Accidental overdose?

Hello! I just got my first bp a couple of days ago and the person I got him from insisted that I put a dechlorinator in the water so I did, however the dechlorinator is very concentrated and I saw my bp drink the water the first day, now he barely moves when before he drank that water he was very curious and moving about the tank. Now he just sleeps all day, is he ok?? Thanks!

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Originally Posted by Eversolulu

Hello! I just got my first bp a couple of days ago and the person I got him from insisted that I put a dechlorinator in the water so I did, however the dechlorinator is very concentrated and I saw my bp drink the water the first day, now he barely moves when before he drank that water he was very curious and moving about the tank. Now he just sleeps all day, is he ok?? Thanks!

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I would suggest taking him to the vet ASAP! And you don't need to put dechlorinator in the water.

Also keep in mind Snakes are nocturnal so if he is sleeping in the day its normal.

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Originally Posted by Eversolulu

Hello! I just got my first bp a couple of days ago and the person I got him from insisted that I put a dechlorinator in the water so I did, however the dechlorinator is very concentrated and I saw my bp drink the water the first day, now he barely moves when before he drank that water he was very curious and moving about the tank. Now he just sleeps all day, is he ok?? Thanks!

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What brand of dechlorinator?

1. Get him to a reptile veterinarian, now.
2. DON'T use any dechlorinator.
3. Ball pythons can drink tap water just fine.

Hope this helps...

It's topfin tap water dechlorinator, taking him to vet today

If you're real worried about the tap water, fill a gallon jug and let it set for a couple days and that can take the edge out of it so to speak. I also do that when watering plants so the PH levels out also.

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Originally Posted by kane_abel

If you're real worried about the tap water, fill a gallon jug and let it set for a couple days and that can take the edge out of it so to speak. I also do that when watering plants so the PH levels out also.

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Chlorine evaporates in under 24 hours, so that's what I do to dechlorinate water. :)

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"Now he just sleeps all day"

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Ball pythons are nocturnal.
That means they sleep all day and are awake all night.
Ball pythons drink muddy water from puddles in the wilds of Western Africa. I'm sure (chlorinated) tap water ain't gonna kill him.

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Originally Posted by Sadistic Serpent

1. Get him to a reptile veterinarian, now.
2. DON'T use any dechlorinator.
3. Ball pythons can drink tap water just fine.

Hope this helps...

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What the antidote for an antidote?

The main ingredients of Topfin Dechlorinator are Sodium Thiosulfate and Sodium Carbonate.

http://secure.sciencecompany.com/Sod...P6376C670.aspx

Pay attention to the last line...............

Additionally Sodium Thiosulfate is used to counteract cyanide poisoning - even in reptiles.

A number of years ago, one of our hermann's tortoises ate a bunch of fallen cherries (and their seeds) and got cyanide toxicosis. He was treated with - you guessed it - sodium thiosulfate.

If you want to take him to the vet - fine. Let us know what the vet says...........

Give him fresh, clean water from the tap.

It sort of sounds like your ball python is now used to his new environment, and is no longer stressed out and roaming around abnormally.

They aren't usually very active animals.

So, his hanging out in his hide all day is a good sign. It's what he is supposed to be doing. Now you can try offering him food.

So the vet said he's going to be just fine! The dechlorinator didn't do any damage. And after the visit he was perky again wandering around his tank, thanks for all of your help!

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Originally Posted by Eversolulu

So the vet said he's going to be just fine! The dechlorinator didn't do any damage. And after the visit he was perky again wandering around his tank, thanks for all of your help!

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Thats great! I'm glad he is doing okay. Don't worry about putting dechlorinator in the water. But if you wan't to feel safe go to the grocery store and you can buy purified water for like $1 a gallon or get a Britta Filter and do it yourself. Its not required but if you wan't you can do it.

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Originally Posted by Eversolulu

So the vet said he's going to be just fine! The dechlorinator didn't do any damage. And after the visit he was perky again wandering around his tank, thanks for all of your help!

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How much did the vet charge you?

Well he said since there's nothing really wrong with my bp and my aunt has been going to him for years he charged twenty bucks. Definitely worth it for the feeling of reassurance.

I've been using a dechlorinator for the last 8 months for the water for all of my snakes. Am I in the minority? It just made sense to me.

As long as you follow the instructions on the dechlorinator then you wont be able to poison your snake with it, the stuff dissipates very quickly in the water anyway. A few drops per gallon is all you need to use, and hell it sure couldnt hurt the snake to drink less chlorine, which is the same stuff you put in your pool and the same stuff they gassed the trenches with in WWI (Mustard Gas). Chlorine can be really caustic stuff, chlorine is the same stuff as bleach, bleach=chlorine. On the other hand, if you dont have chlorine in your snake water, bacteria will grow that much faster in it, especially in a nice and warm snake tank. That said I dont think there is that big a difference between using chlorinated water or not, however I personally just use reverse osmosis filtered water for my snakes, I get it down at the water store on the corner, this is the same stuff I drink, if I wont drink tap why should the snakes that I love have to?

I use bottled water or boil my tap water in a pinch then let it come down to room temp. Dont now if this is right but it works for me. Hope he is doing better

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Originally Posted by WingedWolfPsion

Give him fresh, clean water from the tap.

It sort of sounds like your ball python is now used to his new environment, and is no longer stressed out and roaming around abnormally.

They aren't usually very active animals.

So, his hanging out in his hide all day is a good sign. It's what he is supposed to be doing. Now you can try offering him food.

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Exactly, when you first got your BP he was trying to figure out his environment and was very active. Once he starts to feel conformable he will start to spend most of his day time sleeping like a normal BP.

I would also recommend trying to feed him. If you BP is eating and shedding in one piece that usually means you have a healthy BP.

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Originally Posted by vjb

I've been using a dechlorinator for the last 8 months for the water for all of my snakes. Am I in the minority? It just made sense to me.

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It's not going to hurt and it's incredibly difficult to overdose on the stuff.

On the oother hand, chlorine is not really an issue. It dissipates very rapidly when exposed to oxygen and the levels present in tap water are safe for animals to drink.

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Originally Posted by Ham

As long as you follow the instructions on the dechlorinator then you wont be able to poison your snake with it, the stuff dissipates very quickly in the water anyway. A few drops per gallon is all you need to use, and hell it sure couldnt hurt the snake to drink less chlorine, which is the same stuff you put in your pool and the same stuff they gassed the trenches with in WWI (Mustard Gas). Chlorine can be really caustic stuff, chlorine is the same stuff as bleach, bleach=chlorine. On the other hand, if you dont have chlorine in your snake water, bacteria will grow that much faster in it, especially in a nice and warm snake tank. That said I dont think there is that big a difference between using chlorinated water or not, however I personally just use reverse osmosis filtered water for my snakes, I get it down at the water store on the corner, this is the same stuff I drink, if I wont drink tap why should the snakes that I love have to?

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Mustard Gas is NOT Chlorine. Bleach (sodium hypochlorite) is also not the same thing as chlorine.

Mustard Gas = (ClCH2CH2)2S
Chlorine= Cl
;)

Ok I stand corrected then, my mistake, I could of swore mustard gas was a chlorine gas. And I thought bleach was chlorine too, man I feel retarded...

Thanks for the info!

That was a terrible tangent for me to get into anyway with that previous post, what I was really trying to say was that chlorinated water or not, its not gonna hurt your snake...

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Originally Posted by Ham

Ok I stand corrected then, my mistake, I could of swore mustard gas was a chlorine gas. And I thought bleach was chlorine too, man I feel retarded...

Thanks for the info!

That was a terrible tangent for me to get into anyway with that previous post, what I was really trying to say was that chlorinated water or not, its not gonna hurt your snake...

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They both have chlorine in them :) so you aren't COMPLETELY wrong, lol!

Yes! Finally someone admits I am not a complete tard!~

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Originally Posted by Ham

Yes! Finally someone admits I am not a complete tard!~

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lol its cool :) we all have those duur moments. I have them all the time.

If the water is alright for you to drink I would think its ok for the snake:8:

So good news! He ate for me yesterday :) but my question now is that my bp is captive hatched, is his demeanor going to be different from captive bred babies? Thanks again for everyones help!