Baby ball python acting/looking weird. Please help.

A new ball python bought from peptic about three weeks ago. I fed him a frozen pinky about two weeks ago, and he took it fine. I also haven't seen him defecate either...Recently tried to feed him again and refused it. He was doing this weird head bob back and forth and I didn't understand what it was. Tonight he developed another symptom, about half of his underside concaves in and is swollen at the end. His jaw also seems askew. Right now I have him soaking in a warm bath, actively keeping an eye on him. Suggestions would be greatly appreciated...:tears:

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Oooh :( I believe the sunken in look is due to severe dehydration, someone correct me if I'm wrong. I would recommend you stop soaking him, as that helps nothing, especially if he's not drinking the water. It will just stress him and remove essential oils from his scales.

A pinky is too small, whether it is a rat pinky or a mouse pinky. How much does he weigh? He should probably be eating rat pups at least.

Pictures area attached.

I'm no expert but I would say vet, but I wonder if it would even live to make it to the vet. Something is really wrong there.

Sitting upside down like that might indicate a neurological issue, but I fear the only times I've heard of a ball python lying upside down is gravid females and death. He looks very thin, likely underfed and I agree with the dehydration worry. Good on you for getting him in the tub, hopefully that helps. When you set him right-side up in your hands, does he move? Does he try to move back onto his back? Also, he definitely needs something bigger than a fuzzy of any kind. What is his set-up like? Is the UTH controlled? You said Petco, right? What were they feeding him beforehand? Get him to the vet ASAP, hopefully they can help...It's always a toss-up when you buy from a pet store.

That baby is near death IMO.

What are the temperatures and humidity in his enclosure - what are you using for heat and how are you regulating the heat sources to ensure they don't make the enclosure too warm?

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Originally Posted by Bcycling

I'm no expert but I would say vet, but I wonder if it would even live to make it to the vet. Something is really wrong there.

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Yep, unfortunately he looks/sounds near death to me. I would take him to the vet ER right away :( I'm sorry it's happening.

You might want to read up on Inclusion Body Disease, the symptoms are mostly there. I'm hoping this isn't it.

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Originally Posted by AdrianAlexander

Sitting upside down like that might indicate a neurological issue, but I fear the only times I've heard of a ball python lying upside down is gravid females and death. He looks very thin, likely underfed and I agree with the dehydration worry. Good on you for getting him in the tub, hopefully that helps. When you set him right-side up in your hands, does he move? Does he try to move back onto his back? Also, he definitely needs something bigger than a fuzzy of any kind. What is his set-up like? Is the UTH controlled? You said Petco, right? What were they feeding him beforehand? Get him to the vet ASAP, hopefully they can help...It's always a toss-up when you buy from a pet store.

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Snakes scales are designed to be resistant to water and placing them in water does not hydrate the snake unless it is drinking the water, so why recommend the bath?

I'm a little noobish myself, and I've only read good things about soaking a ball python after a bad shed, etc. It's a bit of a desperate situation and worth bringing up any possible help, what little we can do at this time. I also highly doubt this is a dehydration issue so much as it's a neurological one. He looks super skinny.

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Originally Posted by AdrianAlexander

I'm a little noobish myself, and I've only read good things about soaking a ball python after a bad shed, etc. It's a bit of a desperate situation and worth bringing up any possible help, what little we can do at this time. I also highly doubt this is a dehydration issue so much as it's a neurological one. He looks super skinny.

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If he's being fed pinkies once every couple weeks, or even once every 5 days, that would reflect how thin he is. That is not nearly enough food. I don't think it is neurological - being flipped on its back like that is usually a sign it is on its way out. They pass away while on their back.

That was my thought, too. =/ Yeah, pinkies are nothing to a snake that size. Petco doesn't have the best reputation of taking good care of their snakes and probably recommended pinkies.

Besides death/dying, belly up/exposed is a sign of being too hot in my experience.

What are your temps? That pink belly concerns me if he's not in the blue.

If you have an under tank heater (UTH) that is not regulated, unplug immediately!

Do you have a temp gun to accurately measure temps?

IF heat is the issue, this is one of the few times a soak can help, IF the water is cool to cold. This will suck the excess heat out of him. Water is about the best temperature delivery medium.

Sure hope he's not too far gone.

I once experienced something like this with a baby ball I brought home. IMO, mine died frm IBD.

This ball python is in critical condition! I think you should definitely take him to a herp vet but how long have you had him? Petco usually has a 30 day guarantee on animals that can be returned if they are unhealthy. They need to be alerted about this. I can't believe he was sold being so emaciated. Time is of the essence right now. Soaking is a appropriate measure for this animal but water should be about 80.0f and the water level should only cover his ventral scales. Ball pythons do absorb water through the cloaca. Probably would be a good idea to mix 50% pedialite solution at the same temperature. However in this case you have to be sure to keep his head above water bc he doesn't seem strong enough to hold himself up. Wow! Good luck and I hope he can bounce back.

Ok, I see the time is three weeks. Then Petco's guarantee should still be valid. Do you have all the paperwork? Receipt and such? They need to be informed ASAP !!

That has a weird look. It may not be IBD, but my first thought when I saw those pics was that I hope he hasn't been near any other snakes you might own... Regardless, I'm sorry you ended up with in this situation.

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Originally Posted by Albert Clark

This ball python is in critical condition! I think you should definitely take him to a herp vet but how long have you had him? Petco usually has a 30 day guarantee on animals that can be returned if they are unhealthy. They need to be alerted about this. I can't believe he was sold being so emaciated. Time is of the essence right now. Soaking is a appropriate measure for this animal but water should be about 80.0f and the water level should only cover his ventral scales. Ball pythons do absorb water through the cloaca. Probably would be a good idea to mix 50% pedialite solution at the same temperature. However in this case you have to be sure to keep his head above water bc he doesn't seem strong enough to hold himself up. Wow! Good luck and I hope he can bounce back.

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You would be surprised how they sell snakes! My cousin's bf got a lil bp from petsmart. My aunt called me and said he had questions. I came and looked at the lil thing asked how much they fed her he said they told him one mouse pinkie a week. I facepalmed so hard I went dizzy.

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Originally Posted by Spot

You would be surprised how they sell snakes! My cousin's bf got a lil bp from petsmart. My aunt called me and said he had questions. I came and looked at the lil thing asked how much they fed her he said they told him one mouse pinkie a week. I facepalmed so hard I went dizzy.

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Yeah Spot, I guess so. I purchased one of my ball pythons from Petco about 2.5 years ago. A normal female who I was able to view in the enclosure at the store and then hold in my hands a short time later. She was a very healthy hatchling with good weight and clear eyes, alert with constantly flicking tongue. No mites! Checked her out pretty thoroughly and then purchased her. Never looked back. She actually took a meal 2 nights later and is the biggest python in my rack today at 1965gms. I think I just went into Petco with a scrutinizing eye and refused to accept anything less.

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Originally Posted by Spot

You would be surprised how they sell snakes! My cousin's bf got a lil bp from petsmart. My aunt called me and said he had questions. I came and looked at the lil thing asked how much they fed her he said they told him one mouse pinkie a week. I facepalmed so hard I went dizzy.

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I'm not surprised at all. I will also never shop there again as many people have purchased snakes from them, been given not just incorrect but in many cases flat-out wrong information, which resulted in a large vet bill at best or a dead snake at worst. There have been plenty of people who have complained to corporate and attempted to get the store to update it's care sheets to remove the wrong/bad information, but to no avail.

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Originally Posted by Albert Clark

Yeah Spot, I guess so. I purchased one of my ball pythons from Petco about 2.5 years ago. A normal female who I was able to view in the enclosure at the store and then hold in my hands a short time later. She was a very healthy hatchling with good weight and clear eyes, alert with constantly flicking tongue. No mites! Checked her out pretty thoroughly and then purchased her. Never looked back. She actually took a meal 2 nights later and is the biggest python in my rack today at 1965gms. I think I just went into Petco with a scrutinizing eye and refused to accept anything less.

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I shouldn't talk bad about all of the employees/the operations of the place. At our petco there was a guy who had snakes of his own and took damn good care of the ones in store. If I had questions he had an answer. I think it depends on employees/managers. A lot are not expierenced with some animals. Not just snakes.

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Originally Posted by bcr229

I'm not surprised at all. I will also never shop there again as many people have purchased snakes from them, been given not just incorrect but in many cases flat-out wrong information, which resulted in a large vet bill at best or a dead snake at worst. There have been plenty of people who have complained to corporate and attempted to get the store to update it's care sheets to remove the wrong/bad information, but to no avail.

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Thats why my aunt called me. I had a normal bp when i was 15 had him for 5 years and gave him to a very good family friend who uses him as an education snake. [gave him away due to having a baby and single mom and giving attention to a snake and baby was super hard]
Recently got 2 more snakes. She called me and said they needed help. Lol.

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Originally Posted by Spot

I shouldn't talk bad about all of the employees/the operations of the place. At our petco there was a guy who had snakes of his own and took damn good care of the ones in store. If I had questions he had an answer. I think it depends on employees/managers. A lot are not expierenced with some animals. Not just snakes.

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Yes. You are correct! They do sell unhealthy animals at times , it's just that it was so obvious in the op story that the bp was very underweight and was not at all healthy. This didn't just happen in three weeks. This pot has been simmering and recently came to a boil. If we do choose to shop at these less than favorable pet stores we need to go with someone who is experienced in reptile health to help us along. And who has a eye for the abnormal in bp's .

IBD (Inclusion Body Disease) is HIGHLY contagious to other snakes. If you have others, keep them away (which I'm hoping you did anyway, as all new snakes should be quarantined for this very reason). If you feed them in the same tank bleach it out and rinse thoroughly. Keep us posted!