something on his eyes!!

[rhema]

This is really freaking me out, and sorry if this sounds dumb cos i hv only started keeping pythons for 4 weeks now.
I noticed 3 days ago that he has something stuck on his left eye. A dust like substance, and he wont let me go close to it to check. Any idea what it can be?
He also seem low on metabolism. normally feed him on sundays and by wednesday or thursday, he will most probably @@@@. Its now friday and 5 days after feeding and he hasnt gone yet. Im worried. Should i be? Am worried he has indigestion or something is wrong
He also seems abit weaker than he normally is, and doesnt ball up when i carry him.
PLease help, thanks...

[doobysnack]

i am not absolutly sure but the thing on his eye could be a eye cap left from a shed thats my GUESS.

[Schlyne]

What are your cage temps and everything? The thing on his eye also sounds like it could be retained eyecap, but it may be something else. If you're really really worried about him, you might be better off getting him to a vet and getting a fecal done to double check for any internal parasites.

[Adam_Wysocki]

I noticed 3 days ago that he has something stuck on his left eye. A dust like substance, and he wont let me go close to it to check. Any idea what it can be?

Could be a "crinkled" eye scale usually caused by an intense dry heat source like a lap. Or it could be a retained eye cap from his last shed. Or it could be a whole host of other things that would be impossible to diagnose without seeing the animal in person.

He also seem low on metabolism.

Well, ball pythons are supposed to have slow metabolisms.

normally feed him on sundays and by wednesday or thursday, he will most probably @@@@. Its now friday and 5 days after feeding and he hasnt gone yet. Im worried. Should i be?

No. Ball pythons can go weeks without moving their bowels.

Am worried he has indigestion or something is wrong

Indigestion is a human condition that isn't applicable to ball pythons.

He also seems abit weaker than he normally is, and doesnt ball up when i carry him.

What are your temps? My guess would be way too low. Make sure you are measuring them with a digital thermometer, those cheap plastic dial things suck! Being an animal that gets it's energy from external heat sources, living in temps that are too low can cause a lack of energy, slowed reflexes, lose of appetite, and eventually severe illness.

Hope this helps.

-adam

[rhema]

not worried abt the temps, cos i am in tropical malaysia. room temperature is always between 25 - 28 celsius..dunno the convertion to fahrenheit. so its almost the same as its natural habitat.
Could this be the 1st signs of shed? i have only had him for 4 weeks, so i dont know if its a retained eye shed, but it only appeared 3 days ago.

thanks guyus, and sorry if my questions r so elimentary

[Adam_Wysocki]

Those temps are too low for a ball python.

In Celsius, your snakes cage should be 27.8 - 28.9 on one end and 33.3 - 34.4 on the other. Make sure your humidity is around 50% - 60%.

At the temps you are keeping him without a hot spot, there is a good chance he is having trouble digesting his food and is likely to get an upper respiratory infection. It also explains why he has become lethargic.

-adam

[rhema]

i use a heat lamp for 8 hours and the rest of the day keep it in room temp of 25- 28 celsius.
what do u mean by heat spot? must it be 32 degrees all day or for parts of the day ? thanks in advance again..

[rhema]

also, could this be the 1st sign of skin shed?

[Adam_Wysocki]

i use a heat lamp for 8 hours and the rest of the day keep it in room temp of 25- 28 celsius.
what do u mean by heat spot? must it be 32 degrees all day or for parts of the day ? thanks in advance again..

In Celsius, your snakes cage should be 27.8 - 28.9 on one end and 33.3 - 34.4 on the other. Make sure your humidity is around 50% - 60%.

24 hours a day.

-adam