Baby ball python acting/looking weird. Please help.

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Originally Posted by AdrianAlexander

I'm a little noobish myself, and I've only read good things about soaking a ball python after a bad shed, etc. It's a bit of a desperate situation and worth bringing up any possible help, what little we can do at this time. I also highly doubt this is a dehydration issue so much as it's a neurological one. He looks super skinny.

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If he's being fed pinkies once every couple weeks, or even once every 5 days, that would reflect how thin he is. That is not nearly enough food. I don't think it is neurological - being flipped on its back like that is usually a sign it is on its way out. They pass away while on their back.

That was my thought, too. =/ Yeah, pinkies are nothing to a snake that size. Petco doesn't have the best reputation of taking good care of their snakes and probably recommended pinkies.

Besides death/dying, belly up/exposed is a sign of being too hot in my experience.

What are your temps? That pink belly concerns me if he's not in the blue.

If you have an under tank heater (UTH) that is not regulated, unplug immediately!

Do you have a temp gun to accurately measure temps?

IF heat is the issue, this is one of the few times a soak can help, IF the water is cool to cold. This will suck the excess heat out of him. Water is about the best temperature delivery medium.

Sure hope he's not too far gone.

I once experienced something like this with a baby ball I brought home. IMO, mine died frm IBD.

This ball python is in critical condition! I think you should definitely take him to a herp vet but how long have you had him? Petco usually has a 30 day guarantee on animals that can be returned if they are unhealthy. They need to be alerted about this. I can't believe he was sold being so emaciated. Time is of the essence right now. Soaking is a appropriate measure for this animal but water should be about 80.0f and the water level should only cover his ventral scales. Ball pythons do absorb water through the cloaca. Probably would be a good idea to mix 50% pedialite solution at the same temperature. However in this case you have to be sure to keep his head above water bc he doesn't seem strong enough to hold himself up. Wow! Good luck and I hope he can bounce back.

Ok, I see the time is three weeks. Then Petco's guarantee should still be valid. Do you have all the paperwork? Receipt and such? They need to be informed ASAP !!

That has a weird look. It may not be IBD, but my first thought when I saw those pics was that I hope he hasn't been near any other snakes you might own... Regardless, I'm sorry you ended up with in this situation.

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Originally Posted by Albert Clark

This ball python is in critical condition! I think you should definitely take him to a herp vet but how long have you had him? Petco usually has a 30 day guarantee on animals that can be returned if they are unhealthy. They need to be alerted about this. I can't believe he was sold being so emaciated. Time is of the essence right now. Soaking is a appropriate measure for this animal but water should be about 80.0f and the water level should only cover his ventral scales. Ball pythons do absorb water through the cloaca. Probably would be a good idea to mix 50% pedialite solution at the same temperature. However in this case you have to be sure to keep his head above water bc he doesn't seem strong enough to hold himself up. Wow! Good luck and I hope he can bounce back.

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You would be surprised how they sell snakes! My cousin's bf got a lil bp from petsmart. My aunt called me and said he had questions. I came and looked at the lil thing asked how much they fed her he said they told him one mouse pinkie a week. I facepalmed so hard I went dizzy.

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Originally Posted by Spot

You would be surprised how they sell snakes! My cousin's bf got a lil bp from petsmart. My aunt called me and said he had questions. I came and looked at the lil thing asked how much they fed her he said they told him one mouse pinkie a week. I facepalmed so hard I went dizzy.

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Yeah Spot, I guess so. I purchased one of my ball pythons from Petco about 2.5 years ago. A normal female who I was able to view in the enclosure at the store and then hold in my hands a short time later. She was a very healthy hatchling with good weight and clear eyes, alert with constantly flicking tongue. No mites! Checked her out pretty thoroughly and then purchased her. Never looked back. She actually took a meal 2 nights later and is the biggest python in my rack today at 1965gms. I think I just went into Petco with a scrutinizing eye and refused to accept anything less.

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Originally Posted by Spot

You would be surprised how they sell snakes! My cousin's bf got a lil bp from petsmart. My aunt called me and said he had questions. I came and looked at the lil thing asked how much they fed her he said they told him one mouse pinkie a week. I facepalmed so hard I went dizzy.

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I'm not surprised at all. I will also never shop there again as many people have purchased snakes from them, been given not just incorrect but in many cases flat-out wrong information, which resulted in a large vet bill at best or a dead snake at worst. There have been plenty of people who have complained to corporate and attempted to get the store to update it's care sheets to remove the wrong/bad information, but to no avail.