Should I get x-rays or something?

[dkspftw]

So in trying to get my snake used to handling, I probably took like 20 steps backward.

I've only handled her a couple of times so far as she's new, and she always tries to flee pretty robustly and has to be sort of chased around a bit. I usually put on a mitten liner on one hand because I'm still crazy paranoid about being tagged, and anyway as I started pulling her out of her cage she went bonkers and jetted back into it, landing partially in her water bowl, which freaked the both of us more, and she ended up flopping out of the cage about 30'' onto the floor.

She immediately tried to slither away, and I grabbed her and put her in the cage. I haven't noticed her moving abnormally but she partially went to a hide aside from the one I moved to initially get her out of the cage, and was just looking down angrily at me from up there for a while. The lights are off and I'm not sure if I'd be able to tell if anything is wrong.

Should I bring her to a vet for x-rays or something? I'm hoping to breed her so I both want to make sure she's healthy and that she is not, uh, sterilized by an x-ray. But I assume they've got that figured out by now.

[sho220]

IMO, you're fretting over nothing. A 30 inch drop most likely did nothing but piss her off. Physically she's probably fine. Just keep an eye on her...

[mackynz]

IMO, you're fretting over nothing. A 30 inch drop most likely did nothing but piss her off. Physically she's probably fine. Just keep an eye on her...

x2

But I'm wonder how if she went into the water bowl she flopped out of the cage. BP's can't exactly jump....The only way I can see her flying out is if you were still holding on and flung her.

[Willie76]

I think it's a new morph: The Kangaroo Ball

x3

[Capray]

Lol you sure that's a ball python? Sounds like a big angry garter snake to me... even flighty ones usual just try to bite, I've never seen one that's been trying to slither away.

I wouldn't worry too much about the drop. If you feel her and don't feel gaps along her sides then she's probably fine. Snakes are pretty well-built..

[Poseidon]

Personally I would put her on the ground and play with her tail to get her to move. I would watch very closely, looking for bumps or irregularities in how she moves. You could also put a finger on either side of her body as she moves and grip lightly, and feel the ribs moving. They should all feel uniform.

[kitedemon]

I too would check for normal motion. Breaks often show, they have crazy good muscle control.

You need to be calm when handling. Give her a week or so to adjust to the move and new surroundings. I'd start by not trying to pick her up but just touching her back ( they protect the head and reproductive organs in the tail) then when you both are cool pick her up and sit down and let her do what she wants just prevent her escaping. After some time doing that then pick her up, you will have become used to handling and hopefully she will be calmer.


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[dkspftw]

x2

But I'm wonder how if she went into the water bowl she flopped out of the cage. BP's can't exactly jump....The only way I can see her flying out is if you were still holding on and flung her.

The water bowl is right next to the door of the cage for easy removal and replacement. It's an AP cage with sliding glass. She was half out of the cage when I was trying to grip her, and so only about a third of her made it into the cage. Absolutely this was my fault, though, as I was as freaked out when she shot off and totally butterfingered it. Basically, only the front of her made it into the water bowl and the rest shot out of my hand, slapped into the side of the cage, and flopped onto the floor.

Lol you sure that's a ball python? Sounds like a big angry garter snake to me... even flighty ones usual just try to bite, I've never seen one that's been trying to slither away.

I wouldn't worry too much about the drop. If you feel her and don't feel gaps along her sides then she's probably fine. Snakes are pretty well-built..

I'll keep an eye on her motion and give her a feel up. Normally I wouldn't handle her today as tomorrow is a feeding day.

I too would check for normal motion. Breaks often show, they have crazy good muscle control.

You need to be calm when handling. Give her a week or so to adjust to the move and new surroundings. I'd start by not trying to pick her up but just touching her back ( they protect the head and reproductive organs in the tail) then when you both are cool pick her up and sit down and let her do what she wants just prevent her escaping. After some time doing that then pick her up, you will have become used to handling and hopefully she will be calmer.


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This is absolutely my problem. I'm so damn nervous about it that I make mistakes like this. And it's tough to get them out of their hides (which is stressful for them and me, as I don't want to reach my hand into a hole with teeth, and they don't want to be disturbed). I'm sure I'll calm down when I'm more used to this, but I guess the value of the snakes freaks me out more than the bite even. Half the time my hands are almost shaking. So clearly I'm the one who needs acclimation.

THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR THE RESPONSES. I felt like the biggest dingus on earth when I dropped her.

[sho220]

BP's can't exactly jump....The only way I can see her flying out is if you were still holding on and flung her.

Put two males in with a female during breeding season and you'll see just how crazy a BP can get. I've personally seen bp's jump....and fly...

[kitedemon]

Calm is easier said than done. The first thing to remember ball pythons first instinct is to ball up not to bite. Bites often are feeding errors accidental triggers of feeding response. Rat scent on a hand or something. Bites are not bad often nothing more than a scratch. The frightening part is speed past that it isn't a big deal.

Calm start slow there is no rush for you or her. Reptiles operate on a different pace than us mammals we need to adjust to them. Take your time just be slow and gentle touching at first.


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