Help on health with my BP!

Hey guys.. I'm new.. to the forum and to owning BP's in particular... I'm hoping someone will say I am just overreacting and have a gravid female but here are the partic's on what's going on..
Tank is kept at 80/82 degrees, no breathing or wheezing issues, don't actually know if it's he/she honestly... haven't wanted to pop it to check since I'm a newbie... started in the past couple of days I guess... very noticeable yest. afternoon to evening.. mid body down to tip of tail looks very swollen but solid, no lumps. Sam is VERY cranky and at the end of a shed cycle.. gave him/her a nice long soak yest. and when I ran my hand down around the lower portion of the body I could hear a clicking or popping noise?? Snake moves fluidly and without difficulty but hasn't been using the hidey log for quite awhile.. hasn't fed in one month but obviously that's not my concern here... what the heck is going on?? To get Sam to a vet will prob. be a 2 hr. road trip and at least a few hundred dollars... I'm in a VERY rural area. ANY HELP PLEASE??
Here are some pics too...
http://picasaweb.google.com/11062960...eat=directlink

The pic link doesn't work. What size snake do you have? Why do you believe her to be possibly gravid? When did she/he last poo?

Popping and clicking when you press the swollen section could mean she/he has a blockage or gas inside? Not sure at all. Does it feel like fluid, like muscle, or like hard?

You'll probably end up with being advised that a vet visit will be the best idea since we aren't vets, and diagnosing over the net can be dicey at best, impossible at worst.

First off welcome to BP.net :gj: The over all temp of your tank is low 80's or your hot spot is low 80's? Also, did you try and breed her and that is why you think she may be gravid? How long have you had her?

Welcome to BP.net :), try using photobucket.com to post pics, it's fast an easy.

hey guys....

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo...eat=directlink

hope the link works this time... just cutting and pasting.. I've had Sam for 5 months, first time there have been any probs.. really concerned and have 6 tabs going on different sites to get some answers along with sending an Aquarium Herp. friend some e-mails. Sam is about a foot and a half, don't know current weight.. I do have two BP's and Dean is doing just fine.. have NOT been trying to breed cuz as I said still wasn't sure of sex... didn't think they were anywhere big enough to breed when I got them.. can't be much older than 8 months I think...

Well First the snake is constipated and at this point may need VET care to help on this. Soaking in warm water may help relieve him to poop but may not.

Also the scars look healed over but also from either rodent bites or from constant rubbing on the back on hard surface.

Also you need to get a digital thermometer the stickon ones just read the glass temps, you need the temps to be ground level as thats where they spend 99% of thier time

78-80 cool side and a 88-92 warm side

... oh and to add... center avg. temp is 80/82... one side stays bout 88/90 other side bout 78/80 ... swollen area is soft and smooth.. but just swollen... especially when looking at the very tip of the tail....?????

Quote:

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Originally Posted by missbenzo@yahoo.com

... oh and to add... center avg. temp is 80/82... one side stays bout 88/90 other side bout 78/80 ... swollen area is soft and smooth.. but just swollen... especially when looking at the very tip of the tail....?????

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I just told you the snake is constipated and needs to poop.

yeah the bites are from mouse attack... one of the reasons I take care of them now and fortunately they have healed well.... I do have a digi therm. to check temps at each end.. I just leave the sticky tape one in there to keep a general eye on avg. temp... gonna do another soak and see what happens... so far poops have seemed normal.. ranging from white to brown depending on the color of the mouse... last feed was one month ago so been a lil while for a poop... can it be gas???

sorry bout that... actually hadn't seen your post yet... I was trying to answer previous ones with as much info as I could...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by missbenzo@yahoo.com

yeah the bites are from mouse attack... one of the reasons I take care of them now and fortunately they have healed well.... I do have a digi therm. to check temps at each end.. I just leave the sticky tape one in there to keep a general eye on avg. temp... gonna do another soak and see what happens... so far poops have seemed normal.. ranging from white to brown depending on the color of the mouse... last feed was one month ago so been a lil while for a poop... can it be gas???

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the white your seeing is not poop. Its part of their urates(pee).

Is the feeding once a month your doing or his. Should be offered food ever 5-7 days.

And thats not gas.

the snake looks like it may constipated or have a blockage. i also thing the one spot inthe scar looks like it was pinch and may of damaged the sine it it not a rubbing mark the pic and pattern makes hard to tell. was the scaring there when you got the snake if so had it gone and crapped/passed anythin in your care . if the answers are yes about the scaring and no about going then i personally supect damage to the neverous system ,( quick check it to pintch the tail and if it moves/ acts hurt by yanking it then ther some other reason. ) either way i betting a trip to the vet may be needed...

also never stated if the 2 bp were kept together or not if are them itis possible gravid cause the male willing to breed withing 4-6 months (300+grams in weigth. i heard of people breeding under 1000 gram female which is not save for their health.)


soakign in warm water for aat least 15-20 minute will work it lose possible but no 100% grauntee

I have been offering food every week, week and a half.. most of the time Sam just doesn't want to eat.. didn't eat for the first 2 month I had 'em... Sam and Dean are living separately ....already do have a vet lined up... just very concerned RIGHT NOW ya know...

Im sure till the constipation is taken care of i would hold off on offering food to get him back on good terms.


If your offering f/t offer live or pre kill.

Is there stuck shed on his back end? It looks a little wrinkly after the scar.

A vet visit seems imperative at this point. That's not a gravid look at all.

Second, how did those scars occur? You shouldn't leave a live mouse/rat with a ball python unattended.

Also, I would read the care sheet to this site, and that might also help conditions so this won't happen again, and will probably help with the feeding issue as well.

Good luck, hope it gets better.:please:

Thank you for all the info guys... Sam is having another soak as we speak..
Once again.. yes... mouse bites are old... one of the reasons I have them now.. been trying to find out all I can as I can... I do have a vet lined up but it kills me to think Sam is uncomfortable or in pain right now.. I am in a rural area and the vet immediately available would prob. kill the snake, trust me I have taken a cat with a kidney infection to the guy and it passed away within a 48 hrs. I have been around snakes quite often but never owned till these rescues came from an auction to a friend of mine... Rescues to date are quite numerous but have never included BP's till now... our red-eared slider due to Nashville flood is adorable...

Movement has never seemed to be inhibited or has breathing been noisy or strained... Sam has typically responded well to being handled... grips the hand or arm solidly, has been active and engaged in environment... that's why the past two days have been a little worrying... no probs. till now..