"Muscle tone" in ball pythons...?

I see the phrase pop up here and there, but haven't seen it discussed really. I'm not speaking of obesity from overfeeding, but... a ball python who is just held like a blob in hands when out vs. a ball python who is allowed to attempt to climb on a chair, branch, or arm quite often.

Is there such a thing as good/bad muscle tone in ball pythons, depending on how often they climb around on objects/exercise? I thought having a fixed level of strength in snakes was automatically inherent?

yep, when i take out my snakes, it's exercise and exploration time. they'll climb, scurry, periscope, hug, etc. i hope that's a good 15 minute routine every other day or so.

i then wrap them around my arm and let them squeeze. that let's me know that they have some good strength (this and the one on live prey demonstrating it every meal).

i'll worry if i could see skin between scales or if they cannot coil and constrict.

I think discussions of muscle tone on here have little to do with weight and more to do with physical (and possibly neurological??) wellbeing of the snake. Keep in mind that I'm not educated on snake illnesses or anything like that; this is just what I've gathered from reading a lot of threads here.

Imagine if a dog, or rabbit or whatever was suddenly barely able to hold itself up on its legs, and had them weak and wobbly all of a sudden after having been able to stand, sit up, and walk normally. Big warning sign, right? Well snakes are pretty much always on the ground and use a lot fewer muscle groups to move, but same principle. Low muscle tone, as would be seen in an inability or weakened ability to constrict, grip, or move properly, is a red flag in regards to the general health of your snake.

If a BP has low muscle tone, I'm assuming the signs would be as such: trouble constricting prey, holding on to things to climb or otherwise navigate on anything other than flat ground, curling/coiling up as tightly as they should be able to.

If anyone else sees any misinformation in here, please do correct me :)

Ax, I've been giving them "exercise" too, but also weirdly unsure if it would stress them out. Probably just being paranoid though. :P

I guess the question in the first post is... is it even possible for ball pythons to have low muscle tone, unable to constrict prey properly? I assumed that snakes almost have a fixed inherent level of muscle tone/strength. Is intentionally strenuous "exercise" or "practice constricting" even necessary? aka, other than just letting them slither around on the ground and on your arm and such LOL.

How do people even give them exercise?

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Originally Posted by redshepherd

Ax, I've been giving them "exercise" too, but also weirdly unsure if it would stress them out. Probably just being paranoid though. :P

I guess the question in the first post is... is it even possible for ball pythons to have low muscle tone, unable to constrict prey properly? I assumed that snakes almost have a fixed inherent level of muscle tone/strength. Is intentionally strenuous "exercise" or "practice constricting" even necessary? aka, other than just letting them slither around on the ground and on your arm and such LOL.

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Ah I see what you mean! Well I assume that snake muscles work like those of any other animal. That is to say, they can maintain a healthy tone or they could atrophy. Well... By that logic, snakes would also be able to get buff :giggle: maybe that's what those really chunky looking ones have got going on :D

And I doubt exercise is necessary for BPs as they are really not "designed" to do tons of strengthening exercises. They're just meant to sit and hide and sometimes get food/water. I can't imagine it being harmful to challenge them a little for a few seconds, though! Sometimes I get Donuts to curl around my hand/arm just because it's so cute and interesting. Extra cute points for curling her little tail around my finger!!

edit: I always forget to respond to all parts! Anyway, as for letting them wander, periscope, etc., I think that's really more beneficial for their mental stimulation than their physicality. But again I don't see it doing any harm as long as you don't keep them out and moving for excessively long periods of time.

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Originally Posted by SCWood

How do people even give them exercise?

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When mine start to get a little... "fluffy"... I'll cut back on the food and if the weather is good they go outside to move around in the grass for a while.

Keep close to them if they do go out, as not only can they move rather quickly, but in my area I've noticed that the birds of prey (hawks) take a keen interest in them also.

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Originally Posted by SCWood

How do people even give them exercise?

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Climbing on arms and chairs, typical snake stuff other than sitting in a tub or on a hand, basically. :giggle:

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Originally Posted by cristacake

Ah I see what you mean! Well I assume that snake muscles work like those of any other animal. That is to say, they can maintain a healthy tone or they could atrophy. Well... By that logic, snakes would also be able to get buff :giggle: maybe that's what those really chunky looking ones have got going on :D

And I doubt exercise is necessary for BPs as they are really not "designed" to do tons of strengthening exercises. They're just meant to sit and hide and sometimes get food/water. I can't imagine it being harmful to challenge them a little for a few seconds, though! Sometimes I get Donuts to curl around my hand/arm just because it's so cute and interesting. Extra cute points for curling her little tail around my finger!!

edit: I always forget to respond to all parts! Anyway, as for letting them wander, periscope, etc., I think that's really more beneficial for their mental stimulation than their physicality. But again I don't see it doing any harm as long as you don't keep them out and moving for excessively long periods of time.

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Yeah, I figured that too. Well, all we can do is guess, I suppose! :P

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Originally Posted by bcr229

When mine start to get a little... "fluffy"... I'll cut back on the food and if the weather is good they go outside to move around in the grass for a while.

Keep close to them if they do go out, as not only can they move rather quickly, but in my area I've noticed that the birds of prey (hawks) take a keen interest in them also.

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^I have had experience in many hawks immediately taking an interest in small pets outside. :I

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Originally Posted by SCWood

How do people even give them exercise?

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Provide a safe environment for them to explore and climb.


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