New Python, previous owner.

[LestertheLesser]

So I am the owner of a fat happy year and half vanilla female ball python. We are not really sure if we want to breed her but we decided to get her a friend/mate. At the recent reptile expo I was looking at a few males. Having a smaller female (because she's growing) we decided we wanted an older one, a snake that had a little size to him. I wanted a spider when I came across a beautiful lesser. He handled great and my girlfriend was comfortable with him so I decided on him. We paid 60$ for him and I thought it was too good to be true. I have a feeling I was right now. I got him home, he's active, alert and follows his surroundings well. He has good muscle tone and flicks his tounge often. The day after purchasing him I noticed that he had just a little bit blood speckled mucus leaking out the side of his mouth. It was a very minimal amount and it got me a little worried. The next day after that I noticed blood in his throat as he yawned, but his mouth appears clear and clean. No mucus that day but he was keeping his head elevated. I talked with a vet who offered the idea of making a humidifier and mixing eucalyptus oils to help the snake. It's now been a few days home and he is still worrying me. He again, is active, alert, and seems happy to be around. He doesn't cough or wheeze while being handled. He hasn't ate yet, and refused his meal that I last offered but I think he's close to shedding (got the meal before getting home to check on him). When checking on him this morning he had no blood inside or outside, and his mouth was clear, no mucus. So if he's looking good, shedding, and alert should I be as worried as I am? I honestly think the blood is from getting a piece of bedding in his mouth because when I picked him up he had some in his mouth. The vet told me to watch him for a few days is all they said. Any suggestions? The vet doesn't seem worried but they've only been in contact over the phone.

[DVirginiana]

With anything worrisome like that, I'd just be extra cautious with my quarantine procedures. 90 days, no contact with my other snakes, washing hands/sanitizing equipment after using it with him, ect.

It's probably nothing if he's looking better, but it's always better to be paranoid about a new arrival than have something nasty spreading through your whole collection.

[LestertheLesser]

Yes, they have not been mixed with each other. She is in a complete other room and separate from him. There has been no contact between the two, with hand washing all done in between handling the two but I don't think I've even handled both in one day since she's in her feeding time.