mouth rot

Good morning,
My daughter just got a ball python. We were told he has only eaten once since thanksgiving. We were not too concerned since I had read in my research they can go off food sometimes. We have had him a week, left him alone, no holding. He is in a 30 gallon breeder on coconut fiber, and cypress and have moss as well. He has two hides and lots of greenery and wood to climb. He still didn't eat a week later.

Yesterday I happened to go in my daughters room and saw him making strange mouth movements, not like a stretch or yawn, but more like a grinding. I then noticed inside his mouth is dark? I took a video, and a still of the inside of his mouth.

https://i.postimg.cc/TKWt8V5r/Screen...8-32-27-AM.png

I already called the vet and made and appt for thursday, but wondered if anyone here has seen this before


Thanks
Kelly

I forgot to add a link to the video

https://youtu.be/h20LGnSvEUQ

I also wanted to add he has a heat mat with the thermostat set to 85, a heat lamp with a dimmer so that is it just warm. He likes to sit under it on his hide sometimes, and humidity is at 50 to 60 percent. Trying to keep it on the higher end

I can't help with mouth rot but, his hot spot (under tank heater) should be around 90f. Ambient temperature in the tank should be around 80f so check what your lamp is doing.

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Originally Posted by SquirmyPug

I can't help with mouth rot but, his hot spot (under tank heater) should be around 90f. Ambient temperature in the tank should be around 80f so check what your lamp is doing.

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So I should up the under tank to 90, and turn off the lamp, or add just a regular non heat bulb?

You need a hot spot with a hide on it (your under tank heater) at about 90f. If you don't have that then adjust it.

The under tank heater doesn't really heat the air in the tank so you still need the lamp unless your room is warm.

You should set the lamp so that the ambient air temperature is around 80f on the cool side. If it's a little warmer on the side with the hot spot that's fine.

I would put the lamp either on the hot side or near the center so that it heats all the tank a bit.

Thanks, I appreciate it!

I have seen that "grinding" a lot when snakes have a piece of substrate in their mouth. It may be poking at them and they're trying to work it out. Could it be that OP?

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Originally Posted by Treeman

I have seen that "grinding" a lot when snakes have a piece of substrate in their mouth. It may be poking at them and they're trying to work it out. Could it be that OP?

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That was my thought at 1st, until I saw the inside of his mouth, it just looks abnormal. The vet will let me know if thats just pigment, I don't see any substrate in his mouth

He doesn’t seem able to close his mouth all the way, have you noticed mucus in the mouth? It’s hard to see clearly in the pic and video? I would definitely get him to a vet pronto!

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Originally Posted by Sonny1318

He doesn’t seem able to close his mouth all the way, have you noticed mucus in the mouth? It’s hard to see clearly in the pic and video? I would definitely get him to a vet pronto!

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There is no Mucus, I have an appt as soon as I could get in, which is Thursday. I am glad I saw him doing this. I have never owned a snake, it's my daughters, but I find him fascinating so I am always peeking in on him when I walk by her room. I could just tell something didn't look right.

Mouth rot looks like cheesy substance around its gums. Sometimes it is bad enough the snake can't close its mouth completely. I cannot tell by your pic for sure but mouth rot is very obvious when you see it. Nonetheless, it never hurts to confirm with a vet to be sure.

UPDATE:

Took him to the vet, his mouth is fine, nice and pink and clear. She said it was probably just substrate. She says he is skinny, but otherwise healthy and suggested offering a fuzzy vs the small mouse and see if he will take it, since he is small, only 75 grams

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Originally Posted by cyvamp

UPDATE:

Took him to the vet, his mouth is fine, nice and pink and clear. She said it was probably just substrate. She says he is skinny, but otherwise healthy and suggested offering a fuzzy vs the small mouse and see if he will take it, since he is small, only 75 grams

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That’s great to hear, glad it was nothing. Much better safe then sorry.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cyvamp

UPDATE:

Took him to the vet, his mouth is fine, nice and pink and clear. She said it was probably just substrate. She says he is skinny, but otherwise healthy and suggested offering a fuzzy vs the small mouse and see if he will take it, since he is small, only 75 grams

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That's what it looked like to me, especially by the motions he was making with his head...snakes have a hard time getting things out of their mouth and if it ever
happens again, you want to help him rinse his mouth out. Guess I missed this thread before today?

Glad he's OK, and I hope he eats soon now for you: I have a feeling that the whole reason he ended up with a mouthful of substrate was that he was hungry and
could smell previously-offered rodent in the substrate, so he tried to eat it. I know, "epic fail" ;) but my point is, he's hungry & you should offer whatever he was
offered previously (rat or mouse) for best results, since they smell quite different. Good luck, keep us posted? :snake: