Blood on Bedding?

[SnakeLady1990]

So, we adopted a female adult ball python. When we got her she was slightly underweight, had some bite marks from the previous owners mistakes of not observing live feedings, and had a really bad shed.

She has three bite marks, here is a photo of one.



She refuses to eat a full rat, like she is scared of them. So I feed two medium mice.

I went in her tank today and found bloody bedding...what could it be? Her temps are 88 on the hot end and 76 on the cool end. She has two hides and a big water bowl.

Here is a full pic of her.



It almost looked like she regurged a mouse but the mouse was nowhere to be found...do you think she re-ate it?

I am making an appointment for the vet but takes a week at the least to get in. Any help is appriciated. Thanks!

[Sammy412]

I've never heard of a snake eating a regurge. Your temps are too low on the hot side, they should be right around 91-92. ALso too low on the cool side, should be around 80. Could she have scraped one of the bite marks on something in the tank?

[snakesRkewl]

I shoot for...

78-80 cool end
86-87 warm end
90-92 hot spot if your using a heat pad

91-92 is too hot for an ambient temp IMO

Did the snake shed recently since the bedding was changed?

[Sammy412]

91-92 is the hot spot, sorry if that wasn't clear.

[SnakeLady1990]

I've never heard of a snake eating a regurge. Your temps are too low on the hot side, they should be right around 91-92. ALso too low on the cool side, should be around 80. Could she have scraped one of the bite marks on something in the tank?

Possibly the branch/log thing that is in there for when she sheds...They are old bite wounds...can they re-open?

Also, the blood was no where near the poo/urate.

[Sammy412]

Good that it wasn't near the waste. If that picture is recent, then she could have pulled it on something and made it bleed a little. I know if I get a rescue with bite wounds, they go on paper towels with smooth plastic hides, just to be on the safe side until they are healed. The would in that picture still looks open a little.

[SnakeLady1990]

91-92 is the hot spot, sorry if that wasn't clear.

Ok, there is a heat mat in there too though. I don't have a temp gun yet so the two thermometers are about 3" from the ground...would the big heat pad make the temp a bit higher?

[Sammy412]

Yeah, the temp will not be accurate even 3 inches above. Temp guns are awesome, I love mine.

[SnakeLady1990]

I double checked my thermometer too...it's a weird one. The line is between the numbers 87 and 92. So about 89-90?

The thermometer skips a few numbers...goes from 87-92 and the temp is saying it's right inbetween the two numbers, closer to 92. I need a better one, lol.

But again, there is also the heat pad.

[SnakeLady1990]

Yeah, the temp will not be accurate even 3 inches above. Temp guns are awesome, I love mine.

I got one in an order...just need to get a bit more money to get it shipped in.

But still...what could the blood be from?