Ball Python Stuck!! Hurting himself, please help!

I have no idea how but my snake has got himself stuck and he is hurting himself trying to get out, I see pink flesh coming out of his belly as he is trying to rip out of it. I have tried putting water base lubricant but nothing is helping, i think he has caught himself on the inside.

https://imgur.com/a/2H3zHPl

Any suggestions? I am desperate, I cant take him to the vet till the morning.

Maybe loads of lubricant on it both sides of the ornament and wrap a towel around it and very gently try to ease it BACK out ??

I don’t see it being able to get all the way through it ..


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OMG, that poor snake! You must never put stuff like this in snake cages...this is why. :(

What is that thing made of? If you can carefully (!) saw thru that without cutting into him...maybe just far enough, not quite all the way thru, so it can be broken open-
otherwise he can die from this, sorry to say morning may be too late. Snake's scales get stuck, they only slide in one direction & catch the other way so they cannot back
out. Maybe a vet (veterinary ER?) would have a better idea...maybe anesthetize the snake so he can be manipulated easier, or won't be moving & fighting back. PLEASE
get this poor snake some help ASAP...this is your fault, not his. Call the vet, describe the situation NOW. A vet can use a saw like they use to cut off a cast.

I would be trying to cut, pry, break that off of my snake!

If the lube is not working, take it to an emergency vet asap. Those things don't break easy by hand, I see them at the pet store all the time, hard plastic. You can hurt him by pulling the wrong way, or hurt him by other ways. Put him in a pillow, keep him as still as possible and rush to the vet. If his flesh is exposed, he will need medical no matter what. Best news would be he manage get out on the way to the vet, worst is that he continues to cut himself.

Contact your closest emergency vet, even if they don't treat exotic, call and ask for advice and help.

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Originally Posted by Cheesenugget

If the lube is not working, take it to an emergency vet asap. Those things don't break easy by hand, I see them at the pet store all the time, hard plastic. You can hurt him by pulling the wrong way, or hurt him by other ways. Put him in a pillow, keep him as still as possible and rush to the vet. If his flesh is exposed, he will need medical no matter what. Best news would be he manage get out on the way to the vet, worst is that he continues to cut himself.

Contact your closest emergency vet, even if they don't treat exotic, call and ask for advice and help.

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I sure hope that the lack of an answer from the OP means they're on their way to the vet...:please:

Omg I have had to worse couple of hours. I couldn't get hold of anyone apart from a local vet who had no clue so I have been easing away the snake with oil and lubrication and I finally got him free!!! He is feeling very sorry for myself and I am on the verge of a panic attack...... He is cut up around the area but he is alive... I am will be going to the vet I know first thing to get him treated but he is back in his hide on the warm side for the time being...

I have had that stupid T rex thing and the ball python for 1.5 years (first time snake owner, got him when he was 3 months old) and I have never seen him do this. It is in the bin already, lesson learned.

Thank you all for your replies, I was way too stressed to answer but I was reading them <3

Will keep you all posted on recovery and treatment

Just as an FYI, a Dremel with a blade can be a quick, safe way to disarticulate resin decorations without alarming the snake more than it aready is.

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Originally Posted by Spicey

Just as an FYI, a Dremel with a blade can be a quick, safe way to disarticulate resin decorations without alarming the snake more than it aready is.

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This would be safer if there was a second pair of hands to make sure the snake didn't suddenly veer toward the Dremel...you have to plan for the unthinkable.

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Originally Posted by Bunsen

Omg I have had to worse couple of hours. I couldn't get hold of anyone apart from a local vet who had no clue so I have been easing away the snake with oil and lubrication and I finally got him free!!! He is feeling very sorry for myself and I am on the verge of a panic attack...... He is cut up around the area but he is alive... I am will be going to the vet I know first thing to get him treated but he is back in his hide on the warm side for the time being...

I have had that stupid T rex thing and the ball python for 1.5 years (first time snake owner, got him when he was 3 months old) and I have never seen him do this. It is in the bin already, lesson learned.

Thank you all for your replies, I was way too stressed to answer but I was reading them <3

Will keep you all posted on recovery and treatment

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I so hope the cuts aren't too bad & that he recovers. I know you didn't mean for this to happen. Sooner or later, snakes in captivity have nothing better to do than check out everything within their reach -it's up to us to do the thinking for them, they don't know better than to get stuck. Even in the wild, snakes get killed this way, going thru some kinds of fences (especially 'bird netting' that some ppl use in their garden) or other debris. Just because pet stores sell cage "decor" doesn't mean it's safe...it may be fine for fish to swim thru, but never for snakes. Even driftwood, you have to make sure there's no holes that your snake can get stuck in, & never use cholla logs either.

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

I so hope the cuts aren't too bad & that he recovers. I know you didn't mean for this to happen. Sooner or later, snakes in captivity have nothing better to do than check out everything within their reach -it's up to us to do the thinking for them, they don't know better than to get stuck. Even in the wild, snakes get killed this way, going thru some kinds of fences (especially 'bird netting' that some ppl use in their garden) or other debris. Just because pet stores sell cage "decor" doesn't mean it's safe...it may be fine for fish to swim thru, but never for snakes. Even driftwood, you have to make sure there's no holes that your snake can get stuck in, & never use cholla logs either.

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My ball python got stuck in BBQ tongs one evening as I was trying to feed him. I have no idea how it happened. In the am, I had my cleaning lady hold his tail (afraid of snakes) while I doused him and the tongs in vegetable oil. I had to squeeze him strongly and pull him out. Unbelievably stressful. The whole time the snake never panicked or struck at me. I still have no ideas how he got into them as his body was at least 3X the width of the opening and I didn't leave him unattended for more than 10 seconds. A little rub mark but be was back to normal in 2 days. I was incredibly lucky. Like OP, lesson learned and now hopefully taught.

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Originally Posted by SMTHook

My ball python got stuck in BBQ tongs one evening as I was trying to feed him. I have no idea how it happened. In the am, I had my cleaning lady hold his tail (afraid of snakes) while I doused him and the tongs in vegetable oil. I had to squeeze him strongly and pull him out. Unbelievably stressful. The whole time the snake never panicked or struck at me. I still have no ideas how he got into them as his body was at least 3X the width of the opening and I didn't leave him unattended for more than 10 seconds. A little rub mark but be was back to normal in 2 days. I was incredibly lucky. Like OP, lesson learned and now hopefully taught.

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Wow, that's a "new one". You & your snake were very lucky, especially since he could have gotten fatal internal injuries that way. Psst, get some long tweezers instead! Midwest sells them...;)

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Wow, that's a "new one". You & your snake were very lucky, especially since he could have gotten fatal internal injuries that way. Psst, get some long tweezers instead! Midwest sells them...;)

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I did the next day. Fortunately they are very flexible animals and built to squeeze.

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Originally Posted by Bunsen

Omg I have had to worse couple of hours. I couldn't get hold of anyone apart from a local vet who had no clue so I have been easing away the snake with oil and lubrication and I finally got him free!!! He is feeling very sorry for myself and I am on the verge of a panic attack...... He is cut up around the area but he is alive... I am will be going to the vet I know first thing to get him treated but he is back in his hide on the warm side for the time being...

I have had that stupid T rex thing and the ball python for 1.5 years (first time snake owner, got him when he was 3 months old) and I have never seen him do this. It is in the bin already, lesson learned.

Thank you all for your replies, I was way too stressed to answer but I was reading them <3

Will keep you all posted on recovery and treatment

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Good to hear you got it out ..

Did it go completely through or did you pull it out backwards..incidentally?


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He is the luckiest snake ever. Vet said there was no spinal damage or organ damage (thank god for his mobile heart) and just bruised himself where he got stuck. Some loose scales but overall a clean bill of health. He suggested putting some sudocrem or flamazine on the affected area and keep an eye on it for any scabbing etc. Next time I feed him i might give him a smaller rat size too.

https://imgur.com/a/5v6YFzh

Bogertophis: I know, its 100% my fault and it had honestly never occurred to me that he would do it... There is a photo of his whole enclosure in the link, if there is anything you think is wrong with it let me know. The branches I have are 'Lucky reptile dark grapevine'.

Zincubus: In the end I managed to slide him back out the way he came. He stopped tensing up for a second which was just enough time to slide him back out, either way so so so lucky...

Thanks again for all your input, now I can go to work while he sleeps it off!

Go through every bit of décor and ensure that there is no fully enclosed "hole" that he could get stuck in. I've even heard of snakes getting trapped in the clear, thin, almost invisible plastic wire loops used to attach price tags to fake plants.

Wow your so lucky,really glad your snake is OK too
snakes do daft stuff sometimes that's for sure
Mine for her head stuck in the circular vent, just couldn't believe it, just glad I was home and heard the commotion from upstairs, she was thrashing about, I had to cut it off her, she wasn't best pleased, luckily the glue gave way and came back with her, she must of pushed her nose into it and when she tried to pull back must been the wrong side of scales, and locked her in place, was round her mouth when I first went up, boy was she freaking out

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Bunsen, I'm SO very happy that your snake is apparently going to be ok after that near-disaster. :dance:

Part of the reason snakes go thru "holes" is that they always seek something to hold onto as they move forward. Unfortunately they aren't very visual, & obviously
not very logical...they're unable to foresee the danger of getting stuck. Sometimes it's because they smell the fresh air from outside their cage and are drawn to try
to escape, as richardhind1972's snake tried by going thru the vent. It's almost unbelievable but those of us who've been around have seen this before, your snake is
not the first...and sadly some die from their injuries. I'm very glad that you & your snake have gotten thru this...I'm sure you'll be checking the decor more critically
from now on. ;) I & many others usually do point out any hazards when we see them, but it's really the job of the owner. It's not the same just looking at a photo.

I agree with you, his next meal would best be on the small size...and I'd led him rest too, as opposed to any handling for a while- I suspect he's plenty sore.

I got some of that flamazine for him and rubbed it on his belly and he doesnt seem to be in any pain at all. I am truly amazed how he managed to get through this relatively unscathed. Watching him like a hawk for the time being!

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I'm sure you'll be checking the decor more critically
from now on. ;) I & many others usually do point out any hazards when we see them, but it's really the job of the owner. It's not the same just looking at a photo.

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Of course, just don't want him getting hurt ever again. I even filed down the edges of his hides when I got them as I thought they were a bit sharp... I will always will conscious of this from now on! The air vents are shut in from the outside so he shouldn't be able to push through it... but richardhind1972's snake just plowed through it!! Well done for getting her out of that. No BBQ tongs in sight either :)

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Go through every bit of décor and ensure that there is no fully enclosed "hole" that he could get stuck in. I've even heard of snakes getting trapped in the clear, thin, almost invisible plastic wire loops used to attach price tags to fake plants.

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I definitely cut all those stupid plastic loops off the plants but I have double, tripple checked his enclosure for anything else but he should be safe....

Thanks again everyone :snake: