Ball Python... Spasming?

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Originally Posted by Hawkshadow

Uhm, I haven't really timed it. I just fed him last night, I can keep an eye out this time. I know he defecated twice last week though. The second time was Friday night, not sure when the first was. I usually feed on Mondays. What are the possible ways of a snake getting an internal parasite?

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Mostly from eating live rodents (from a bad source), before or after you got him. They can take a while to multiply. Some kinds of worms they can pick up
also just by being in the "wrong place" on the ground, usually grass; they are left behind by wildlife or loose pets. There's different kinds of "worms". For
that matter, going barefoot can get us in trouble too.

FYI, the worst case of worms I've seen in a snake was in a wild caught "rescued" rattlesnake removed from a golf course & brought to me. (a temporary resident that
went back out after treatment) I hid a light dose of dewormer in the oral cavity of the dead large mouse I fed him, and about a day later, he defecated a pile that put
me off spaghetti for weeks...:rolleyes: Countless number of live worms crawling away (& not getting very far on paper towels before they dried up & died anyway). I gave him
multiple dosed meals to clean him out. I know some vets want to use stronger meds to get the job done fast, but IMO it's not always safe for the snake.

It makes sense that internal worms would give some nasty cramps, which fits what your snake is doing, & the deworming med. is safe & easy to give for a snake that's
feeding eagerly. Might be worth a try, or ask your (or any) vet.

He kinda looks like he’s over heating, but that’s just my 2 cents. 95 degrees in cold weather, sometimes
the heat works better then usual depending on outside temps and you’re hitting 98, 99 degrees no problem. I would really double check that.

Hmm. I see. Perhaps he does have something.
He's been strictly on FT since I've had him, but perhaps before?
I'll call my vet tomorrow and ask about pricing on that and try to get a fecal done ASAP.
Thank you guys for all the help.
Hoping he's just a weirdo and this is his breeding behavior, but I'll continue to keep an eye on him to see if this worsens or gets better over the next few weeks/months. <3

He looks like he's overheating? How so? What does an overheating snake look like?

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Originally Posted by zina10

Yes, he did exactly that ! But never just on his own in the tub.

He only did it when I touched him or tried to pick him up. Once he did it so wildly he almost threw himself right out of my grip !!! I started calling him a spazz !!

Since your snake is doing that seemingly randomly, it does seem odd.

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Retics & Burms are famous for this too Lucy... they will also arch several feet up the wall, whats going on with this BP idk. Doesn’t seem good.


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Please do keep us in the loop here...I hope he gets well & soon. A fecal shouldn't be that expensive, especially since you've already seen the vet with him- you just collect a fresh sample & drop it off to them. (it's a lot less scary than a real snake, lol...) Don't wait too long to do the fecal...IF this is the problem, the signs he is showing means it's reached the serious level...he needs help.

Make sure he has a gradient. I might have misunderstood but It sounded as you said when your rooms warm it cam be 95 otherwise 80’s and no cooler than 77. He needs 80 at one end and 90 at the other. Not the same temp all over.


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I meant my room stays around 80, lowest I've seen was 77 in the tub he was in prior. He had a heat mat that got one side up to 85/90, maaaaybe 95 if my room got exceptionally hot during the summer. I never actually clocked it at 95, I just meant that was the hottest it would ever possibly be. Sorry for the confusion.

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Originally Posted by Hawkshadow

I meant my room stays around 80, lowest I've seen was 77 in the tub he was in prior. He had a heat mat that got one side up to 85/90, maaaaybe 95 if my room got exceptionally hot during the summer. I never actually clocked it at 95, I just meant that was the hottest it would ever possibly be. Sorry for the confusion.

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Well it seems you understand husbandry so Id start with a New Vet and Blood work up etc.. as any vet that looks at your snakes and doesn’t do any panels is as useless as us just speculating.
Also if he was in a smaller tub than the 40G breeder in a room thats aprox 80 I’m also thinking there wasn’t much of a gradient at all with the UTH.
Best of Luck and get to the Vet. Keep us informed.


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Originally Posted by Hawkshadow

I mean, I sometimes have a Renuzit open or use my wax warmer or light an incense cone. But would that really cause full body spasms?

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Well some are very sensitive so it's a slight possibility I guess ..

I only lightly sprinkled carpet cleaning powder near my Corn snake and she went beserk for a few seconds ..


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I just watched the video and honestly it looks like seizures. I am not an expert on snakes, but I have seen plenty of humans have seizures. He just looks like he has completely lost control and is having spasms for a minute.

I sure hope you get to the bottom of it soon! :(