My Python Story

Hello everyone,
My obsession with Ball Pythons started when I met a 5 year old male regular Ball Python by the name of Beast. The next day I went to Petco and purchased a 40 gallon breeder, heat lamp, uth, hides, and a baby regular BP I named Ekans. Ekans was very timid and would ball up every time "he" was handled. About a week later I stopped at a pet shop that had a going out of business sale sign, saw a bunch of great used hides that were a steal, and at the checkout was a tank with two regular BPs in it. I asked if I could see one, and this snake was so friendly, didn't ball up at all, and was the exact size of Ekans. I surprised my girlfriend who was in love with Ekans and told her this was her snake, she named "him" Stretch. The two snakes seemed to get along great and they were always found under the hides together.

Another week goes by and Ekans won't eat, neither will Stretch. I'm offering F/T pinkie mice. I go back to Jim's which is where I bought Stretch, and asked the lady how she feeds the snakes. She only feeds live. So I go to a different Petco from the one I bought Ekans at and get two white mice, the smallest ones they had. I first tried feeding Ekans, he was terrified of the mouse. Next I put stretch in the feeding tank and then the mouse, he hit the mouse so hard they flew across the tank. He swallowed it head first and I gently put him back under his hide. So a month passes and I'm so nervous because Ekans won't eat. I bought frozen mice the same size as the live mouse but still Ekans won't take it. So every Wednesday I'm offering a live mouse to Stretch and he won't eat, and a f/t mouse to Ekans but he wants nothing to do with it. Another week passes and I pick up Ekans and notice his eyes were cloudy, I got excited and thought that's why he wasn't eating, he was going to shed. So that Wednesday I offer stretch the live mouse that had now been living with me for a month and a half, he doesn't want it. I then offered the same mouse to Ekans expecting nothing and what do you know he kills the mouse, and slithers away. At this point he's gotta eat, the Petco I got him at didn't keep a feeding record so I don't know if he's ever eaten. So I take the freshly killed mouse and press it to his mouth and he bit into it and coiled around it like he was killing it again and ate it. Finally, it felt so good to have a semi successful feeding. The next morning I grab Stretch and we go to find my girlfriend, but he wasn't acting right, he was really straight, but his spine was very "scrunched" for lack of a better word. I went back to my room and laid him on my bed, and he kind of moved, but his coordination seemed to be gone. I got a very bad feeling and rushed him back to the store to see if the lady there could tell me why this happened. She simply said he's dying and or dead and its my fault. I said what did I do wrong? She just shrugged. Once I got home I took Stretch and looked him over, and on his belly was a large green spot. I still don't know what killed him. So I'm waiting and watching Ekans hoping that whatever happened to Stretch was not contagious. Weeks go by, jump to today. Ekans shows no signs of anything except a rough shed, which was my fault. I'm getting ready to feed him tomorrow, and I ended up purchasing Beast yesterday, who shed for me perfectly in under 10 minutes. I've weighed both snakes today, Ekans weighs in at 50 grams and Beast weighs in at 1475 grams. I purchased an ir temperature gun to stay on top of my temps, they were too high as far as the under tank heaters go, Beasts hide was 93 degrees so I've unplugged the heaters till I can get a dimmer switch. I know I did things wrong and I've corrected all except my humidity issue and the newly discovered heat issue. I'd greatly appreciate any suggestions. If any one can give me more info on Stretch or the green spot you'll be my hero. Still trying to figure out pics, I'll get them up as soon as I do.

Juggalo, what a sad story, sorry this happened. While I have no answers, you have come to a great site to learn. It looks like you are taking some good husbandry steps. Welcome to the forum.
:snake:

It sounds like you have a number of issues with your husbandry.

First and foremost is cage heating. Under tank heaters must be regulated by a thermostat. Without a thermostat to control them they can easily get up to 130 F+

Check out this thread on cage heating. It covers all of the basic products available as well as recommends trusted products.

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...t-Thermometers

Second You really shouldn't keep snake together in the same cage unless you really know what you are doing. The things that made you think that the snakes liked each other are actually signs of them trying to dominate each other and compete for the best hides etc. This could also very easily be a big part of why you have had trouble getting the snake to eat.

Here is a thread on how I set up glass tanks for ball pythons. Try to get yours as close to this as possible:

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...With-Pictures!

Finally just to make sure you have all of the care requirements correct check out this thread on general care:

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...ius)-Caresheet

As for the snake that died. Do you happen to have any pictures of the snake(s), the snake(s) cage(s) etc? What you are describing sounds very strange.

I did take pics but the forum says I'm not allowed to post attachments so I guess I have to upload them elsewhere and provide a link. I will do so shortly. Also thanks for the info about the snakes dominating each other. All future snakes are and will be kept separately from now on.

How to post pictures:

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...with-pictures)

Poor Stretch... :confusd:
http://i852.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps1a865cd0.jpg
http://i852.photobucket.com/albums/a...pse02011b0.jpg

How big was the rodent that you fed him?

You said it was fresh killed and not a frozen/thawed correct?

Do you know what the cage temperatures were at the time? If so:

1. What were you using to heat the cage at the time.

2. What did you measure the temperatures with?

3. Where were the measurements taken?

4. What was the temperature of the room that the cage was in? (approximately)

By the way, now that I've got pictures down.

Ekans (No longer kept on sand)http://i852.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps71ce118b.jpg

Beast
http://i852.photobucket.com/albums/a...psc7890dea.jpg

The mouse was frozen/thawed.

1.) Uth and heat lamp.

2.) Dial thermometer.

3.) Floor level.

4.) Lower 70s.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Juggalo

The mouse was frozen/thawed.

1.) Uth and heat lamp.

2.) Dial thermometer.

3.) Floor level.

4.) Lower 70s.

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Are you 100% sure the rodent was completely thawed? I can't say for sure but I would be willing to bet that a partially frozen rodent could kill a BP or at least mess one up pretty bad.

Deleted

Yes I make 100% sure they're thawed using my bare hands. Also he died after a week or so after the feeding. He even pooped the mouse out by that point.

But now that I think back I'm mistaken. Stretch only ate live mice. So the mouse he was fed was live. Sorry for the confusion.

Did he normally look that thin? Maybe it was just starvation.

I can't explain the green spot. Maybe someone else will come along who can.

We many not ever be able to say for sure what happened. I would say the priority at this point is making sure your other BP's care is correct and they are doing well.

The most basic requirements that need to be met are temperature and humidity. Once you have those stable then you can move on to other issues.

Hot side 88-92 degrees F Cool side 78-82 degrees F. The cage should stay in these ranges 24/7/365.

Humidity 40% - 60% normally, 60%-80% during shed.

I would recommend picking up one of these for each cage. They measure 2 temperatures as well as humidity. They cost $12 at walmart:

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...3.jpg~original

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Acu-Rite-I...ndingMethod=rr

He couldn't have starved, he ate a week earlier. Ekans was the one not eating and I still have him.

I have an accurite already, and I just got one of these.
http://i852.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps558946c2.png

I'm stumped then. It almost looks like he got crushed somehow, I've honestly never seen anything like it.

Like you said, it's more important to focus on the husbandry of the snakes I still have. I'm just afraid that I somehow caused this. But I'm now looking into a rack. Far to many people have humidity issues using tanks and I wish I did my homework first before diving in. I'm gonna look around here for a diy. I saw the vision racks but they're pricey.

Worry not of the future

Dwell not on the past

–Master Yoda


Hope things go well with your 2 little guys...I love the Pokemon reference :gj:

IIRC from reading other posts here a while back the green spot is commonly seen on dead snakes, though I don't know if it's directly related the cause of death. Ruptured gall bladder maybe?

As others have said, get your husbandry spot-on with the one that's left before you even think about bringing in another snake. I also made the mistake of buying tanks before going to a rack; it would have been cheaper and easier to build the rack first (now I have 4 plus 2 hatchling racks).

Also some virii can stick around for months which is another reason not to bring a new snake into the house right away.

Had a really successful feeding tonight! Ekans killed the mouse and actually ate it without assistance, he tried to eat it sideways, and backwards, and then he found the head and it was a breeze from there. I'm thinking maybe he never was fed at Petco. For my first time feeding beast I've gotta say, that was scary haha. He wasn't even facing me and before the rats feet hit the bottom of the tub he snatched it out of my hand! Things are looking good.

Ekans
http://i852.photobucket.com/albums/a...pse36dac5c.jpg

Beast
http://i852.photobucket.com/albums/a...psc915810a.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Juggalo

Had a really successful feeding tonight! Ekans killed the mouse and actually ate it without assistance, he tried to eat it sideways, and backwards, and then he found the head and it was a breeze from there. I'm thinking maybe he never was fed at Petco. For my first time feeding beast I've gotta say, that was scary haha. He wasn't even facing me and before the rats feet hit the bottom of the tub he snatched it out of my hand! Things are looking good.

Ekans
http://i852.photobucket.com/albums/a...pse36dac5c.jpg

Beast
http://i852.photobucket.com/albums/a...psc915810a.jpg

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Is there a reason why you are feeding in a separate container?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

Is there a reason why you are feeding in a separate container?

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+1 on this. It's not necessary and it could cause the snakes to regurge if they get stressed after being moved.

Never ever feed with your hand. Buy tongs

http://www.cserpents.com/C_Serpents/HOME.html

They have some great racks. The only ones I use. They also ship it to you within 2 weeks of placing an order. Some places you wait at least 2+ months to get your cages / racks.

I highly recommend them.

Everyone has told me to feed in a separate container, so the bedding would not be swallowed.

Can you elaborate on not feeding with my hands?

Get a pair if tongs. I still feed with hands... I'm not always bright lol
But my girl just sits and waits... she's never tried to take it as I'm lowering it.

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