Old age or what?

Hello, I'm new to the site and could use some help. I have 2 male ball pythons approx. 4 ft long each. My son moved out and left them behind so now I am attempting to care for them. I have been caring for the for about 3 months. One eats on a regular basis and appears to be healthy. The one I need help with has not eaten since I have been caring for him. He has shed twice and is very active . He has even escaped the cage twice! I have recently noticed that some of his usual brown spots are starting to turn white in areas. I have seen no evidence of infections or mites, as all the books I have read have mentioned. I can find no information on what an old snake looks like in it's final stages. COuld these white areas be similar to our gray hair?

He and welcome to the site! :handshake: I hope you can find all the help you need here!


I have no idea what "old age" looks like in ball pythons, or in any snake, for that matter. But for a BP to live 20-30 years is not unusual. Did he get them as babies, juvis or adults? Do you have any pictures of the color changes?

Best way to get some help getting him to eat is to describe the set-ups. Are they in separate enclosures? What temps and humidity do you maintain? How do you heat the enclosures and what do you use to monitor temps and humidity? ...and any other details about their homes will help folks know what sort of advice to offer. (If you want advice, that is!)

Hi and :welcome: ! I'm in Marietta, so we're practically neighbors! I'd be happy to help you find vets in the area or anything else that you might need for caring for your two charges!

I'm not sure about the white and age thing. Unless the snake is close to 30 years old - I wouldn't consider him old. ;)

I am very new at this whole snake thing but will do my best to describe the cage and set-up. My son brought them into my home as adults and he had them 5 years. They are both in a large home-made cage of plywood material. The cage measures 4ft high by 4 ft wide by 2 ft on the floor surface. The front is plexiglass, the top is wire mesh and the back is plywood doors. It has 3 separate shelves for basking at various levels in the cage. It also has a large tree branch with limbs to climb on. It is heated with 3 lamps, 2 red and 1 bright light. It also has a heating pad on the floor. There is alot of artifical folage in the cage and the snakes curl up in different areas of this follage or on one of the shelves. It has 2 round heat thermometers one reads around 85 degrees and the other is around 80. I don't see any thing for humidity, but we do use a whole house humidifer in our home. Does that help?

first of all, you want to seperate the snakes as soon as possible and get them into their own smaller enclosures. preferably a tub IMO (http://ball-pythons.net/modules.php?...warticle&id=40). the fasting could be because of the stress of being housed with another snake.

bigger isnt necessarily better with ball pythons, they like to feel secure and a big enclosure often makes them feel vulnerable and out in the open.

i have no idea what the white spots could be though.

check out this caresheet too. its has some great info. http://ball-pythons.net/modules.php?...warticle&id=52