Help!!!!

no heat lamps, just a UTH that sits around 90-95.

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Originally Posted by Bundu Boy

What is your habitat like? Do you have a heat lamp? Perhaps too close to lamp caused the initial affected area which was aggravated by having a meal ...:confused:

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Thats the first thing I thought, that looks like a burn to me. I HIGHLY doubt that the skin just ripped but I guess anything is possible...Do you have a lamp, heating pad (UTH) or (god forbid) a heat rock?

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Originally Posted by Little B-Py

no heat lamps, just a UTH that sits around 90-95.

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You beat me to it, how are you measuring that temperature?

ignore my post, I see there is no lamp....:P

I do wonder where that spot on his neck you said you saw came from....?

I have a thermometer with a probe on the bottom glass.

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Originally Posted by snakelover88

If they seem jumpy they should be handled as little as possible until they have completed their shed, and if fed should only be offered small meals. This prevents a large meal from stretching out the delicate new skin and causing injury.
http://snaketracks.com/forum/viewtop...49e2b3d6df8fac

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personally, i think that information is outdated and a load of bull. The new skin is there to fit the now larger snake, and is the whole reason why they shed. Within 30 min-1 hr the scales are dry, with maybe a little bit of their natural oil that seperates the old skin from the new still on them. I feed all 6 of my BP's their normal sized meals (now all small small rats) before, during (in deep blue, not during the actual peeling), and after sheds and I've never had a problem like this.

edit: also, the link provides a caresheet for kenyan sand boas, which is in no way relative to care for Ball Pythons.

So can we rule out the eating thing?

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Originally Posted by Purrrfect9

personally, i think that information is outdated and a load of bull. The new skin is there to fit the now larger snake, and is the whole reason why they shed. Within 30 min-1 hr the scales are dry, with maybe a little bit of their natural oil that seperates the old skin from the new still on them. I feed all 6 of my BP's their normal sized meals (now all small small rats) before, during (in deep blue, not during the actual peeling), and after sheds and I've never had a problem like this.

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Honestly, I've never heard of this. I've fed when they are in blue ( I feed F/T, so if they are hungry, they eat), and right after sheds.

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Originally Posted by Little B-Py

I have to assist feed him because he won't eat by striking.

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Not all snakes have a hard, striking feeding response. Some sort of just pick it up with their mouths and swallow. I'd double check all your husbandry with the care sheets on this site if you're assist feeding him every time because he wont eat himself. Is there another issue he has? was he a premature hatchling? If the husbandry and enclosure is correct, you most likely won't have to assist feed. I'd also consult a breeder about assist feeding techniques and when to implement them since doing it incorrectly can harm your snake.

Perhaps someone with experience on this topic can step in.

As for your original issue in the post, he may have cut himself on something in his enclosure. As with any animal and any vet, if you don't like the vets response to your situation, get a second opinion pronto. For the meanwhile, place him in as sterile of an environment as possible -- paper towel substrate, two clean hides and a water dish that you clean often.

I trust this vet's opinion because he deals with snakes often. The only thing on the care sheet that isn't totally correct is his cold side temps because we live in a cold house right now. I'm also not sure where he would have injured himself because I didn't see anything until he was done feeding.