I think my Ball Python is sick!

[Stinky2913]

Hello everyone,
This is my first time posting on here, usually I use like...yahoo answers, but i'm not getting much help this morning. I ordered a "baby" ball python from underground reptiles on Tuesday hoping to get him wednesday...didn't happen. So we thought he'd be shipped Wednesday get him Thursday. Again didn't happen. We didn't receive him until Friday. Then he's in shed, and he kinda looks terrible, Friday he wasn't very active, I picked him up and he moved around a little but that was it. Yesterday I had a friend (who is the owner of 8 ball pythons) come over and she was kind of helping me get used to him, and he was a lot more active. But there were some things I'd like to ask about. First off, he peed/pooped...it was white and gross and smelled really bad. I heard they do that when they're scared, but either way it was really runny, my friend said it was pee, and she said it shouldn't have been that watery, and all these gross clumpy white....clumps came out. It was pretty gross, I wasn't sure if that was normal or not? And then the people at UR said he wasn't really a baby...more a juvenile, but they were feeding him hoppers, yet, my friend has smaller ones that she's been feeding weaned for, and I think that may be the reason for my ball pythons skinnyness...He's long, but he is really skinny, you can see his spine really easy and he should be more circular, I realize that with a company they probably have a lot of animals to feed, but to send one off in such a poor state bothers me. Spock (My snake) has also not drank since I got him Friday and I got him the extra large exo terra water bowl that way I wouldn't have to move up, and at first I thought he couldn't get into it, but he was moving around and yesterday he stood up kind of...and he was clearly tall enough to get in it. So he isn't drinking...I don't know if I should get a smaller water bowl...or...something. I plan on feeding him Next Friday. Also his tongue doesn't flick. AT ALL!!! Like when he's crawling around it doesn't do it. I've had him for 3 days now and I have never seen his tongue! I don't know what to do. My friends' snakes all do it, but Spock doesn't and I'm very scared I will lose him. He's my first B.P. He's also in shed, his eyes are blue and because he's in shed I feel like he probably doesn't feel too great but I would think he would at least be doing the tongue thing if not anything else. Insights on what to do?
Thank you so much!

[PitOnTheProwl]

First off............. Welcome

Second, Leave him be for 5 to 7 days. The more you mess with him in his new home the more you are stressing him. He needs time to adjust to his new place.
Also I sure hope he wasnt "in transit" during all that shipping time, did the breeder just delay sending him till thursday?
The white urate chunks are normal as well as some funky oders...........stress can make it worse.

[GoFride]

Welcome - you're in the right place! Here are links that will help;

This one is for general frequently asked questions:
http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=31102

This one takes you to a page where you can read a care sheet, select more FAQs, etc:
http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/f...splay.php?f=62

[Stinky2913]

First off............. Welcome

Second, Leave him be for 5 to 7 days. The more you mess with him in his new home the more you are stressing him. He needs time to adjust to his new place.
Also I sure hope he wasnt "in transit" during all that shipping time, did the breeder just delay sending him till thursday?
The white urate chunks are normal as well as some funky oders...........stress can make it worse.

He wasn't in transit the whole time, they just didn't ship until Thursday. What do you think about the No drinking, No tongue, and the feeding thing? I think I listed all of that above? Sorry I'm just trying to get to the bottom of this.
Thank You

[dragonboy4578]

He wasn't in transit the whole time, they just didn't ship until Thursday. What do you think about the No drinking, No tongue, and the feeding thing? I think I listed all of that above? Sorry I'm just trying to get to the bottom of this.
Thank You

Very rarely do I ever see my ball pythons drink. I would swear that they never do. Your new bp is more than likely stressed out. Between the shipping and being into shed it really needs to left alone for a few days. I would wait until Friday to feed to give it time to settle in a bit.

[PitOnTheProwl]

Very rarely do I ever see my ball pythons drink. I would swear that they never do. Your new bp is more than likely stressed out. Between the shipping and being into shed it really needs to left alone for a few days. I would wait until Friday to feed to give it time to settle in a bit.

X2

I think I have only seen my rescues drink when they are dehydrated. If humidity is up where it should be they get most of their "water" from the rat or mouse.

[PitOnTheProwl]

Also some wont eat when in shed.

The tongue thing, who knows.

[HighVoltageRoyals]

Could you possibly post some pictures of this guy and get a weight on him? If he's as skinny as you say he is, that's a problem..

As far as the other problems, those are textbook signs of him being stressed, especially since he is in shed; give him a good week or two before handling him. The tongue thing is a little weird; when you tried to feed him, he didn't flick his tongue out at all? if you haven't tried to feed him yet, let us know if his tongue flicks or not when you put his meal in with him. Again, I think you should wait a week or two before getting super worried.

[RestlessRobie]

He wasn't in transit the whole time, they just didn't ship until Thursday. What do you think about the No drinking, No tongue, and the feeding thing? I think I listed all of that above? Sorry I'm just trying to get to the bottom of this.
Thank You

He is prolly still in fight or flight mode when they are stressed they go into what is called FIGHT OR FLIGHT he is trying to decideif he needs to defend himself of flee I would definatley leave him as alone as possible for at least 5 but more like 7 days only do you routine cleaning and water change make him feel as secure as possible then slowly start handeling after he eats for you at least once. Make sure to check out the links offered above and keep us informed. One of my snakes took almost 2 weeks to settle in he had no tongue and very little movement during the day and would roam all night long. Once he settles in he was great so just give the little guy some time

[snake lab]

Leave it alone to acclimate. I wouldnt offer food for a week. Stress will cause a number of false symptoms. Make sure you have good temps, a hide, water and leave it alone. After a week start slowly with introducing it to its new life.