Diarrhea

[Nefertiri]

My ball python is only about a foot long and only eats fuzzies.
The first three times I fed her, she ate her mouse without a problem and was pretty active for being so shy.
The fourth time, she struck at the mouse and then decided to leave it be without fully even biting it. The day after, I took her out for a 'walk' and put her back in her cage because she was being unusually squirmy and hyper. When I did, after two minutes, she pooped alllll over, the diarrhea was so stinky and disgusting. I had to wipe her off and remove the gross stuff.
It's been five days, and I tried to feed her again. Same thing. Except in her feed tank, she diarrhea'd with the mouse IN there.
Should I take her to a vet?

[dragonboy4578]

How long have you had her? What is her tank set up? size, temps, and set up.. How often do you handle her? The only time that any of my snakes have had diarrhea was when I first picked them up and they were stressed. Other than they they have all been great.

[Tidus10]

It sounds like the snake is scared or stressed... They can produce that diarrhea to make other animals think they are sick.. I would leave it along for a while and offer it food in a week or so.. Just try to not fuss with the snake at all..does it have hides and the right temperatures?

[Sarin]

She could be really stressed. How are you housing her? How big is she? How many times/how long do you hold her for?

Mouse fuzzies are too small... Try feeding her a rodent that is the same size or a little bigger then the widest part of her body.

If you're really worried, next time she poops, bag it and bring it to your local vet for a fecal test. They are cheap and it'll tell you if there's any parasites causing the diarrhea.

In the meantime, don't handle her unless absolutely necessary and see if that helps.

Keep us updated.



Edit: You guys are too fast for me!!

[Nefertiri]

I have 15 gallon tank- and she has a a few hide spots- with a few bamboo pipes I bought from the store- a water bowl-
One side of the tank is 75-80, the other is 90-95.
I handle her everyday- but never for long periods.

I think the stress answer works out- because when I tried to feed her the mouse (she's been fed reheated ones) inside of striking the mouse, she struck herself and made a really ridiculous face.
Do you think she just scared the poop out of herself?

[dragonboy4578]

I would really try not to handle her expect when truly necessary. This would only be to clean her tank for right now. Just let her relax until you have her eating well, and her stool is solid. If I doesn't straiten out soon I would do a fecal test like previously suggested. Handling every day can cause a lot of stress in a bp until they are adjusted. Just my thoughts

[Tidus10]

Are you thawing out the rats in warm water or heating it up another way? Is the tank in a high traffic area? It really sounds like a stress or scared reaction..

[Nefertiri]

Ya I think I just won't handle her except for feeding for awhile, she was doing really well and then suddenly all this happened. Scared me realllyyy bad the first time.
The tank is not a high traffic area at alll- she's in a closet with her tank and lamp and it's nice and warm and solitary in there.

[Tidus10]

Is she still eating fine though? Just let her be, I forget if this was asked but does she gave adequate hides in her tank?

[Nefertiri]

She has adequate hides. She ate her mouse this time. Me handling her less helped a LOT.