I have No clue what is happening to my Ball Python. PLEASE HELP!

I have a ball python I got back in July, she did fine for about a month, but she will not take to feeding at all, shes never taken to her food, no matter what, and she got cut by her bedding around 3 weeks ago, I put medication on it and watched it, it had fluid coming out of it so I figured, okay shes relieving pressure, but then her skin started to get loose and a pouch of skin seemed to have fluid in it. and she refuses to stay in water for any longer than around a minute or so, and it's back under her rock, I thought she was shedding and brought her to our local PetSmart (there aren't very many reptile pros around my area) they said just to leave her alone for a while and see what happens, so thats what I've been doing, I've left her red light on for a while because she seemed to come out more during the night. (I went to petsmart about 2 weeks ago) last week I took her out to feed her and she looked about the same, I took her out to feed her today, and she looks horrible, her skin is loose but not shedding, her eyes are possibly hinting at cloudyness, but she seemed very dehydrated, but the sack on her side got bigger, it seems to be filled with fluids, is this normal? what do I do!?

Pictures, and detailed description of your setup would be extremely helpful....

Quote:

---

it seems to be filled with fluids, is this normal? what do I do!?

---

No it's not normal, what you do is that you take it to a HERP vet for a health assessment.

Once that is done and the animal is healthy again husbandry will likely need to be adressed to solve your feeding issue.

Keep in mind no one here will diagnose your snake we can play the guessing game but what this animal really needs is a vet.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Deborah

No it's not normal, what you do is that you take it to a HERP vet for a health assessment.

Once that is done and the animal is healthy again husbandry will likely need to be adressed to solve your feeding issue.

Keep in mind no one here will diagnose your snake we can play the guessing game but what this animal really needs is a vet.

---

I understand I just thought maybe you had a few tips or something until I can get her to a vet.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by LGray23

Pictures, and detailed description of your setup would be extremely helpful....

---

I'll get a picture up of it in a second it's approx. a 12.5 gal. hexagon tank

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CalebMatt7

I'll get a picture up of it in a second it's approx. a 12.5 gal. hexagon tank

---

That's already not good. I really think you need to take him/her to a herp vet like ASAP...and then come back hereto fix all the husbandry problems.

If your substrate is not paper towel or newspaper make the switch to one or the other now, make sure it remains clean and dry.

Do not let your BP soak in his water bowl if it is a possibility.

Limit stress, no handling unless necessary.

Make sure the vet you are picking is really experienced with reptiles best way to do so is by finding a vet in your area using this site http://www.arav.org/ECOMARAV/timssne...t_mdsearch.cfm

The bottom half of her body is extremely dry and flaking as if she is trying to shed, but shes bleeding as well.

Is she burnt?? Do you use a UTH??? If she's bleeding you need a vet bad!

http://s477.photobucket.com/albums/r...t=100_0046.jpg

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by LGray23

That's already not good. I really think you need to take him/her to a herp vet like ASAP...and then come back hereto fix all the husbandry problems.

---

http://s477.photobucket.com/albums/r...t=100_0046.jpg Tank <--

http://s477.photobucket.com/albums/r...t=100_0047.jpg one of the sacks, i dont know if you can see it well.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CalebMatt7

http://s477.photobucket.com/albums/r...t=100_0046.jpg

http://s477.photobucket.com/albums/r...t=100_0046.jpg Tank <--

http://s477.photobucket.com/albums/r...t=100_0047.jpg one of the sacks, i dont know if you can see it well.

---

http://s477.photobucket.com/albums/r...t=100_0046.jpg

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by LGray23

Is she burnt?? Do you use a UTH??? If she's bleeding you need a vet bad!

---

not burnt no, I'm actually a first time snake handler, so I don't know what UTH stands for...

UTH is under tank heater and this kinda looks like a burn to me get your BP to A HERP VET NOW. Then from the looks of the tank you need some Husbandry help. So ge the little guy healthy and then ask for the help with your setup:gj:
Robie

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by RestlessRobie

UTH is under tank heater and this kinda looks like a burn to me get your BP to A HERP VET NOW. Then from the looks of the tank you need some Husbandry help. So ge the little guy healthy and then ask for the help with your setup:gj:
Robie

---

Oh, no I don't, I think one problem is she isn't getting enough humidity, and I can't find a snake vet anywhere in my area. But as I said, her skin is extremely dry on her bottom half and flaking, I believe she may be shedding and having difficulties, saying it's her first time shedding.

This is one seriously unhealthy animal.

First and foremost, you have to change the bedding from what you have to paper towels. Even if the bedding wasn't causing the problem, it's going to make that infected cut worse.

Is it pine bedding? It looks like it might be. Pine bedding is extremely harmful to reptiles and it could be a major factor in your problem.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ash

This is one seriously unhealthy animal.

First and foremost, you have to change the bedding from what you have to paper towels. Even if the bedding wasn't causing the problem, it's going to make that infected cut worse.

Is it pine bedding? It looks like it might be. Pine bedding is extremely harmful to reptiles and it could be a major factor in your problem.

---

Can I use newspapers instead?

Yes, you can use newspaper instead of the paper towels. Either one works fine. I also think you should take your BP to a vet. I'll see if I can find any near where you live.

Edit: Location isn't in profile. I'd move the snake out of the tank and put him/her into a quarantine type setup, usually a plastic tub (with holes), paper towels (or newspaper), and a water bowl. Try to find a breeder in your area, they might also be able to help, or at least diagnose your problem.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by apple2

Yes, you can use newspaper instead of the paper towels. Either one works fine. I also think you should take your BP to a vet. I'll see if I can find any near where you live.

---

Thank you.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by apple2

Yes, you can use newspaper instead of the paper towels. Either one works fine. I also think you should take your BP to a vet. I'll see if I can find any near where you live.

Edit: Location isn't in profile. I'd move the snake out of the tank and put him/her into a quarantine type setup, usually a plastic tub (with holes), paper towels (or newspaper), and a water bowl. Try to find a breeder in your area, they might also be able to help, or at least diagnose your problem.

---

I PM'ed you my location, I haven't filled my accnt info out yet, I apoligize

Here are some links to different reptile vets around the US and Canada. I think there are also some international vets on a few of them.

http://www.herpcenter.com/reptile-vet-finder/

http://herpvetconnection.com/

http://www.reptileveterinarians.com/

See if you can find one nearby there.

Apple2

More refined to your area, try giving a few of them a call and see if they do reptiles.

http://www.local.com/results/?keywor...ce%252C%2520sc

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by apple2

Here are some links to different reptile vets around the US and Canada. I think there are also some international vets on a few of them.

http://www.herpcenter.com/reptile-vet-finder/

http://herpvetconnection.com/

http://www.reptileveterinarians.com/

See if you can find one nearby there.

Apple2

---

I found one about ab hour away from where I live, I'll give them a call ASAP

If they are an "Animal Hospital", they should be open 24hrs. It's 11:30, so most vets won't be open. If the white light lamp wasn't just for the photo, I'd take it down. It can overheat the BP and cause even more problems. Until your snake gets better, I'd also recommend not trying to feed, as it can make it harder to get them started in the long run. Also, the snake shouldn't be having a first shed problem, as it should have shed before a couple of weeks after hatching.

Good luck finding a close by vet, I hope you are able to get her the treatment she needs.

In the meantime if you haven't already I recommend checking out the BP.net caresheet here:
Ball Pythons.net Caresheet
so you can learn about which parts of your husbandry can be improved.

And as others have said get her on paper towels or newspaper asap. If that was pine she was on before (can't tell in the pic if thats pine or aspen) you may as well throw it out as pine is toxic to reptiles.

Poor thing, I hope she gets to a vet soon. :(

Good-ish news, I found out that the fluid sacks are due to the infection in her cut, she is definitely shedding, so she isn't dehydrated. I've switched her to newspaper bedding, she wasn't on pine bedding, it was aspen, but the bedding is where it all started. I'm taking her to the vet either tomorrow or Saturday, depending on my grandmother's health. So the only worry now is infection.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CalebMatt7

Good-ish news, I found out that the fluid sacks are due to the infection in her cut, she is definitely shedding, so she isn't dehydrated. I've switched her to newspaper bedding, she wasn't on pine bedding, it was aspen, but the bedding is where it all started. I'm taking her to the vet either tomorrow or Saturday, depending on my grandmother's health. So the only worry now is infection.

---

How did you find out without taking her to the vet? And she can still be shedding and also be dehydrated. Honestly the picture was too blurry to tell, but it didn't look anything like a normal shed to me. :confused: Glad to hear she's going to the vet soon, though.