Is my ball sick? Please help :(

My ball python has been having what looks like diarrhea and leaving marks of it on the sides of his cage. This has happened twice, both times it happened a few days after being fed. He is eating regularly and seems to be healthy other then the diarrhea and the fact that he hasn't shed in 2 months. Should I be concerned? Should I take him to a vet?

Excellent question. I don't know the answer, but I hope someone here can help you soon.

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Originally Posted by markieskye

My ball python has been having what looks like diarrhea and leaving marks of it on the sides of his cage. This has happened twice, both times it happened a few days after being fed. He is eating regularly and seems to be healthy other then the diarrhea and the fact that he hasn't shed in 2 months. Should I be concerned? Should I take him to a vet?

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I don't know what's wrong with him, but if he's not having healthy poops, he needs to go see the vet. Whenever there is a symptom like that, any animal should be brought to the vet, whether or not they are a snake. So call up your vet, schedule that appointment, and let us know how it goes!

What has he been eating?

a test for internal parasites by getting a poop sample analyzed may be in order.

but then, im no expert.

Thanks everyone for your help, he has been eating pinky rats once a week. He is less than a year old.

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Originally Posted by markieskye

Thanks everyone for your help, he has been eating pinky rats once a week. He is less than a year old.

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Pinky rats are not an appropriated prey for your BP, even an hatchling usually gets started on rat crawler moving quickly to larger preys, you are underfeeding your animal this can explain the diarrhea and definitely explain the lack of growing and shedding.

You need to feed a prey that is equal to it's girth size. (largest part of your BP's body.

I would also check your temps and make sure you've done some good research on BP care. Keep us posted.

Rob