Im looking for some advice about my ball python

My ball python opens his cloaca a lot resulting in him getting Eco Earth in there, so I switched him to paper towel. I have a vet appointment scheduled for tomorrow. I think he's not eating and opening his cloaca because he wants to breed. He was born in 2017 and I've never bred him and don't plan to. However, isn't the breeding season over? If so why is he wanting to breed so bad? He is also getting thinner as he grows so it bothers me that he's off feed. He's very active at night, doesn't seem lethargic or anything. The last time he ate was four weeks ago and he normally only eats about once a month if I'm lucky. His poop and pee look normal to me. 90 hot spot via heat mat, cool at 79-80 and 77 at night. Humidity around 60-65%. He sheds perfectly. Anyone know what I could possibly do? I hope this vet can help me out but I wanted to talk to experienced people also. I'm just worried about him as he's pretty thin. 😔

I really don't have any idea but please keep us posted with the vet says. I would love to know why he does that

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I would like to know why as well. This is something new to me.

We're not even seeing the snake (like how "thin" he really is?) so this is best left to the vet...do let us know what he/she thinks the issue is. I can think of several
possibilities but don't want to speculate, especially since you're seeing the vet tomorrow anyway. :gj:

Though you think he should be eating more than once a month, if he's being fed med-to-large rats, that may be all he really needs to eat. I think most males
that eat more often than that are being fed small rats, & I believe that's the recommended prey size for male BPs. (the females eat more & get larger for breeding)

The more I think about this, I have to wonder if he has either an infection or some bit of debris stuck* to his hemipenes or in his cloaca. *Assuming he was sexed
correctly too, this can (rarely) happen if they happen to evert their hemipenes & something sticks. Hope your vet visit goes well...

Update: I went to the vet and the vet said he's a little thin but nothing to worry about. He said he looks healthy and to basically just keep doing the stuff I'm doing (husbandry wise). The thing that bothers me is that he felt for any obstructions but when I asked him if we can try to get the debris out of his cloaca region he said that that's not necessary. I asked what about infection and he said if there was infection it would be red and swollen around the cloaca region. But why not look? This guy really didn't want to. I was told he was experience with snakes but I doubt it. I'd like to try to get it out myself but I'm not sure how to and I don't want to hurt my boy!

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Originally Posted by Kiley

Update: I went to the vet and the vet said he's a little thin but nothing to worry about. He said he looks healthy and to basically just keep doing the stuff I'm doing (husbandry wise). The thing that bothers me is that he felt for any obstructions but when I asked him if we can try to get the debris out of his cloaca region he said that that's not necessary. I asked what about infection and he said if there was infection it would be red and swollen around the cloaca region. But why not look? This guy really didn't want to. I was told he was experience with snakes but I doubt it. I'd like to try to get it out myself but I'm not sure how to and I don't want to hurt my boy!

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Did he confirm that "he" is a "he"?

Yeah I should've added pics. I'll try to upload photos when I get a chance to.

No he didn't

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Originally Posted by Kiley

No he didn't

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Crappy vet most likely. That said there are not many good ones when it comes to snakes.

just a shot in the dark: that's likely a bad vet. you had a specific reason for being there and that was totally ignored? big red flag.

regarding the description of what's happening: i almost worry about parasites. [emoji53]

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Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

just a shot in the dark: that's likely a bad vet. you had a specific reason for being there and that was totally ignored? big red flag.

regarding the description of what's happening: i almost worry about parasites. [emoji53]

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Yeah, probably wouldn't have hurt to have a fecal done. It would help to be able to actually see the behavior. My males are very active when they want to breed however I have never seen them do any displays without the female being around. My females on the other hand will often put their tails up and, forgive me, squirt a little even without the male being in the same cage.

The oddest thing I have ever seen a reptile do was when my daughter's tortoise fell in love with his water bowl. I kept hearing chirping and went to see what it was. He had "mounted" the water bowl and was chirping. I didn't even know they vocalized at all.

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Originally Posted by JodanOrNoDan

Yeah, probably wouldn't have hurt to have a fecal done. It would help to be able to actually see the behavior. My males are very active when they want to breed however I have never seen them do any displays without the female being around. My females on the other hand will often put their tails up and, forgive me, squirt a little even without the male being in the same cage.

The oddest thing I have ever seen a reptile do was when my daughter's tortoise fell in love with his water bowl. I kept hearing chirping and went to see what it was. He had "mounted" the water bowl and was chirping. I didn't even know they vocalized at all.

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I didn't know that either. :rofl:

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Originally Posted by Kiley

No he didn't

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(re confirming that "he" is a "he") It's too bad he didn't do that, as that likely would have helped diagnostically, if there was infection or debris.
And I certainly don't "know" that's the problem, but it's just a possibility.

Good grief...you shouldn't have to draw a picture for the vet...:rolleyes: And a fecal to see if parasites are causing his weight loss would have been good too.

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Originally Posted by JodanOrNoDan

Crappy vet most likely. That said there are not many good ones when it comes to snakes.

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I called a lot of vets in my area and most people didn't look at reptiles. Two vets recommend this vet to me. When I called to make an appointment I double checked with them that he had a good amount of experience and they assured me that he did saying the zoo sends reptiles into him all the time. I'm just going to keep trying to figure this out myself.

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Originally Posted by Kiley

I called a lot of vets in my area and most people didn't look at reptiles. Two vets recommend this vet to me. When I called to make an appointment I double checked with them that he had a good amount of experience and they assured me that he did saying the zoo sends reptiles into him all the time. I'm just going to keep trying to figure this out myself.

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If he didn't do a fecal while you were there, you might try calling back, see if you can take him a sample to check; he's already seen the snake, can't hardly say no.
Might take a while for your snake to 'make something' since he's not eating so often, & you want to take it fresh...but it never hurts to check in advance with the vet.

Yeah...I'm all for fecals !
My boy was showing no signs of having parasites but a while back when I took him to the vet they recommend doing a fecal anyway and it's a good thing because he was loaded down with protozoans!
What state do you live in?

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Thanks, that's what I planned on doing as soon as he poos. I don't want to give this guy my business again so Im going to keep looking into vets and hopefully work with someone else.

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Originally Posted by Jellybeans

Yeah...I'm all for fecals !
My boy was showing no signs of having parasites but a while back when I took him to the vet they recommend doing a fecal anyway and it's a good thing because he was loaded down with protozoans!
What state do you live in?

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Minnesota

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Originally Posted by Kiley

Thanks, that's what I planned on doing as soon as he poos. I don't want to give this guy my business again so Im going to keep looking into vets and hopefully work with someone else....

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I don't blame you for not wanting to go back to him...the only reason I suggested that was that another vet may insist upon a full exam before just doing a fecal.

http://arav.site-ym.com/search/custom.asp?id=3661

How in the world do you upload a photo? I'm new here, sorry. I have an ok photo that may help show his weight. I think he's a bit skinny but I'm no expert. I wish I had a video or picture of his cloaca business...lol...but I don't. Also, he hasn't been opening it like he was. I wonder if whatever was in there is out now? I wish I knew how to look. Im on a couple fb snake groups and am considering asking for help popping him, of course from someone with experience. Idk.

I'm also for sure going to do a fecal sample.

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Originally Posted by Kiley

How in the world do you upload a photo? I'm new here, sorry. I have an ok photo that may help show his weight. I think he's a bit skinny but I'm no expert. I wish I had a video or picture of his cloaca business...lol...but I don't. Also, he hasn't been opening it like he was. I wonder if whatever was in there is out now? I wish I knew how to look. Im on a couple fb snake groups and am considering asking for help popping him, of course from someone with experience. Idk.

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You'll have to wait for someone who does upload photos here- or I think there's a 'sticky' for it also? (I never mess w/ photos, sorry)
Here's one link: http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=18760
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...-Post-Pictures

You had noticed him having substrate on his cloaca, as I recall? so yeah, maybe it's all out now, or else he's gotten used to it? :( Popping should let you see for yourself.
I just saw a good video of popping, trying to remember where??? Will post link if I figure it out.

BTW, I've popped tails on snakes but personally think adult snakes are better off probed to determine sex, though I know some do pop tails on adult snakes,
& in your case, you have a dual reason for tail popping...not just to check gender but to see if anything is wrong.