Male, Female? Is she overweight or just fed? Gravid?

I found this Ball Python outside, having been apparently abandoned next to a tree on a grass island in the middle of my apartment complex's parking lot. I can't quite tell if it's male or female, and I realize that without a proper probing it's impossible to tell, but I'm wondering if anyone has a strong opinion one way or the other? A friend of mine seems to think that this one is female.

Stretched out: http://i.imgur.com/9L29y.jpg

Underside of tail: http://i.imgur.com/VwxCc.jpg

Friend also seems to think it's possible that she's "pregnant" so to speak based on her width. Even if she had recently fed, she shouldn't be that fat around that much of her body.

Unless she's just fat.

Few more photos: http://i.imgur.com/ZGa8W.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/lMuzr.jpg

Congratulations!!
I'm glad that it was found by someone that actually knew what it was, AND had the brains NOT to kill it!!!
As far as male/female is concerned, yes it needs to be probed to be sexed properly. Unless you are quite proficient with probing or "popping" them, these actions are best done by a vet, which it may need to be seen by a vet just for a wellness checkup.
In my limited experience, it looks quite healthy; not fat or gravid, just healthy. Very sad that someone just abandoned it.

Just noticed that you joined today...
Let me be the first to welcome you to the forum!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mikeandsheleen

Congratulations!!
I'm glad that it was found by someone that actually knew what it was, AND had the brains NOT to kill it!!!

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When I walked outside, 3 guys were hanging out their car shining a flashlight at it going "Hey man watch out for the snake! It's huge! It a'int no garden snake its a rattler or boa or something call the police!"

I saw what it was and knew s/he would be relatively harmless. Second Ball python I've had now, though the first was only for a few years and quite a while ago.

Nice find,glad to see it has found a good home :gj:

Sad that someone just left it. But I'm super happy to hear that you picked him/her up and are willing to give it a good home. S/he looks nice and healthy, but I agree that a vet visit would be beneficial.

Welcome to the forum!

Not fat all. Ball pythons have a thicker body frame. It looks fairly healthy. Make sure it's heat and humidity are correct (check the care sheet provided on this site) and thank you for picking it up! :)

Thank goodness it was you and not one of those people yelling to watch out. They probably would have hurt it.

that a real nice looking snake too someone either is an butt hole and didn't care or it got out as they moved
I agree a wellness check might be called for ( since it cold around here and about an hour north west they saying it possibly snowing)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by heathers*bps

Sad that someone just left it. But I'm super happy to hear that you picked him/her up and are willing to give it a good home. S/he looks nice and healthy, but I agree that a vet visit would be beneficial.

Welcome to the forum!

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I agree a vet visit to a vet experienced with exotics is in order to check the mouth and do a culture just to be sure it doesn't have an RI. Since you don't know how long it was out or what kind of husbandry it was previously kept in, you want to rule out respiratory infection. If left unchecked they can get pretty bad and become life threatening.

I agree, s/he is not fat or gravid just healthy. Glad you found it and not somebody else. People really need to be educated about ball pythons. Take a look at a care sheet. And lastly welcome to BP.net, good luck and hope to see more posts from you :D

In case anyone is interested I put up a webcam feed of the snake

http://maholand.dyndns.org:8081/

Not sure if it'll be a permanent thing or anything, but it's up and the quality isn't half terrible :)