ball python cloaca dragging

[mebigbadbrat]

Hi everyone. I was wondering if cloaca dragging is a normal sign in young ball pythons? I have a new little normal unsexed who is doing that. He cage set up is perfect. He is in an AP T10 cage with a divider. The cage above this baby is my big normal female and albino boy. This one is maybe 315 grams. I have yet to sex him as I want to leave him alone to settle in. I am going Saturday to have him sexed by a breeder friend.

Ideas?
Nichole

[BHReptiles]

Hi everyone. I was wondering if cloaca dragging is a normal sign in young ball pythons? I have a new little normal unsexed who is doing that. He cage set up is perfect. He is in an AP T10 cage with a divider. The cage above this baby is my big normal female and albino boy. This one is maybe 315 grams. I have yet to sex him as I want to leave him alone to settle in. I am going Saturday to have him sexed by a breeder friend.

Ideas?
Nichole

Do you have a picture? It's hard to tell what's going on without one.

Also, have you quarantined your new arrival? If I remember correctly, this is the one from the petshop? Those snakes can have mites, RI, or other illness that can spread to your other snakes. Consider moving him into another room for a few months.

[mebigbadbrat]

He is from a pet shop. I can only have him in the same room at the moment, which sucks for quarantining but I live at home currently with no one wanting to share a small spot for him.

I have seen him do it twice, but then a few hours later he had a BM so maybe that is why? Could be stress too from moving. I keep eyeball checking on him. So far he seems really healthy though. I am still being very careful but he breathes normally. No marks and no mites that I can see but I treated him any ways to be safe then went and treated my other two cause they are all in the same room to be double safe! =) Don't want any sickies.

I can try to get a picture if he does it again. I read online that he maybe musking but I didn't know BP musk. Guess they do it at any age from what I read.

Thanks
Nichole

[BHReptiles]

He may have been getting ready to pass a urate or poop. Just keep an eye on it.

What are you using to treat mites? You might consider getting PAM (Prevent-A-Mite) online and treating all your enclosures just to be safe. That stuff works the best. And, it's not bad to have around in case you have an outbreak later.

Just keep an eye on him for bubbles, mucus, whistling, etc. If he has the start of a RI, make sure he goes to the vet and gets treated ASAP to reduce your risk of passing it onto your other snakes. Also, just do simple things like washing your hands before/after handling any of your snakes, use separate feeding tongs, etc. Just try to keep things as clean as possible and hope he doesn't have anything contagious.

[mebigbadbrat]

I have Prevent a Mite and Reptile relief just to be safe.

I have done all you said about washing and watching him. He left me tons of poop. =l "thanks for adopting me. here is a present." lol

Nichole

[BHReptiles]

Sounds like you are well prepared. Good luck!