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Stuck on duct tape

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  • 09-14-2017, 10:44 PM
    Damariscotta
    Stuck on duct tape
    https://imgur.com/a/q9ow1

    So I heard a strange noise from my ball python's cage and went in to find him with the duct tape I use to attach his temp probe wrapped around his neck. I freaked out and removed the tape with some mineral oil but it looks like there's some scales missing. There's also red patches like there's blood underneath his scales as well as the skin between his scales. I have learned my lesson with not putting duct tape in his cage :( I'm wanting to know how bad the damage looks to you guys and if it warrants a vet visit. He was a little skittish once I got the tape off but now he seems fine and is moving around like usual.
  • 09-14-2017, 10:50 PM
    Damariscotta
    Re: Stuck on duct tape
  • 09-14-2017, 11:00 PM
    thebrowntroutdude
    Re: Stuck on duct tape
    Yup, duck tape and snakes don't mix. I wouldn't be overly concerned him right now, I suppose a vet visit never hurts. I don't see any missing scales either from the picture. Personally I would closely monitor how he is doing, but unless you see anything funky I wouldn't worry, especially if he feeds as normal next feed.
  • 09-14-2017, 11:03 PM
    SDA
    You got insanely lucky. If I were you, I would make a vet appointment to have your snake thoroughly checked for injury. Remove all tape inside your enclosure

    This is why you never use tape inside an enclosure.

    https://exoticpetvetblog.wordpress.com/tag/ball-python/
  • 09-14-2017, 11:04 PM
    Sunnieskys
    Nothing sticky inside the cage. Stick on gauges? Take them out. Not tape, so sticky stuff ever! Hot glue to hold a probe down.

    Im glad he is ok.
  • 09-14-2017, 11:29 PM
    Damariscotta
    Re: Stuck on duct tape
    I'm glad he's OK too :( I've spent the last half hour reading horror stories about people having to put their snakes down because of the damage done by duct tape. Learned my lesson big time.
  • 09-14-2017, 11:34 PM
    KayLynn
    You're lucky he came out of that in one piece. There was a post about a month ago where someone's snake got stuck in tape and from the description it sounded like a broken neck.

    https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...ake-is-injured


    Is the skin loose or sagging where where the bruising seems to be forming? Or anywhere where the tape was stuck?
  • 09-14-2017, 11:42 PM
    Damariscotta
    Re: Stuck on duct tape
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by KayLynn View Post
    You're lucky he came out of that in one piece. There was a post about a month ago where someone's snake got stuck in tape and from the description it sounded like a broken neck.

    https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...ake-is-injured


    Is the skin loose or sagging where where the bruising seems to be forming? Or anywhere where the tape was stuck?

    The skin seems a little looser then usual around the red area on the side of his neck but nothing hanging or sagging down.
  • 09-14-2017, 11:55 PM
    Damariscotta
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZj8ntVLiNU

    Here's a video of him moving. His neck seems OK thank God :(
  • 09-15-2017, 12:04 AM
    bcr229
    Keeping tape OUT of the enclosure is important enough that it's the top pinned post in the Caresheet section of this forum:
    https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...ALL-caresheets!

    I think you and your snake dodged a bullet here and he ended up with a superficial wound rather than a big vet bill. I would leave him alone but just keep an eye on him for a few days, he's probably sore.
  • 09-15-2017, 12:49 AM
    KayLynn
    Re: Stuck on duct tape
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Damariscotta View Post
    The skin seems a little looser then usual around the red area on the side of his neck but nothing hanging or sagging down.

    If the skin stays loose and the redness persists over the next several days, take him to the vet. Otherwise just keep an eye on him, he looks like he'll be fine.

    I'm glad he's not in too bad a shape :) Sticky things and snake scales = bad news bears.
  • 09-15-2017, 07:46 AM
    artgecko
    I'd use hot glue to attache all of your probes ,etc. It is what I use and seems to work well.
  • 09-15-2017, 04:23 PM
    Mexecutioner
    Re: Stuck on duct tape
    I had the same problem it's Deffo a lesson I've learnt from I also successfully got it off with vegetable oil and didn't loose and scales it's a scary situation hope you'd snake makes a full recovery

    Sent from my SM-G800F using Tapatalk
  • 09-15-2017, 06:55 PM
    GenePirate
    If you have any silvadene/silver sulfadiazine cream, you could apply that and monitor for healing. Good job getting the duct tape off. I've used duct tape to trap a wayward corn snake in a government building (stay of execution before they determined its fate). It took me over an hour and a half with Q-tips and oil to successfully extricate him from the tape. But he was totally unharmed. Impatience can be disastrous. The key is patience, and you did it! Good luck!
  • 09-15-2017, 08:40 PM
    Damariscotta
    Re: Stuck on duct tape
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by GenePirate View Post
    If you have any silvadene/silver sulfadiazine cream, you could apply that and monitor for healing. Good job getting the duct tape off. I've used duct tape to trap a wayward corn snake in a government building (stay of execution before they determined its fate). It took me over an hour and a half with Q-tips and oil to successfully extricate him from the tape. But he was totally unharmed. Impatience can be disastrous. The key is patience, and you did it! Good luck!

    Thank you, I feel extremely stupid for having put tape in there in the first place :( I should've done more reading about it before I did or at least realized the danger it posed. He's doing better today it seems though :) His belly scales aren't red anymore, his side still is though but less than yesterday. He also has those dull patches of scales. I assume once he sheds that'll go back to normal.
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