My ball python smells

I know that ball pythons do not give off any odor or specific scent at all.
But my ball python has always had a faint musky smell to him. It's not bad and it's only noticeable if I actually put my nose right up on him.
His tank is clean and does not smell.
It's just his body. Is this normal?
And yes, I do keep his enclosure clean.

Are you using aspen substrate by any chance ?




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Sometimes when they make a mess they crawl through it and if you have a dark snake you won't know he is dirty. I spray my snakes down on a daily basis with warm water in a pump up sprayer when I'm wetting down the substrate and checking on them. Just avoid spraying water directly in their face. My guess is he is just dirty.

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Originally Posted by cchardwick

Sometimes when they make a mess they crawl through it and if you have a dark snake you won't know he is dirty. I spray my snakes down on a daily basis with warm water in a pump up sprayer when I'm wetting down the substrate and checking on them. Just avoid spraying water directly in their face. My guess is he is just dirty.

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^^^^^ this.
Id bet he has some piss on him. Mine crawl through it and I have to wipe them off with warm water & paper towel otherwise they stink.


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Originally Posted by Zincubus

Are you using aspen substrate by any chance ?




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No, I use forest floor and eco earth

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Originally Posted by cchardwick

Sometimes when they make a mess they crawl through it and if you have a dark snake you won't know he is dirty. I spray my snakes down on a daily basis with warm water in a pump up sprayer when I'm wetting down the substrate and checking on them. Just avoid spraying water directly in their face. My guess is he is just dirty.

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He is pale yellow, so I know when he is dirty. I don't ever spray his enclosure, but he does get baths occasionally. He still has that smell even after a bath though. It's very odd.

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Originally Posted by CALM Pythons

^^^^^ this.
Id bet he has some piss on him. Mine crawl through it and I have to wipe them off with warm water & paper towel otherwise they stink.


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I'll wipe him off some today and see if that helps at all

This thread got me thinking. Would it be safe to use unscented baby wipes on a snake?

Your snake smells because your substrate smells. That musty woodsy smell is forest floor. Nothing to worry about.

I use Baby Shampoo their all crap really bad however i dont use wood chips so a warm paper towel does the trick on mine 9/10 times.


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Originally Posted by Hannahrenee

He is pale yellow, so I know when he is dirty. I don't ever spray his enclosure, but he does get baths occasionally. He still has that smell even after a bath though. It's very odd.

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What? What about humidity? I have to spray my bps at least twice a week.

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Originally Posted by GpBp

What? What about humidity? I have to spray my bps at least twice a week.

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I have pretty much got it down so I only have to spray when they're in shed. You don't exactly have to spray to keep up humidity, you can cover the lid, use a bigger water bowl, different substrate etc etc.

Just a nitpick: your snake stinks. You smell. :D

With little snakes it's not so bad. Big snakes + bigger messes + more surface area to marinate in it = bigger stink.

I’ve been using baby wipes for 15 years, I’ve never had any issues with them. If I suspect they might of crawled or laided in their waste, I let them slither thru a wipe a couple times. 😉