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What is this?

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  • 07-01-2019, 03:34 PM
    IslandJack
    What is this?
    Hi all!

    So my son just sent me this picture of one of our ball pythons and I was hoping someone could help in identifying it.

    I plan on taking him to the vet this evening, but was hoping someone could provide me with a bit of insight.

    Thanks!https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...3ba3de8062.jpg

    Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk
  • 07-01-2019, 03:37 PM
    indygunnerguy
    Re: What is this?
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by IslandJack View Post
    Hi all!

    So my son just sent me this picture of one of our ball pythons and I was hoping someone could help in identifying it.

    I plan on taking him to the vet this evening, but was hoping someone could provide me with a bit of insight.

    Thanks!https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...3ba3de8062.jpg

    Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

    Is it near the base of the tail? It may be a spur, which is perfectly normal.

    Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk
  • 07-01-2019, 03:41 PM
    IslandJack
    Re: What is this?
    It does look like a spur. Is it common for it to just appear like that?

    Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk
  • 07-01-2019, 03:42 PM
    Bogertophis
    If you mean that little yellowish thing in the middle of the photo, that appears to be one of two spurs on his ball python...one on either side of his cloaca.

    It's totally normal...not all snakes have spurs (they are the vestigial remains of having evolved from lizards...you're looking at what's left of his thigh bone), but
    of those that do, they are typically more prominent on the males, & in fact when mating the male snakes actually use their spurs to actively to stroke the female
    in an effort to gain her cooperation in mating. In some snakes, both males & females have spurs, so it's not a reliable way to identify the gender. Rosy boas have
    them too, incidentally.

    If you run to the vet with this question, he'll have a good laugh...;) & at your expense.
  • 07-01-2019, 03:44 PM
    IslandJack
    Re: What is this?
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Bogertophis View Post
    If you mean that little yellowish thing in the middle of the photo, that appears to be one of two spurs on his ball python...one on either side of his cloaca.

    It's totally normal...not all snakes have spurs (they are the vestigial remains of having evolved from lizards...you looking at what's left of his thigh bone), but
    of those that do, they are typically more prominent on the males, & in fact when mating the male snakes actually use their spurs to actively to stroke the female
    in an effort to gain her cooperation in mating. In some snakes, both males & females have spurs, so it's not a reliable way to identify the gender. Rosy boas have
    them too, incidentally.

    If you run to the vet with this question, he'll have a good laugh...;) & at your expense.

    Thank you!

    Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk
  • 07-01-2019, 04:08 PM
    Craiga 01453
    Yup, as the others said, it's a spur.
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