New BP owner need help - please

Hi Everyone - So I have posted 2x now and maybe spoke too soon, since my little guy was doing so great that was a week ago. Today though I NEED HELP I am very worried and maybe I shouldn't be - but I would like you to look at these pics and tell me what you think. Here's the back ground.

When I got him he was still on pinkies at the advice of some very helpful people here (he was too big for pinkies)- I moved him to a small live mouse - which he did great with - that was FRIDAY night - this is Sunday night.

When I went in tonight to check on him and change his water - he has not moved since he ate!! he is just laying there - the bulge from the mouse is still there - but I noticed his head looks sunken in and his skin looks wrinkled. I thought at first maybe it was wrinkled from stretching during his meal - but his head is sunken in and his eyes - so I read on here that could be dehydration?? So I took him out of his cage while I changed the water and thought I would give him a little bath to get some water in him possibly. He just laid in the bowl of luke warm water - he did take a few drinks though - but not what I hoped for. So his temperment is fine, he does not mind me holding him, he wants nothing to do with his hide. His temp is 90 on warm side and 82 on cool side - humidity between 50 -60%

So please look at these pics and tell me what I should do and what you think it is and/or if I should take him to a vet and/or if you think its just him still digesting his meal??? Or am I just being an over paranoid MOM!

Thanks, Cara
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...d/ed65d094.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...2/ed65cfba.jpg

After BP's eat they are really lazy for the next 48 hours. It is recommended that you dont handle them much for the next 48 hours after feeding

Yea tonight is going on 52 hours... I am assuming that is why he is being this way - but his skin is wrinkled and his head is sunken in:(:(

That's a fairly visible swelling after that many hours since he fed. How big was that mouse in relation to his biggest girth?

the widest part of the mouse was 1 1/2" with fur and he is 1 3/4' at his widest point and is appx 20 inches long It was the smallest mouse at the pet store.

Do you know how much your snake weighs?

OK So I just went in to check on him - only to find a disgusting smell - He threw up the mouse:( Probably all my fault too since I took him out when I changed his water and thought to put him in the luke warm bowl of water to get him to drink:( GOsh I feel horrible - makes me wanna cry if this was my fault:(


He seems alert and has moved:( So now what?? GOsh this is really heartbreaking - I am trying to be the best I can and do everything right with him. I even waited 52 hours to take him out - just in case!! And only had him out for like 10 minutes.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SarahMB

Do you know how much your snake weighs?

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NoI don't yet:( My next purchase is a scale to weigh him

I'm only asking because the snake looks pretty skinny to me. I'm no expert, but my own snakes have also never had a lump like that after 52 hrs digestion. I don't think you did anything to cause this, but I would definitely take that snake to a vet and have it checked out.

Sounds like something else is going on in side of him! Also those pictures he looks pretty skinny! As said above I would take him to a vet and get him checked out because snakes don't keep lumps in their bellys for that long. also he may be dehydrated.

UPDATE -So I talked to the vet - they said he has to go to a fuzzy, only worry about the dehydration if he's not drinking - more than likely his last meal blocked his fluids from getting to him. So came home gave him some water - he drank just fine, he seems to be back to his sweet inquisitive self. Vet said to try and give him a fuzzy if he drinks, so he's upstairs right now devouring a fuzzy, let's hope this works:)

That's great! I dont think you did anything wrong, You seem like you really care about him. Plz post and let us know if he eats the fuzzie!

Thanks Byte - Makes me feel better:)

Well so far the feeding has gone well - he ate the fuzzy and is laying along the glass in his warm side - no lump though! Not thats visible, hope that does not mean that he is too big for Fuzzies??
He is alert and his head does not look sunk in now.

I guess now I will just wait and see.

Also he keeps rubbing his face along the glass - is that normal???

ok VERY important now that ur snake has regurgitated he has also lost most of his sidgestive acids and enzymes in his stomac so i suggest that u wait 2 weeks before feeding again

well if hes eating nvm but be careful

keep the snake warm and well hydrated. keep handling at a minimum. only feed once a week, get him eating steady on the right size rodent before trying to make any changes. the setup has alot to do with success with ball pythons. if their needs are properly met, these snakes are no problems.



vaughn

I was going to say what Ninjapython did, about waiting a couple of weeks before feeding to let things settle down (it was advised to me when I had a hognose regurge).

One thing that sounds very strange to me is that it doesn't use its hide - a BP not using a hide is a really unusual thing.

I hope everything goes well for you both.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Razaiel

One thing that sounds very strange to me is that it doesn't use its hide - a BP not using a hide is a really unusual thing.

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Unusual but not unheard of. I would only be worried if it wasn't using its hides and then it was roaming around all day instead of sleeping somewhere.

Well - so far so good:oops: When I fed him yesterday the vet had suggested that I try, plus he was hunting around his viv, plus he is VERY SMALL - I don't think he could go 2 weeks with nothing - he is very skinny. This morning he was in his hide and snuggled up! I don't plan on holding him until Thursday and then just to clean his cage up a bit. I think he is back on track!:pinkele:

I'll let you know if anything changes, but for now I think were all good - atleast I hope we are! I've become very attached to this little guy!

One other suggestion for you, the next time he poops, bag it in a zip lock and drop it by the vet for a fecal check to make sure he doesn't have internal parasites. My first ball python regurged on me, and it turned out that he had internal parasites (easily treated once caught).


If he regurges again, wait at least a week before offering food again - they need time to re-build the enzymes in their stomachs, a regurge is very stressful on their bodies. I was advised by my vet to add some unflavored Pedialyte to the water.