injured ball?

I took on a ball python four months ago.:) He seems very healthy in all respects and is growing very quickly. However i have two concerns 1) he doesn't mind being touched on his head at all (i read elsewhere that this is a bad sign of health?) :confused: and 2) he has had a small strip 4cm long and 2mm wide along his neck (dorsal side) which looks like it could be a scar. I thought it would go with his shed but he has shed twice now and it doesn't look any better or worse. It has no pigment or scales and looks to me like it could have been a scratch or burn?? any ideas what this is? or if it will ever go away/cause future problems :confuzd: (will post piccy later) (as am in the UK no live feed so probably not caused by food fight)

Was he house with other pythons prior to your getting him?

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1) he doesn't mind being touched on his head at all (i read elsewhere that this is a bad sign of health?) :confused:

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I wouldn't read into that as a sure sign he is ailing, and yes many ball pythons are head shy, there are a few here and there that could care less.

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2) he has had a small strip 4cm long and 2mm wide along his neck (dorsal side) which looks like it could be a scar.

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Without a picture its hard to say. You said its been 2 sheds? It *could* be a burn thats healing, which usually takes a while to clear up (longer than 2 sheds). Just keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn't open up or become infected. These guys can bounce back pretty well with just good old proper care, so just keep an eye on it and be aware of any changes.

possibly. he was captive bred, when i got him he was alone.

Did you get any info on his previous setup? I've seen some people do some silly things, like have heat lamps INSIDE cages or use old uncontrolled hot rocks. A snake with a burn/scar and a setup like that almost always go hand in hand.

Agreed also if he had to compete with other snakes of an old age or larger size might be a battle scar.

i don't think he was kept anywhere that it could have happened like with a light in the cage- that's what confused me. i got him from a reputable breeder. My main concern was that it was a sign if a skin infection or a virus or someother wierd disease. I will keep a close check. Thanks for your help - your'e so right, it will be suceptable to infection etc. Thank you for replying and apologies for asking basic questions on a professional site (i see from other postings this is not appreciated!) this is a good story check out this like http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article...9-2279030.html

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Originally Posted by Soph

I took on a ball python four months ago.:) He seems very healthy in all respects and is growing very quickly. However i have two concerns 1) he doesn't mind being touched on his head at all (i read elsewhere that this is a bad sign of health?)

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all of mine but Baby are great with there heads. I try and work with them little by little. It makes it much easyer for me or a vet to look in there mouth or check there head. Lady will even let me open her mouth. (that took about 2 months of work with her. 1 day of working with her and 5 days resting to keep stress down)

all of mine are fat little piggies too.

Asking questions is why we are here. Why don't you call the breeder and see if he can tell you what happened. Most breeders are good about tell you the history of the animal

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Thank you for replying and apologies for asking basic questions on a professional site (i see from other postings this is not appreciated!)

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No no, don't apologize. This is what we're here for. Those other cases are kind of "special." ;) If you could find a way to post some pics up, we could probably help you more with identifying exactly what's there and what to do about it, if anything.

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Originally Posted by Soph

Thank you for replying and apologies for asking basic questions on a professional site (i see from other postings this is not appreciated!)

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Hehe...maybe we should post a warning sign that says "Please Excuse Our Mess." A few recent postings you may have seen are not the norm around here. We're all about the "basics" and especially about helping new keepers find a safe and comfortable place where they can ask ANY question they feel they need to.

So...welcome aboard!! :handshake: Please feel free to stay and ask/discuss whatever is on your heart.

i'm so glad i found this site. not many friends into reptiles! Even one of my close friends who's a vet stuck her nose up and said 'i only deal with small animals reptiles are something entirely different' (i have now found a good herp vet!)Will post a piccy next week - bit hectic at mo. Thank you all again for responses good to know he's not dying.

:hug:

See we don't mind questions. Welcome to the sight and if you could post some pics like JLC said we might be able to help me

We're all friendly here :welcome: I found this site when I was a newbie to BP's and found it was so nice here I stayed :) I'm from the UK too, Oxford, I used to work in London though (and I've got a daughter called Sophie who we tend to call Soph ;) )

~Sue

Hi Soph. I'm not too far from you - Wiltshire. I have a Cornsnake who has bad scarring, especially at the side of his neck. The previous owners didn't have a clue on how to look after a snake - and sold him and his set-up (which was so disgusting it went straight in the bin) for £10 beer money:mad:


He had an unguarded household bulb, no thermostat as a heat source - and you can guess the rest. He's in a Really Useful Box now, kept spotlessly clean, with hides, greenery and a constant supply of fresh water - something else the poor snake didn't have with the previous owners. Because the scarring is quite deep, I am careful what size of mice I feed him. I prefer to give him 3 or 4 smaller mice rather than one big mouse. I've had him just over two months now and he's shed 3 times so is really growing. He's a lovely, nice natured snake - and a stunner too, despite the scarring.

I also have two Royal Pythons. Both are completely different in temperament. Byron, who I've had since he was a hatchling is as bold as brass and doesn't mind me gently stroking the top of his head. He's gorgeous and really friendly. I can't remember that last time I saw him ball up - when he was a hatchling.

My other Royal (who's older and was a rescue - he'd been terribly neglected) is very shy and doesn't like his head being touched. Once he's been out for about 10 minutes, he settles down and is a really nice, gentle snake too.

It would be helpful if you could put a pic on the forum, but if you are in any doubt, take your snake to a reptile vet. If you don't know where there is one, your local vet should have contact details. We're quite lucky as we have a reptile vet here.