I'm in over my head

I bought a ball python off CL on Thursday. I immediately realized she was sick and took her to the vet yesterday. She has a resp infection and the vet sent me home with some shots to give her (Baytril). Vet said it was very poorly taken care of, its eyes are wrinkled. This is my first snake. Ok, if that's not bad enough. Vet said she is gravid and near term. Well, she laid 3 eggs this morning.

So now, I'm a new snake owner with eggs and I have to take her off her eggs to give her daily shots.

2 of the eggs appear viable. One doesn't, but I've never seen snake eggs before (the one in question is half yellow, not bright white like the others). Her warm side of the cage is about 87 degrees (3 inches from bottom of the cage) with a heating pad underneath and a heat lamp on top, humidity 75%. I'm debating on whether to let her incubate or take them out and do it myself with the vermiculite.

Any advice for a total newbie with this much going on? (And believe me, I know I messed up buying this snake). I got her off the eggs and gave her a shot about an hour ago, so I'm feeling a little better about that part. (this was huge for me, since I have never handled such a large snake)

Where do you live? Perhaps a member nearby who has an incubator could take the eggs in for you and hatch them for you.

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Originally Posted by Mike41793

Where do you live? Perhaps a member nearby who has an incubator could take the eggs in for you and hatch them for you.

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Southern Middle Tn. Close to winchester :)

i would throw out the smaller, yellowy egg, that sounds like a slug / like an infertile egg. These can only rot, and maybe harm the other eggs.


Yes, finding a local breeder that has an incubator in operation might be the best idea. If you dont plan on breeding and only have this one BP and these two eggs, building / getting an incubator may be a bit much to ask for. Doing it naturally by trying to get the area of the enclosure where the eggs are to the right temperature and humidity is also an option.

oh, and pictures always help a lot.

Wow :O! How irresponsible of the person selling you this snake! Good luck and let us know how it goes for mother and babies!

http://i1058.photobucket.com/albums/...psafb5f30f.jpg

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Originally Posted by FroggyCrazy

Wow :O! How irresponsible of the person selling you this snake! Good luck and let us know how it goes for mother and babies!

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http://i1058.photobucket.com/albums/...psa643f7fd.jpg

I'd keep that 1/2 yellow egg in there. T's what we call a boob egg and could be viable.

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Originally Posted by MelanieS

Southern Middle Tn. Close to winchester :)

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Rabernet and deborah are in GA i think, idk how close to you though. 3skulls is in KY, once again, idk how close to you though.

If you want to try to make an incubator its not terribly difficult. There's a DIY guide on here under the breeding forum.

First welcome to the forms.
man that sucks, on getting a new snake not only sick but gravid too when your not yet ready for such issues. I hope your able to find a way to incubate those eggs. ( I offer if was closer but TN a long way from DE) Look at it this way you just got a crash course I snake care.
maybe you get really lucky and those eggs carry a morph and you will gotten into ball pythons addiction really fast lol.
good luck and keep everyone up to date.

you can set up an incubator with an aquarium 1/4 full of water and the egg tub propped on bricks with a heat lamp really fast and cheap. A member here had a similar situation and that worked for her but I can't seem to find the thread....:mad:

You just have to be able to monitor the ambient temp in the tub

welcome and sorry for the RI but CL is notorious for crap like that. also as for the incubator I used a hovabator chicken egg incubator my first year. it worked out just fine. they are in the neighborhood of $35 at any tractor supply or most feed stores. I know its an additional expense but its well worth it for the possibility of 3 baby snakes. I too would keep the odd egg and see if it stays the same or if it starts to get worse. Wish you the best of luck on the eggs and your first bp.

I'm sorry she's so bang up. I hope everything turns out well. If I lived close to you I'd let you use my incubator :(. Please keep us updated on mama and babies.


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I'm sorry to hear that your new pet hasn't worked out as you had hoped :( Hopefully you can get those eggs in an incubator soon! And good job for taking her to the vet and trying to get her healthy again :)

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Originally Posted by Mike41793

Rabernet and deborah are in GA i think, idk how close to you though. 3skulls is in KY, once again, idk how close to you though.

If you want to try to make an incubator its not terribly difficult. There's a DIY guide on here under the breeding forum.

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I'm sure there has to be some members around your area.
I would help but I'm in northern KY.

I'm glad she has someone taking care of her now. Good luck and keep us updated.

My neighbor has a poultry egg incubator I could borrow, would that work?

If it holds steady temps I don't see why it wouldn't work.
Someone with better knowledge of them might have a better answer.

I have the incubator and it will hold a steady temp. I couldn't find any vermiculite at Home Depot. What substrate would you suggest I use?

WOW! THAT'S quite a surprise! :O

I believe some poultry incubators rotate eggs. Ball python eggs should be placed in the incubator in the exact same position mom laid them (mark the top with a pencil line) so make sure the incubator doesn't flip the eggs as ball python eggs shouldn't be rotated.

Other than that, I am not a breeder so maybe one of our members can give them a hand on basics of incubation like temp, humidity levels, acceptable substrate for the incubation container, raising the eggs off the substrate, etc...

The eggs may have already been turned. When I picked her up they rolled and she picked one up with her tail. Would that most likely have already killed them? They have moved quite a bit, they have a plastic bottom and aren't secure.

(this incubator doesn't turn them)

there was a thread about it where a breeder actually tried it.... and turned eggs at different stages in their development. They all hatched out fine. (but the veins inside the egg rearrange, so it at least costs some energy to adapt i think).


I would still avoid rolling of the eggs. For now i would assume they are still fine, one complete rotation doesnt seem to do anything. Still, use a pecil to mark the top of the eggs, in the current position, and try to avoid further rolling somehow. Maybe put the eggs with a bit of moist (not wet, not soaked) substrate into a smaller box inside the enclosure.

and yes, the chicken egg incubator might work, especially if you can set the temperature and can confrm it with a different thermometer. Only difference is that snake eggs need moisture, they need enough humidity without being in direct contact with water. The hard-shelled bird eggs can be incubated in really extremely dry conditions.

i see 3 options: a savior can be found, a nearby reptile breeder that can take the eggs for you. Or you try it with the chicken incubator. Or you can use a smaller box in the snake enclosure to incubate and tune that area of the enclosure to the right temperature. Finding a breeder with an incubator set up for reptile eggs would be clearly the best, but both of the other two options do have merit and can work.

Even just leaving them with the mother can work, but i think compared to the other options it offers the lowest chances.

Anyway, one thing you should get if you dont have it already: an infrared temp gun, (and/or a good and precise thermometer). No matter what you do, this will be of enormous help.


EDIT: something completely different.... Once the egg-issue is out of the way, how is it with shed? Stuck eyecaps would be something to investigate after she sheds for you for the first time. If she sheds, investigate the head-section of the shed, look if you can find the eye caps in there, or if it has holes where the eyecaps should be.

Have you candled the eggs to see if they have veins?

Two: it maybe a long shot, but call or visit aquatic critters in Nashville. They have a separate reptile section, including ball python morphs. I am sure they have someone to either help you, sell you, or point you in the right direction. You could always do a DIY incubator.

Whatever happen I wish the best for you and your snake(s)!

I have hatched out a few clutches last year but I am not a pro yet. I live in the Knoxville area if you really need someone to hatch them out for you.

My goodness, what an introduction into the world of ball python keeping! Um, congratulations I guess, even if you got more than you bargained for. And a huge hat's off to you for doing your best to take care of a sick animal you kind of got dumped in your lap so to speak.

As long as the poultry incubator does not automatically rotate the eggs it should work just fine. The eggs need to be pretty warm, about 88-89. The humidity issue can be solved by putting a small jelly jar or two filled with water in the incubator where the water can evaporate easily. The eggs can easily be tucked into a small tupperware type container with no lid to keep them stable. Once the eggs are away from mama, you should clean her enclosure thoroughly with soap and water to get rid of the scent of her eggs. You should also wipe her down with a wet washcloth to remove the smell. If the scent of her eggs lingers, it can cause her undue stress at a time when she really doesn't need any more stress. I advise not to attempt to feed her until she's finished with the Baytril shots. She's going to seem really skinny since she laid, but she'll be just fine for the two weeks of antibiotics. Once she's all done with the Baytril you can try feeding her. She may or may not eat right away.

There are many good information sheets here to help guide you on your difficult but very rewarding journey. So spend some time reading, tweak things as you need to, and please keep us updated on the newest members of our ever growing family!

I wish you all the best.

Gale

You guys are great! I fully expected some harshness about buying an animal I know nothing about on CL. I knew when we got it home I messed up.

I took the eggs out this morning and put them in the incubator. The snake was only curled around one of them... I have them in a small tupperware container with damp paper towels (squeezed as much water out as possible). Hoping this will be ok until I can get some vermiculite tomorrow. The incubator also has a water reservoir to keep some humidity.

She already seems to feel better (less wheezing sounds and bubbly mouth). I'll clean her cage this afternoon when I get her out again for the next shot. I'll upload a pic of the eggs for your opinions on viability.

http://i1058.photobucket.com/albums/...ps750954d0.jpg

Another substrate you can use is Perlite. Make sure it's straight perlite and doesn't have additives like miracle grow. Want it to be slightly damp, as in can barely feel moisture in it. That's what I use for all my clutches.

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Those eggs look really good considering the circumstances. Do keep all three, I've seen tiny but healthy babies hatch from eggs like the one that has a yellow end. Egg keeping is a new set of challenges, but there is plenty of information here on how to do it, so you'll do all right. Here's to hoping those 60 days fly by, and soon we'll be seeing baby pictures from you!

While it is true, we can sometimes be a little bit harsh to someone who comes here seeking help but then ignores what we recommend, or worse they believe they already know everything and only want us to approve what they do. We realize most of us have made a few pretty good blunders when we first got started, and the best we can do is learn from our mistakes and try not to make them again. You certainly got more than you bargained for, but at least you didn't come here saying you had a sick snake but no money to take it to a vet so what is the best home remedy because you didn't pay much for the snake anyway and you can't waste any more money on it right now. And we've seen that happen.

You have nothing but my respect and admiration that you are willing to go the extra mile to do what is right by your new pet and her unexpected blessings, not everyone would. I look forward to seeing you both grow, and I very much look forward to baby pictures!!

Gale

Wow. I applaud your dedication. That is awesome to see someone step up when they got someone else's negligence dumped on them. I hope your new girl gets better fast so you can enjoy having her as a pet. I wish you the best with the babies too! It is a lot to take on. Listen to advise on here and pour through old threads and you'll be just fine.

That's a mighty fine act of kindness you are giving to those animals.

Update and opinions needed..

Since you all know a bit of the history, I need your opinions.

We've had this snake 3 weeks, it's been 2.5 weeks since she laid her eggs. The eggs died in the incubator, got black moldy then shriveled up. The guy i bought her from told me she ate the week before I got her, but I do not believe him. He is dishonest. I have no idea how long it has been since she has had a meal.

I finished her abx shots. And have tried to feed her twice and she refuses. Lets the rat crawl all over her and just retreats. (one of my daughters now has a pet mouse, sigh). She seems to be losing weight, the creases when she is balled seems looser and bunchy, if that makes sense at all. My daughter will be devastated if she dies, and I've got a lot of money in her already. I would take her back to the vet if that is absolutely necessary, but if it's not needed I'd rather not. I don't want her to die :(

The warm side of her cage is 88 degrees, the cooler side is about 75-80. Humidity is at 60%. She has a hide that she stays in most of the time and we have not been handling her.

What advice do you have for me?

First let me say welcome and I applaud your dedication to this defenseless creature.

Here's something a little weird but may work:

1. If it's sunny outside, take her out for about 30 mins
2. While she's out, place the prey in her hide... ensure it stays there
3. Put her back in the enclosure and cover the enclosure with a towel to make the entire enclosure dark
4. Check every 3 mins to see if she ate the prey.

Don't leave the prey in for more than an hour, if she doesn't take it just try again in 2 days.
You can always skip step one (1) and just do steps 2-4.

Just one last question... Was it a rat or a mouse :) ?.....

I tried both a mouse and a small rat :). We le my daughter keep the mouse because it was really friendly and she fell in love with it. She carries it around in her pocket and it runs up her hand when she wants to get it out. I killed the small rat and its in my freezer. Shoul I try the frozen one or buy a new live one? Which size do you recommend? The vet told me small rat, but that was before it decided it was going to starve itself to death.

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Originally Posted by Peoples

First let me say welcome and I applaud your dedication to this defenseless creature.

Here's something a little weird but may work:

1. If it's sunny outside, take her out for about 30 mins
2. While she's out, place the prey in her hide... ensure it stays there
3. Put her back in the enclosure and cover the enclosure with a towel to make the entire enclosure dark
4. Check every 3 mins to see if she ate the prey.

Don't leave the prey in for more than an hour, if she doesn't take it just try again in 2 days.
You can always skip step one (1) and just do steps 2-4.

Just one last question... Was it a rat or a mouse :) ?.....

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