I need some help, ASAP. Please

I have a female '10 ball python and it's been having a really tough time shedding. I've tried everything to help it with it's shed and the snake looks absolutely miserable.. I believe it's tail is being cut off of circulation and observed a small sore looking spot. The poor snake, I just had it in a tupperware with some warm water and it was thrashing about inside and I took it out. The skin is still on it's nose and you can see the dead-shed skin lifting as it tries to breathe through its nose.

I'm really distraught about the whole thing it's really making me sad. I love my snakes, this is my second one. The other a 3 year old male who I've never had a problem with. Help me, please. What can I do about the tail. Is this irreversible? Please help me. Please. :'(

Someone, please ;'(

soak it for at least 20 minutes in tepid water.(to the touch it is not cold or hot)
don't worry if it thrashes. just make sure it is not to deep.
after the 20 minutes you can start to help remove the shed.

Well first you can try soaking a small pillow case in some warm water then tie the snake up in it. As the snake tries to find a way out he will move around in the case and it should help it shed. If that don't work just shed it yourself, we do it all the time. Hold him in your hands and gently rub the skin off. Good luck with him. You may need to check the humidity in his enclosure to prevent future problems.

How deep is too deep, I just figured the snake would hold it's head out of the water.Originally I had it deep enough that it would cover the whole body and the snake held it's head out of the water.

Is this okay?

Should I go about putting it back in the water again? and doing as you said even though it was looking really uncomfortable and trashing. Also, could it be uncomfortable in the water because of what I saw on its underbelly ? Sore ?

Water for twenty minutes and pick it up with a towel letting it go through my hands. It's really small.. maybe only a foot long. It eats and all that well just seems to have a tricky time shedding. I don't have a hydrometer to monitor humidity and have it in Aspen shavings which I assume doesn't hold any moisture and therefore is bad?

Please help this poor girl, she looks so uncomfortable.

e: thanks snakeman / fatboy

Follow the directions in this sticky at the top of this particular forum:

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...hed-No-problem.

1 inch deep for a little worm like that.
he is not used to being in the water. he will calm down. after 20 minutes or so, you can try removing the skin with your fingers. if that does not work, you can try a wet towel to help.
to help with the humidity in his tank, cover 80% of the top so the humidity stays in.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by snakeman13

1 inch deep for a little worm like that.
he is not used to being in the water. he will calm down. after 20 minutes or so, you can try removing the skin with your fingers. if that does not work, you can try a wet towel to help.
to help with the humidity in his tank, cover 80% of the top so the humidity stays in.

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I've got it in there now with almost an inch of water, and a towel underneath. Should I be worried about this sore near its tail where it's clearly cutting off circulation and causing physical problems. I intend to do as the guide states, and use a cloth after to let it sling through. God I feel so bad for this snake, it's so depressing. I live in toronto as well, I find it's been dry here with the cold temps. My big boy though he doesn't seem to mind. ;)

"Kraemer" - Male
http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/8610/photo0068q.jpg

http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/5650/photo0061zi.jpg

:welcome: to BP.net...

Once you are finished with the soak and rub, see if you can get a photo of the sore and tail and post it so we can see what it looks like...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Vypyrz

:welcome: to BP.net...

Once you are finished with the soak and rub, see if you can get a photo of the sore and tail and post it so we can see what it looks like...

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I'll do my best. Armed with only a 3MP cell phone camera and poor lighting. Here's what my little female looked like when I got her. Again excuse poor quality.

http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/7530/photo0018e.jpg

If it is a really tight constriction because of the shed, you can with a bit of patience slowly pick the shed off right after a soak when it's really soft.

I've had to do that once. It was very nerve racking, but it was necessary because it was cutting off circulation to the tail tip.

If you decide to try this, soak for a minimum of 10 minutes to soften the shed skin, and be VERY VERY gentle!

Gale

I think it's passed that.. I feel so neglectful right now and I feel terrible. This poor snake. Last night I got about a 5-6 inch section of skin off of her, and got alot of it to begin to peel. The poor snake has to be hurt. I took pictures of her underbelly today and oh man it's just awful.

Please, what's happoening, what do I do?!

http://img602.imageshack.us/img602/5286/photo0072x.jpg
http://img818.imageshack.us/img818/9791/photo0073b.jpg
http://img805.imageshack.us/img805/781/photo0074r.jpg

As I write this I'm soaking her again and intend on picking skin off of her all night again... I just feel terrible, I really do.

Hi,

At the moment I would stop picking at it until the vet has had a look. :(

Just try and keep it dry and clean and put neosporin (without painkiller as that is poisonous for them ) on the rawer parts to try and ward off infection.

Once the vet has had a look I'm sure he will have more thorough instructions.


dr del

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kush

I think it's passed that.. I feel so neglectful right now and I feel terrible. This poor snake. Last night I got about a 5-6 inch section of skin off of her, and got alot of it to begin to peel. The poor snake has to be hurt. I took pictures of her underbelly today and oh man it's just awful.

Please, what's happoening, what do I do?!

http://img602.imageshack.us/img602/5286/photo0072x.jpg
http://img818.imageshack.us/img818/9791/photo0073b.jpg
http://img805.imageshack.us/img805/781/photo0074r.jpg

As I write this I'm soaking her again and intend on picking skin off of her all night again... I just feel terrible, I really do.

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STOP touching the snake.......on top of the way the belly looks it looks to have a prolapsed anus. Go see a VET

Poor thing!

I can't tell from the pictures if it's just shed or might be the start of belly rot. Perhaps a vet visit is in order ?

I've seen some AWFUL sheds mind you, I rescued a female who was so bad of you'd have thought it was her skin peeling and not just shed. It took days of patient and diligent work on my part, not to mention a great deal of patience on her part, but we finally got through it. She's shed beautifully for me since then.

I've read somewhere before you can actually overdo the soaking and cause more problems than you help, but I think I'd keep trying with that one. One of the best things for a nasty shed I have found is about 15 minutes soaking in lukewarm water about an inch deep, preferably in a tub with a lid to keep her in the water. Then get you a good size pillowcase and wet it, then wring it out so it's damp but not dripping. Tie her in the damp pillowcase and if you can set the pillowcase somewhere warm for about an hour. She'll fuss and squirm about in there, and rub most of the softened shed right off trying to escape. It's a lot less stressful for you both if that works.

Keep us updated with her!!

Gale

I would safely say that it has a "prolapsed anus" that you are talking about just by looking, it's not right- I took the snake out of soaking after ten minutes in there and dried her off and just let her get off what skin she could. She sneezes almost too - even.

What could have caused this? I hope it was nothing that I have personally done to the snake. I'll have to do something and make some quick money to afford to take this snake to the vet. What's something like this going to cost? Any ideas? I mean I've always thought I knew what I was doing and have had my other snake for about a year. No problems. :'(

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kush

I would safely say that it has a "prolapsed anus" that you are talking about just by looking, it's not right- I took the snake out of soaking after ten minutes in there and dried her off and just let her get off what skin she could. She sneezes almost too - even.

What could have caused this? I hope it was nothing that I have personally done to the snake. I'll have to do something and make some quick money to afford to take this snake to the vet. What's something like this going to cost? Any ideas? I mean I've always thought I knew what I was doing and have had my other snake for about a year. No problems. :'(

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Vet visits run about $60. That is JUST the visit aka over all inspection of the snake. I don't know what a prolapse would cost and as for the sneezing that might be an RI........

That stuff on her belly looks like scale rot from to much humidity or her soaking in her own feces and urine, or it could be a burn from her sitting on a heat source that is way to hot. The prolapse of her anus could become infected and kill her, or it could dry and rot off, destroying parts of her genitals and her rectum, definitely not good. If you need to sell or pawn something to get the snake help I would do so, because your snake is in immediate need of professional medical attention... I have had to pawn a gun or two before for an emergency vet visit for a few of my snakes, sometimes you just cannot wait for the next paycheck they just need to go right away... It will end up being more than a 100 dollars easy, other than that I cannot tell you how much it will be.

Also if you have heating pads that are not regulated on a rheostat or thermostat that would probably be the cause for her burns, (if that is what they are).

A solution of sugar and a little water can be applied to a prolapsed anus to cause it to shrink, just gently slather on the sugar paste and it will draw water from the swollen anus, hopefully causing the swelling to go down. You will still need to take the snake to the vet though!