142

2 members and 3,140 guests
Most users ever online was 6,337, 01-24-2020 at 04:30 AM.

» Today's Birthdays

None

» Stats

Members: 75,031
Threads: 248,489
Posts: 2,568,442
Top Poster: JLC (31,651)
Welcome to our newest member, isismomma
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 16
  1. #1
    Registered User
    Join Date
    12-21-2010
    Posts
    4
    Thanks
    5
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Ball Python bites itself

    I recently bought a ball python from a friend, its still young not sure of the age but it can fit in my hand.

    It was cold transporting it to my house.

    When i got it all set up (heat pad and lamp going) the snake was not moving for a good 2 hrs then starting to be active a bit.

    so i let it alone for the night and this morning it was laying in a very odd position, half its body was the right way up (belly down) the other half was fliped over.

    I thought it might have died over the night so i touched it and it moved, so again i left it alone while it be while i went to work

    well when i returned today it seemed fine had apparently moved around a bit
    so i left it alone and checked back later and it appeard to be bitting itself (when i went to touch it it seemed to be kind of gnawing i guess you would say) is this normal behavior?

    it had just been feed a few days ago
    the tank temp is about 85 degrees with the heat pad and light on one side of the tank

    could this be stress?
    or maybe it needs feed?

    any help would be appreciated

  2. #2
    BPnet Senior Member kitedemon's Avatar
    Join Date
    01-01-2010
    Location
    NS Canada
    Posts
    6,062
    Thanks
    657
    Thanked 1,795 Times in 1,391 Posts
    Images: 11
    NO that is wayyy not normal!

    My first thought is are you sure it is a ball python? It sounds like something a kingsnake would do when extremely hungry.

    Check your husbandry your cool end should be around 80 and a hot spot around 90ºF there are excellent care sheets here...

    http://ball-pythons.net/forums/forum...107-CARESHEETS

    look up ball pythons in google images just to be sure it actually is one they are very distinctive.

  3. The Following User Says Thank You to kitedemon For This Useful Post:

    NickelPlater (12-21-2010)

  4. #3
    Registered User
    Join Date
    12-21-2010
    Posts
    4
    Thanks
    5
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Re: Ball Python bites itself

    Quote Originally Posted by kitedemon View Post
    NO that is wayyy not normal!

    My first thought is are you sure it is a ball python? It sounds like something a kingsnake would do when extremely hungry.

    Check your husbandry your cool end should be around 80 and a hot spot around 90ºF there are excellent care sheets here...

    http://ball-pythons.net/forums/forum...107-CARESHEETS

    look up ball pythons in google images just to be sure it actually is one they are very distinctive.
    yes im very sure it is and the temps seem to be fine

    1 thing i forgot to mention is i left the light on all night last night and the tank is in a room that is well lit in the day. dont know if this could be a cause of anything

  5. #4
    Registered User JordanAng420's Avatar
    Join Date
    10-12-2010
    Location
    Ft. Lauderdale, FL
    Posts
    36
    Thanks
    4
    Thanked 12 Times in 11 Posts
    Animals have been known to bite themselves in all kinds of places during many different types of seizures...i'm not sure if it's ever been documented in reptiles, but i've seen it first hand with dogs and cats.
    Maia D. Goldworm CVT, VTS (anesthesia)

  6. The Following User Says Thank You to JordanAng420 For This Useful Post:

    NickelPlater (12-21-2010)

  7. #5
    BPnet Veteran ed4281's Avatar
    Join Date
    12-14-2009
    Location
    Dallas, Texas, United States
    Posts
    823
    Thanks
    221
    Thanked 222 Times in 163 Posts
    Images: 54

    Re: Ball Python bites itself

    This behavior is not normal, snakes don’t self mutilate by biting themselves (they rub their noses on the cage until a bump forms and they look like a unicorn). What you are describing sounds like neurologic symptoms from being too cold. I have seen this recently, a person brought their BP in to the clinic I work at and it was having the same inverting and almost seizure like activity. She was keeping it at room temperature and it has been cold here lately. We warmed it up and it was fine, printed off the care sheet from here and gave it to her, I just spoke to her yesterday and the snake is doing much better with the appropriate husbandry adjustments.

    I would watch the snake and if it starts doing this again you should go to the vet (provided this is not a spider ball python because if it is that behavior could be normal and associated with the spider wobble) make sure to watch for any upper respiratory symptoms such as wheezing, labored breathing, and bubbles forming in the mouth. If any of these symtoms occur go to the vet.

    Also Bp’s don’t need a light, they are nocturnal and don’t benefit at all from one. If you are using a light to boost your ambient temps you should use a red bulb or a ceramic bulb neither puts off any light that would disturb a BP.

    And Maia you are brave I don’t know if I would put my credintials in my signature, may get too many questions.

    Edward A. Balint LVT, MS, VTS (ECC)
    Currently have
    2.3 pastel's
    0.1 spider
    0.1 normal
    1.1 100% het albino's
    1.0 Albino ( he will live at work but i get to take care of him)
    1.0 Cinnamon
    1.0 Fire

  8. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to ed4281 For This Useful Post:

    JordanAng420 (12-21-2010),NickelPlater (12-21-2010)

  9. #6
    BPnet Senior Member WingedWolfPsion's Avatar
    Join Date
    09-27-2007
    Location
    Plattsmouth, NE
    Posts
    5,168
    Thanks
    124
    Thanked 1,785 Times in 1,134 Posts
    Images: 1
    Sounds kind of like cold shock syndrome. Ball pythons do not tolerate being cold. The trip home may have caused this, if it was allowed to get too cold.

    The snake may recover if it makes it past 48 hours, or it may die. If it does survive, long-term impairment is possible.

    Never allow ball pythons to be exposed to temperatures under 70F.
    --Donna Fernstrom
    16.29 BPs in collection, 16.11 BP hatchlings
    Eclipse Exotics
    http://www.eclipseexotics.com/
    Author Website
    http://donnafernstrom.com
    Follow my Twitters: WingedWolfPsion, EclipseMeta, and EclipseExotics

  10. The Following User Says Thank You to WingedWolfPsion For This Useful Post:

    NickelPlater (12-21-2010)

  11. #7
    BPnet Lifer dragonboy4578's Avatar
    Join Date
    09-01-2010
    Location
    St. Clair, Michigan, United States
    Posts
    2,661
    Thanks
    1,011
    Thanked 895 Times in 815 Posts
    Blog Entries
    6
    Images: 84

    Re: Ball Python bites itself

    Please keep us posted. I hope it pulls through, and gets better for you.

  12. The Following User Says Thank You to dragonboy4578 For This Useful Post:

    NickelPlater (12-21-2010)

  13. #8
    BPnet Veteran ed4281's Avatar
    Join Date
    12-14-2009
    Location
    Dallas, Texas, United States
    Posts
    823
    Thanks
    221
    Thanked 222 Times in 163 Posts
    Images: 54

    Re: Ball Python bites itself

    Quote Originally Posted by WingedWolfPsion View Post
    Sounds kind of like cold shock syndrome. Ball pythons do not tolerate being cold. The trip home may have caused this, if it was allowed to get too cold.

    The snake may recover if it makes it past 48 hours, or it may die. If it does survive, long-term impairment is possible.

    Never allow ball pythons to be exposed to temperatures under 70F.
    That’s what it is called I have never heard of it and I was looking in all sorts of text books, do you have any info on it, because I would like to know in case I see it again. There just isn’t much veterinary material available on herp’s( especially emergency protocols) and they just don’t teach much in school about them.
    Currently have
    2.3 pastel's
    0.1 spider
    0.1 normal
    1.1 100% het albino's
    1.0 Albino ( he will live at work but i get to take care of him)
    1.0 Cinnamon
    1.0 Fire

  14. #9
    Registered User
    Join Date
    12-21-2010
    Posts
    4
    Thanks
    5
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Re: Ball Python bites itself

    Thank you all for the usefull imformation I will keep a close watch over it and if things do not improve i will be going to the vet

  15. #10
    Registered User Mallory's Avatar
    Join Date
    10-21-2010
    Location
    South Carolina
    Posts
    36
    Thanks
    2
    Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts

    Re: Ball Python bites itself

    Years ago I had a BP that did the exact same thing, usually during feeding. He would basically freak out and attack himself and then it started turning into seizures. I would hold him down to keep him from hurting himself (yes, I got LOTS of teeth marks on me, but otherwise he would actually rip off scales) Then, out of nowhere, he would be back to normal. Unfortunately he didn't live very long, but a breeder friend of mine said maybe he had struck at the glass tank and given himself brain damage.

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v4.2.1