Belly Burn on Baby ball?

Hello!

If I'm not posting to the right area Please tell me! I'm new!

So I have three Ball pythons. Two normals and one Het pied. I've had my normals for three weeks now and you know that itch you get after you get your first one or two? Well I got it just in time for x-mas and My Mum ended up getting me a het pied! Yay! But I have a slight problem. She's probably only three months old and she lives in a ten gallon tank. So I picked her up just like ten minutes ago to take a look t how pink her belly was to see if she would be shedding when I noticed a tiny maybe a half inch in length crack running down her belly scales by her tail. I started panicking a bit because it kind of looks like my males healed Belly burns from a very long time ago... like eight years but not healed. it's not big though and I don't remember seeing it yesterday when I was cleaning some of her poop away. Any way she's on cocoanut bedding because it holds humidity, has a ten gallon zilla tank heater, and a 60 watt normal light bulb. Then the other things you need like water bowls and hide. Any way I spray her cage down with some water when its dry and I added some bedding because I noticed it's not very think so she has about an inch of bedding now. But she is going to be a breeder in about four years or so and well I was wondering If I should take off the heating pad or will it stop her from being a breeder when shes older or does any one have any pictures of their baby ball pythons belly burns so I can see it thats the problem? Or anything really. I'm so upset I didn't see this or anything and I'm so so stupid! I should have know that the bedding was too thin. :mad:

1) You need a thermostat to regulate each under-tank heater, as your snake will burrow under the bedding.

2) Post a picture, unless the line is pink or dark looking, you may be looking at your baby snake's "belly button".

I don't have a camera to take pictures... It broke about three months ago and I couldn't and can't get a new one. Where I live the control things are 30 to 50 bucks and we can't afford it... will she be okay it I take it out and but her tank in the warmest room in the house? It's about 70 degrees then keep the normal lamp on her? It's throwing off quite a bit of heat... Her belly is really pink in that area but it doesn't look brown around the crack.

Do you have a thermostat for any of your snakes?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SRMD94

Do you have a thermostat for any of your snakes?

---

OP just said that $30-50 for a t-stat was too high. :weirdface

Mum should have purchased a t-stat instead of the het pied.

Quote:

---

OP just said that $30-50 for a t-stat was too high. http://ball-pythons.net/forums/image..._weirdface.gif

---

I meant do you only not have t-stat for the het pied. ;)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bcr229

Mum should have purchased a t-stat instead of the het pied.

---

I agree.. I don't mean to sound rude to the OP but you should be more interested in getting the right equipment for your snakes before even thinking about expanding your collection.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

If there's no swelling or scabbing in a day or so my guess is what you're looking at is the snake's 'bellybutton'. I agree with the other posters about it being important to go get the T-stat ASAP though.

For the moment it is too high! I didn't say it was always going to be too high. I Have two other siblings and they all just got new pets too all of them cost more then mine even if I add my ball pythons I already have. My brother got a cat and my sister got a few hermit crabs together they both cost well over 300 bucks. The one I had broke :( and the pet store I work at is closed for the week so I don't have any money at the moment... My two normals live in a HUGE cage I just built thats why I have no money I spent three good pay checks on it. I wasn't expecting my mother to come home with another snake. If fact if I did I would have said wait till after the holiday. That was I would have one plus a pay check coming to buy another one... and it's not a burn.... It's her belly button I was over reacting. I take very good care of pets we just happened to have a power outage a few days ago and it broke. Honestly I only want the best for my little reptile buddies. I was just nervous that I could have cause something bad to happen. The other pet store is almost an hour and a half away... other wise I would go and get two. If I need to I'll just sell a few little things I have... but I don't think I'll need too. My work place opens up the day after x-mas.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by zooylew

I don't have a camera to take pictures... It broke about three months ago and I couldn't and can't get a new one. Where I live the control things are 30 to 50 bucks and we can't afford it... will she be okay it I take it out and but her tank in the warmest room in the house? It's about 70 degrees then keep the normal lamp on her? It's throwing off quite a bit of heat... Her belly is really pink in that area but it doesn't look brown around the crack.

---

If you cannot afford $30 how will you be able to afford $200 for a vet visit when the burn will be so severe you will have no other choice than seek a vet's attention?

Unregulated heat source are not only dangerous for the animal they are also a fire hazard, can you afford to lose your house as well?

So ask yourself those question and hopefully you will make the right choice.


And now here is some food for the thoughts.

Per ownership is a great responsibility they are not disposable, if you cannot afford to take care of your pet(s) and the animal(s) suffers because of it than pet ownership should seriously be reconsidered.

Pets cost money, they cost money to feed, to house and they also require vet visit when necessary which that needs to be taken into consideration as well before acquiring more animals while only providing the bare minimum.

Another important thing is to properly do research on your animal's need.

Anyway in the mean time go to lowes or home depot and get a lamp dimmer it will be a temporary fix but it will do the job. http://www.homedepot.com/s/lutron%25...0dimmer?NCNI-5

I know they cost money and are needy. I know I need on I plan on getting one. Two actually. I know you don't just throw them out I'm not stupid. Pets are for life and if I couldn't afford them I wouldn't have any! I'm going to get one right after the holiday! I have to wait for my work place to get up running. I'm talking to my mother right now about ordering on online with over night shipping. it's not going to kill her over night. Plus I don't have to worry about vet bills My uncle is one and he does everything for me for free.

- - - Updated - - -

I know they cost money and are needy. I know I need on I plan on getting one. Two actually. I know you don't just throw them out I'm not stupid. Pets are for life and if I couldn't afford them I wouldn't have any! I'm going to get one right after the holiday! I have to wait for my work place to get up running. I'm talking to my mother right now about ordering on online with over night shipping. it's not going to kill her over night. Plus I don't have to worry about vet bills My uncle is one and he does everything for me for free.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by zooylew

I'm so so stupid! I should have know that the bedding was too thin. :mad:

---

The bedding has nothing to do with regulating an UTH............................
Please STOP using the UTH until you get a thermostat to regulate it.

Why didn't you ask your uncle the vet if it was a burn? Also, what kind of thermostat did you have that broke when you lost power? That's pretty weak for that to happen, so if it was new I'd hit up the place that you bought it from or the manufacturer about getting it replaced at no cost to you.

Hi this is Zooy's Mom. She is embarrassed. She has been a very responsible owner to multiple pets and was gifted her first two Balls. She is very intent on paying for everything herself, however, I will be helping her out in getting the thermostat. I explained to the store where I purchased the het what her current set up was and was assured that we had all the proper equipment. She is in the process of building a very large enclosure for them and was worried it would be too expensive to ask for another item. Zooy is a very sweet young lady, she tends to get her feathers in a bunch over her pets and sometimes tends to embellish when she is feeling attacked. This kid has suffered from some very intense bullying and her pets are therapy for her. I'm sorry she caused any undo concern. She is very interested in sharing and learning.

With all of this said, are their thermostats you folks would recommend over others?

Thanks so much for helping her get over her forum growing pains...we've had a talk and I expect things will be smoother sailing from here.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by zooylew

Zooy is a very sweet young lady, she tends to get her feathers in a bunch over her pets and sometimes tends to embellish when she is feeling attacked.

---

We don't intend to make anyone feel attacked, we are just passionate about the hobby of keeping reptiles.. And are just trying to help :)

Sometimes people may get frustrated who are passionate when they think people are just joining the hobby with no research done or any idea at all on what keeping a reptile is like, well that's just my opinion.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[QUOTE=SRMD94;2310092]We don't intend to make anyone feel attacked, we are just passionate about the hobby of keeping reptiles.. And are just trying to help :)

I understand...and actually for the most part you were all just fine...she is very over sensitive because of issues she has had in school. It has been so bad that she is now being home schooled. Please be assured that she does a great deal of research on her animals....typically she writes a paper before she can get one, however, being that she is still a kid, she sometimes overlooks information that is helpful or important. Forums are a great way to find out the info that is either missed or just novice mistakes. I really appreciate the time you all put toward these.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by zooylew

For the moment it is too high! I didn't say it was always going to be too high. I Have two other siblings and they all just got new pets too all of them cost more then mine even if I add my ball pythons I already have. My brother got a cat and my sister got a few hermit crabs together they both cost well over 300 bucks. The one I had broke :( and the pet store I work at is closed for the week so I don't have any money at the moment... My two normals live in a HUGE cage I just built thats why I have no money I spent three good pay checks on it. I wasn't expecting my mother to come home with another snake. If fact if I did I would have said wait till after the holiday. That was I would have one plus a pay check coming to buy another one... and it's not a burn.... It's her belly button I was over reacting. I take very good care of pets we just happened to have a power outage a few days ago and it broke. Honestly I only want the best for my little reptile buddies. I was just nervous that I could have cause something bad to happen. The other pet store is almost an hour and a half away... other wise I would go and get two. If I need to I'll just sell a few little things I have... but I don't think I'll need too. My work place opens up the day after x-mas.

---

Man, I hate to say it after you spent so much money on it, but it sounds like you're cohabiting you BPs and in an enclosure that's way too big. They would both be better off in separate smaller tanks or even locking tubs. Ball Pythons are solitary snakes that live underground in rodent burrows in the wild. They like small, enclosed spaces that make them feel secure, and even when an excess of hides, water dishes and enough prey is provided for both animals, there are still a lot of problems with keeping more than one snake together. Before you decide to keep housing your snakes as you are, you should take a few minutes to read about the risks.

If you have any other questions, do feel free to pop in and ask, we're always happy to help!

Right now until she can save up for a thermostat the easiest fastest way to make sure any critter with supplemental heat is safe is to get this http://www.homedepot.com/s/lutron%25...0dimmer?NCNI-5

Now it will do the job by not allowing the heat pad to overheat however unless temps in the room are constant 24/7 and year round it will need constant adjustment.

As far as reliable thermostat that will maintain proper temps without any daily adjusting and also give her and you the piece of mind that nothing will overheat, I recommend herptat, they are pricey but she will be able to use them with all 3 enclosures (granted the heat mat are the same), it will also provide safety for years to come which is not the case with cheaper t-stat.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by zooylew

She is in the process of building a very large enclosure for them and was worried it would be too expensive to ask for another item.

---

Large enclosure is not needed and more than likely will only cause future problems down the road.

I've used hydrfarm thermostats for a few years with no issues. They're inexpensive and reliable IMO. Best wishes with your BP.

http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTPR...ords=hydrofarm

How big should their enclosure be in measurements? The baby will have it's own always. The two adult balls that were gifted to her have been in the same enclosure together for 11 years+. Female is 13yo and a little over 5 ft long and male is 11yo and is about 4.5 ft long. Their previous owner was power feeding them several large mice vs. rats. We have started them on rats and they are doing okay. Zooy is aware they like smaller spaces but an experienced ball owner told us their enclosure is much too small and needs to be nearly double the size it is now to house them. Currently it is 4ft. wide x 3 ft tall and 15" deep (looks like a big fish tank with a wood back. Plexi glass sides with the front side removable for easy cleaning. Top is very sturdy with heavy rabbit cage wire enclosed by wood. The top locks down in place with hook locks. The previous owner originally put the heat pad directly in their enclosure and the male ended up with a belly burn several years ago. The burn is healed, but the scarring from it is visible in a small area. We know that is unacceptable and she is very cautious. With these snakes having been together for the length of time we are talking should we keep them together? They have never breed. Their previous owner had little to no humidity in their enclosure and they had consistently bad sheds. Since we got them we have had a good shed from the male. I will try and get some pictures to post in the next day or so. Any advice regarding enclosure would be fantastic. We have begun a larger enclosure, but could pare it down if need be.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by zooylew

How big should their enclosure be in measurements? The baby will have it's own always. The two adult balls that were gifted to her have been in the same enclosure together for 11 years+. Female is 13yo and a little over 5 ft long and male is 11yo and is about 4.5 ft long. Their previous owner was power feeding them several large mice vs. rats. We have started them on rats and they are doing okay. Zooy is aware they like smaller spaces but an experienced ball owner told us their enclosure is much too small and needs to be nearly double the size it is now to house them. Currently it is 4ft. wide x 3 ft tall and 15" deep (looks like a big fish tank with a wood back. Plexi glass sides with the front side removable for easy cleaning. Top is very sturdy with heavy rabbit cage wire enclosed by wood. The top locks down in place with hook locks. The previous owner originally put the heat pad directly in their enclosure and the male ended up with a belly burn several years ago. The burn is healed, but the scarring from it is visible in a small area. We know that is unacceptable and she is very cautious. With these snakes having been together for the length of time we are talking should we keep them together? They have never breed. Their previous owner had little to no humidity in their enclosure and they had consistently bad sheds. Since we got them we have had a good shed from the male. I will try and get some pictures to post in the next day or so. Any advice regarding enclosure would be fantastic. We have begun a larger enclosure, but could pare it down if need be.

---

Some people can keep BPs together for years and years with no problem, and some people end up with injuries or rarely even snakes eating one another. IMO cohabiting is a technique better left to experienced keepers; it won't bother the snakes to be separated.
Someone with experience cohabiting BPs can give you better info on the pros and cons, but I think you may be better off separating them for now.

Also, they may not look as pretty as a tank, but rubbermaid tubs that latch can make good enclosures especially if you need something quick and inexpensive to house the two normals separately.