Advice please!!!

My ball python escaped from her cage and since then it's been secured. She was eating perfectly and weighing 1200 grams. She hasn't eaten for 6 months now. She doesn't look like she's lost much weight by I haven't weighed her. I've tried both frozen mice and rats. I thought the scab/ injury on her head would be better by now but it still looks bad. Any help is appreciated. I don't know if she's not eating since her head is hurt which didn't visibly appear to be the case? Not sure what to do.....

Thank you!

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What in the world happened to her head???


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From pushing the cage open it caused an open wound and hasn't really gotten better... not sure what to do
About the injury and her not eating.


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Have you been using neosporin? The plain stuff, not the stuff with other chemicals. If not, you should be treating her for that burn.

Not eating is whatever, my own adult female has been off food since december. By august she'll be eating again and will put on another 600-1000g before she goes off food again.

Edit: Injury. It does look like a burn, though

So 6 months isn't too much to worry about? I know they can go up to a year without eating but it really stinks she was eating well before all this happened. I'm 99% sure it's from her pushing the top of the cage open which has weights on top of the screen.

I haven't used neosporin on it. Apply it daily? Would antibiotics from the vet help?

Wondering if trying to force feed would jump start her back into eating?


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If she looks like she hasn't lost weight, I wouldn't worry about her eating; certainly don't force feed her at this point.

If this is injury is from the screen, treating it is useless since she'll continue to aggravate it. You need to modify her enclosure so she doesn't injure herself. Did the injury first occur while she was loose or within her enclosure?


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Thats not fresh enough to treat. If she keeps pushing like BPGator said and it gets raw then treat it....its a scab now and will be for a good while... That was a deep one and it looks like the scales gone. Each shed will help but you will likely always see the scar..


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That scab is pulled awfully tight. Make sure your humidity is good, and be really aware of her blue phase so you can give her a humid hide. When she does shed, diligently check the cast-off for completeness and her head for any raw-looking wound area. If it's raw, or the scabbed area doesn't shed properly, get a picture posted quickly. At that point, you may need a vet and some antibiotics. Good luck with your poor baby.

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Originally Posted by BPGator

If she looks like she hasn't lost weight, I wouldn't worry about her eating; certainly don't force feed her at this point.

If this is injury is from the screen, treating it is useless since she'll continue to aggravate it. You need to modify her enclosure so she doesn't injure herself. Did the injury first occur while she was loose or within her enclosure?


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The injury Happened during her escape. She's in a 40 gallon tank with plenty of room but during the escape is when her head was injured. Not positive how it happened but sometime during the escape.


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Originally Posted by DLena

That scab is pulled awfully tight. Make sure your humidity is good, and be really aware of her blue phase so you can give her a humid hide. When she does shed, diligently check the cast-off for completeness and her head for any raw-looking wound area. If it's raw, or the scabbed area doesn't shed properly, get a picture posted quickly. At that point, you may need a vet and some antibiotics. Good luck with your poor baby.

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Thanks everyone... would antibiotics help now? Also I honestly haven't heard of the blue phase; what is it? Her humidity is usually around 40-50 but hard to keep perfect all the time. I use moss to keep the humidity in there. The problem is she only has shed once in 6 months since she's not eating she hasn't shed....


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Originally Posted by thomasx

Thanks everyone... would antibiotics help now? Also I honestly haven't heard of the blue phase; what is it? Her humidity is usually around 40-50 but hard to keep perfect all the time. I use moss to keep the humidity in there. The problem is she only has shed once in 6 months since she's not eating she hasn't shed....


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You don't use antibiotics unless there's an infection. The blue phase is when her eyes glaze over before she sheds, usually the whole process takes about two weeks.
40% to 50% is too low, you need to be over 50% and under 65% normally. I don't know what you have for a set uup so I really can't give you much advice but if it's a aquarium style try insulating three walls with cardboard for heat retention and cover the lid 2/3 of the way for humidity. You can use a Plexy glass piece over the screen or doubled tin foil...also your heat source will play a big roll in humidity.. Another words a heat lamp and such will dry a tank right out.
Other than that she will heal just keep your husbandry correct, humidity is important for ball pythons.


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Has she ever eaten live before? Have you tried that? I've had snakes that reverted back and refuses to take f/t afterwards.

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Originally Posted by Mr Sully

You don't use antibiotics unless there's an infection. The blue phase is when her eyes glaze over before she sheds, usually the whole process takes about two weeks.
40% to 50% is too low, you need to be over 50% and under 65% normally. I don't know what you have for a set uup so I really can't give you much advice but if it's a aquarium style try insulating three walls with cardboard for heat retention and cover the lid 2/3 of the way for humidity. You can use a Plexy glass piece over the screen or doubled tin foil...also your heat source will play a big roll in humidity.. Another words a heat lamp and such will dry a tank right out.
Other than that she will heal just keep your husbandry correct, humidity is important for ball pythons.


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Thank you... I have a 40 gallon tank with double aluminum foil and a hole cut out for the head lamp above. I use a ceramic bulb place 1/3 towards one side to create a hot/ cooler side. I use an UTH on the hot side for that hide. I use moss and spray it to keep the humidity up. Do I need to have holes cut in the tin foil for circulation beside the hole cut for the head lamp itself? I cut lines in the tin foil for insulation but I think that makes it loose humidity more now. Is the cardboard on the inside or outside for insulation?

Thank you so much!


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Originally Posted by ringorock

Has she ever eaten live before? Have you tried that? I've had snakes that reverted back and refuses to take f/t afterwards.

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She never had live. Got her from a petco and they did frozen mice. Has her switched over to rats and now nothing. I've tried using mouse bedding and hamster bedding before blow drying the food but she has zero interest in the last 6 months but she used to be a great eater.


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Mistake post - my next one has the quote.

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Originally Posted by Oxylepy

Have you been using neosporin? The plain stuff, not the stuff with other chemicals. If not, you should be treating her for that burn.

Not eating is whatever, my own adult female has been off food since december. By august she'll be eating again and will put on another 600-1000g before she goes off food again.

Edit: Injury. It does look like a burn, though

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An adult puts on 600g to 1000g a year, every year??

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Originally Posted by Yzmasmom

An adult puts on 600g to 1000g a year, every year??

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While it's growing, possibly. After it's fully grown I doubt it would put on quite that much weight, unless it's losing weight from being bred and then gaining it back.