EMERGENCY | My Ball Python's Scales Just Split

They are mice and they are frozen fuzzies. They're defiantly small enough. It wasn't them that popped the stitches it was him coiling his neck so hard around it.

I just joined this website because I'm relatively new to snake keeping (I did my research though). I'm sorry about your ball python. I worry when my own skips a meal, when usually it's nothing to worry about. I'm getting better though. I'm happy you care so much about your animals. I don't know how old you are but for being in school you're very mature. I'm a senior myself, graduating this month. Keep your head up high!

Thank you for saying that. It's little compliments like these that really push me to go on. It means a lot. I'm a freshman in high school.

Any new pictures?

nixon love that you care and won't give up. keep up the great work!

I'll be posting pictures today when I get home. Sorry, I forgot yesterday.

And thank you. All of you play a great role in this, too. I couldn't have made it this far without all the advice.

His stitched area that started opening again... (It looks very wet because this is right after I put ointment on)

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Big gash:

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Smaller gash:

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How could anyone neglect such a cutie?:

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What's his humidity? If he's too dry then the skin will be brittle.

Also what kind of ointment? Over time triple/Neosporin can cause scale damage since it's a petroleum-based product. For long term use I prefer Vetericyn, you can get it at Petco or online at Amazon. It's a water-based gel so it's not goopy and won't cause scales to slough off.

I thought to keep it dry because if it's humid it'll raise the possibility of infection. It's Mupirocin Ointment.

No, he needs humidity. Without it, the wounds will dry out and the skin will thin.

The risk of infection is still smaller than the risk of dry skin cracking further.

He can be kept humid and clean, you just have to be scrupulous about disinfecting his enclosure when he makes a mess.

He's going to be pretty scarred up after this ordeal.

He'll have scars, but those will be scars of survival, and well earned. Keep us posted, and keep up the good work!

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Originally Posted by ECechoHO

*****VERY SAD***** but for me i would treat MY situation like this:: let mother nature take over.. I would get the cleanest area i can find and keep him in there and let mother nature take it....(but that's just me<---lol)

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So keep a snake in an artificial enclosure but when something goes bad let mother nature take over? If your dog broke it's leg would you let mother nature take over and let it stay in pain? This is a ridiculous post. Seems to be the norm from you

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I cleaned out his tank and I still have paper towels as the bedding and I'll spray it regularly. I'll spray him lightly with the bottle to get him some moisture on him. I was instructed to keep him dry but I guess that was only before we started giving him anti-biotics. Thanks, everyone.

I still love how people go after that guy. I was a bit taken aback when he was one of the first posters and it was something as terrible as that. My mom had said something similar to that as she thought 'it was his time' but we have to go through life not believing what some people say. He's ten years old, a normal ball python would have more than thirty more years. He's not going this young when he's been fighting for that long. But, even if he had to go that doesn't mean we don't fight. It's the right thing to take care of a sick animal that is in your possession. If he was a wild snake then it's not my duty to help him but he is my snake and I have to take care of him. No amount of people like that guy is going to stop me.

They had said in a later post that none of their snakes have gotten sick and they're lucky for that because from the sounds of it - he would let them suffer.

Dave is getting stronger by the day and is still eating good. His gashes are on the process of healing and it's only a matter of a long time until his scales can reform. If I had taken their advice from the beginning then Dave would be worse. He wouldn't heal. But since we as a whole care for the health of our animals and are willing to help them then he is going to get the life he deserves. Dave deserves some years of relaxation and relief that he had found people out there who care for him and will do their best to get him to be healthy ball python. I know he dreams of a day where you can't feel his ribs unless you tried real hard. He deserves the rest of my life living in a sanctuary where he doesn't have to worry or struggle. After ten years of battling this is what he needs. Letting mother nature take him is like telling him to give up and there's one thing I learned from Dave - he does not give up.

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Originally Posted by Nixon

I was instructed to keep him dry but I guess that was only before we started giving him anti-biotics.

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You can keep his wounds dry to inhibit the growth of bacteria while still keeping his environment humid and him hydrated.

I agree, keep the enclosure humid but don't spray him. Wounds heal best when they are clean and dry.

I'm glad that he's hanging in there. You should be aware that there is a possibility of long term damage or even a sudden death at some point due to unseen damage to his organs. This doesn't mean giving up on him, but knowing that you're doing everything you can to heal him up but it might not be enough and that wouldn't be your fault!

I hope he heals up and don't sweat the scars. BPs are gangbusters at losing even horrific scars over time. Every time they shed, they lose a bit more of the scar until you won't be able to tell.

I'm doing so. Sadly, paper towels are not the best for moisture. I'll use damn clothes on top of the cage and tinfoil to keep the humidity in.

I know that. He's been fighting for a long time and I'm sure he's taken damage on the inside. Snakes are very good at hiding diseases. He's eating, he's breathing okay, he overall acts like he's healthy if you count out the fact that he's underweight and has spontaneous rupture of the skin. But, with that, Dave is still gaining weight. I've been checking his weight every couple of weeks and he's gained weight even after we've found this disease. So, if there is something going on internally then that's impossible to find figure out by looking. He's showing a lot of signs of being healthy. Which is a good sign because he's healing but he's so durable and he acts like nothing is wrong so there's going to be a lot of hiding with him.

This is an Amazing story!! So much love and care you have given to Dave! You both are amazing and I wish Dave a speedy recovery. Stay positive and caring and things will definitely go well for you in life. :gj:

For those who are wanting an update for Dave:

I don't know if I already posted about it but we finished off Dave's Vitamin C shots. I still give him vitamins with his food and he's still eating good. All of his gashes have scabs on them but as he slithers around and possibly rubs against thing, they peel off a bit but they're still staying on. I'm also just about out of antibiotic cream and it says that it's only supposed to be applied for about 30 days so I think that'll be the only tube. He's going for a check-up today and we'll see what the doctor says.

I am also taking a damp rag and trying to wet the area around his gashes where it is super dry so I can hydrate it a bit better. I'm being careful not to get moisture in his exposed skin but his scales are so dry and cracked that I don't think humidity will be good enough, especially with a paper material meant for cages being the bedding.

I'll note everyone on how the appointment goes.

Get some kitchen sponges from the grocery store. At my local one a four pack is around $2.

Dampen a couple - you don't want them so sopping wet that water is dripping off of them - and put them in a small plastic dish in the enclosure. The dish is to keep the paper substrate from sucking all of the water out of the sponges quickly. As the sponges dry they will help increase the humidity for several hours.

Dave was weighed at the doctor's and he's about 490 so he's gained around 40 grams since we first brought him there. The doctor says he defiantly feels stronger and his scales are less loose than they were before. We asked more about the dryness and he said to not dampen around that area and that it would heal on it's own. I'm unsure who to follow because we have more ointment they gave us to put on so they'll continue drying out. Everyone is saying different things.

You don't want the wound areas to be damp/wet to help keep them from getting infected, but you do want his environment to be humid enough so he doesn't dehydrate and cause the skin to crack further.

All still going well?

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Sorry I have not answered in a while. A lot has been going on.

Yes, all is going well. Actually, he seems thicker. He is also 591 grams now. He has gained almost 200 grams since I have first got him. He's still eating well and acts no different than before. His scabs are turning darker and he'll be shedding very, very soon. His eyes are blue and his scales are graying out. That's going to be tough.

Crossing my fingers for the shed!

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Nixon you are awesome! Keep fighting :)

Hopefully he'll have some nice, pretty new skin after the shed. Good luck!

Just went through this entire post! What a roller coaster ride! Go Nixon Go Dave!! You guys can do this!!! We're all rooting for you!

Pics after he sheds?

Nixon you done an amazing job buddy. You should be so proud of your self, i know i am and I'm sure a whole host of others on here and in your life and who know you feel the same way. Things seem to be going good and i hope you get the outcome you deserve.

I can't thank you guys enough for being so supportive. I will post pictures of him after he sheds. I know all of you guys care about him and I'm so happy to see so many people who care about him. My mom continues to move the appointments because, ahem,

"She's tired."

I wish I had my licence. But, he's still getting the antibiotic cream so that's good.

I thank you guys for rooting for me but I think Dave is the real fighter. He has to deal with shots every week, and for a while every day. He still continues to remain friendly and he keeps his personality even when he's falling sick. He's a pure soldier of a snake and to live ten years without proper care and to see him slowly come out of it brings tears to my eyes. I was so happy when I picked him up and he looked thicker, when he weighed so much more. He's not going to let this bring him down.

I know I still would've helped him but I feel, because of his never-ending goal to continue on with life, to keep going even when he's falling apart - it has swoon me. I think his perseverance rubs off on me because seeing something as sick as him and he still slithers around and acts like a silly nut... it makes me feel like he is so much more worth fighting for. He fights for himself so it makes sense to fight with him and try to do it harder.

Dave deserves all this attention and love. All he wanted was to live like a normal snake, not one that's starved or malnourished. This little guy is getting this wish.

Nixon, I congratulate you. I honestly would have put this animal down. I have been reading this thread, anticipating the worst and have continually been proved wrong. You are proving these animals are tougher than I expected and teaching a old man new things. Good job.

Thank you for saying that. I didn't know what was going to come of him but I did know one thing: He's a fighter. Even when I was so afraid, I didn't feel the worst coming from behind me. My mind was set right then and there to help him. Maybe it has to do that when I got him, only two weeks before his scales split, I said to myself: "I'm going to make this snake healthy and let him live the rest of his life without so much struggle. Of course he has to struggle now. He still has a risk of infection as when he moves, the scabs move and some skin shows. But, I can see the day where I put cypress in that little guy's tank again. Where he slithers around with large scars covering his vulnerable skin. And I'm going to smile at those scars because it'll be obvious what he fought through.

The first owner and my friend's step dad - they underestimated him. Maybe they didn't care for them because they wanted Dave to just give up. That cute little soldier is never giving up. I can still remember seeing him in my friend's house, curled up in the log, and shed from weeks ago everywhere. It's all stuck to the walls. I remember the dry water dish, full of green algae. I remember seeing his feces laying about his cage, never picked up. I remember the day I got him he had regurgitated a rat that he ate that was too big for him. I remember him being called, 'mean.' I could tell when I picked him up for the very first time that I was in for it. He was so skinny. So frail. So small for his age. I wasn't expecting this at all. Dave is not mean. Dave is just shy, hurt, and alone. His life has been simply mistreatment. I remember hearing how he was ten years old and then seeing him like this and thinking, 'if he hasn't given up, then I shouldn't either.'

Ariana, my friend - she still tried to defend him. Her step father says, "it was the other owners" and "it was the mouse that cause his scales to fall weak". No, if he knew how to care for a snake so skinny like that then Dave wouldn't be in chaos. If her step dad took the time to do something for him then he'd be healthier. He knows how to take care of snakes. He just didn't care about him.

I'm glad all of you care. I proved my mom wrong, too. She thought that was it for him.

I'm happy this teaches people things. I know I'll be sharing this experience when it is all over and I'm going to show just how strong a little snake can be. It's a lesson for everyone. And, I wanted to share this out to all of you: I made a poem about Dave a few weeks ago and it'll be posted in the literary magazine at my school. I hope people ask who he was. I never mentioned his name. I want to tell everyone that this creature is simply extraordinary. If any of you want to see it I can post it.

But, again, I'll say it every time: Thank you all for the support. It means a lot and it helps me.

Nixon if more people in the world where like you it would be beautiful place. Hope Dave is doin well today. Keep the fighting spirit you have you will go far

Can't wait to see the fresh shed pictures - thank you for keeping us up to date =) Rooting for Dave always and forever <3 Will be such a wonderful day when you can put cypress in the tank!

Believe me, Dan, I have my flaws, but thank you for the compliment. Knowing that, I'll try my best to stay this way and comments like these motivate me to keep going further for this little snake.

And, his eyes are not blue anymore. He'll be shedding soon and I'll give pictures.

Hope Dave is doin ok

Expect his shed to be pretty bad, especially around the scars. Resist the temptation to help him shed by pulling the old skin off or you could open the wounds up again. Either soak him or rub any stuck areas gently with a warm soft cloth if needed. Also, stuck shed isn't the end of the world as long as the eye caps and tip of the tail are clean.

Update?

I'm finally here. Sorry about the wait.

I literally can't find my camera. I took the picture and I'll post them when I find the thing. I hate how they just disappear.

I'll explain how the shed went. It took him about a week after his eyes had turned back to the normal color to fully shed. I helped him a lot through out with some liquid treatment I have for stuck sheds. I made sure to not get it in the wounds. Not much has happened. He's still eating, I came home one day to a massive pile of poop, and he's still given the ointment and antibiotic shots. Dave is still gaining weight, which is great. He still feels stronger and his scales are mostly shiny from the shed. One of his scabs came off but it's beginning to regrow. Infection never got in.

I also found some four leaf clovers and a five leaf clover. Even if it's just a myth or whatever, I still want to tape it on his cage for luck.

So sorry about the wait. Hopefully I can find my camera, too.

under the bed? Between the bed and the wall? in the closet?

:D

We need to lo jack that camera!!

I found it but the stupid thing won't co- *gasp* It connected. Maybe punching it did work.

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Wow Dave is officially the hardest Bastard I know. So glad he gaining weight and getting stronger. I feel the worst is over and it's now a healing process. I just don't have a clue how long that will be. You keep doin what you doin coz you doin an amazing job.

He is very strong and I will keep fighting with him.

Also, my youngest ball python got himself stuck and we had to cut open the decoration he was in to get him out. He's such an idiot sometimes. That's why I love him.

Wow, Dave is a helluva fighter, and so are you. Keep up the good work, and the updates and photos!

Wow, he's gonna have some epic scars! Good story telling ;). But at least his skin looks firmly attached now. Way to go, both of you! :cool:

Oh. Wow. Those look gnarly. Definitely look like they're healing though. They're starting to look like my Basilisk's wound when it started healing up. Good job

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ECechoHO

Young lady if i'm such a horrible snake/pet owner then why is it that none of my snakes have EVER had any health problems, this forum seems to be ego driven....

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Um because you don't have to have decent morals to have healthy pets. Would you have your same logic with say, a dog or cat? The difference here is that these are most likely captive-bred snakes who have never set foot in the wild. It would he more inhumane to "let nature take him" because of this than it would if he'd been caught in the wild. When your animals get sick do you just leave them to rot in isolation? That's what it sounds like. If you somehow managed to have never owned a sick animal, kudos to you. Even the best pet owners aren't that lucky.

ECechoHO lost this fight a long time ago. So did I for that matter. I really did not think this animal would make it and I thought it should be put down. I was wrong. Nixon did an awesome job. This is the first time I have ever heard of that a snake actually survived this disease.