My BP drools...

[LestertheLesser]

My BP drools, yes drools. He had a minor RI a few ago which was cured with injections. The vet has had a few check ups since and claims he is perfectly healthy and the RI is cleared. When asking about the drooling she said it could be a nervous act. He drools not all the time but I've caught him drooling during handling, and a recent tank move, woke up and he was drooling this morning. It's not a lot but it does drip some. He's eating very well and gaining weight like crazy 900-1400 grams in just few weeks now.


So do I just have a very nervous snake?

[BCS]

The only time I have ever heard of a ball python drooling is when they have an RI. As far as I am aware, nervous snakes do not drool. I have never heard of it or even witnessed it with my BPs. They "ball" up for a reason. Someone else may chime in that has more experience though, but I have never heard of this unless there still some traces of the RI.

[bcr229]

Drooling is not normal. I would find a different vet.

[Reinz]

I'm thinking regurge of water and or reflux.

As far as actual drool? Don't know if snakes have salivary glands?
Need a vet.

I agree with bcr229.

[anicatgirl]

Different vet... I don't think they even have salivary glands... So no. Not drool... Is a reptile vet? That sounds IMO like something my kitty vet would say...

[LestertheLesser]

Well I took him to the other reptile vet in town and they ran some tests, even using the drool, because he was drooling, and he came back negative for anything. He's been at both vets since this post and both say he's good to go. The vet said the drool was pretty much just water. He's a staggering 1451 grams, on 6/1 he was only 803. My guess is that it's excess water that he's drinking. Either way it's still a mystery, I'll continue his quarantine process, he still has a while until my female is ready to breed. (3 month old Lesser/Yellowbelly). I'm looking for a blue eyed Lucy to add to the collection in a few years.

[tbowman]

Different vet... I don't think they even have salivary glands... So no. Not drool... Is a reptile vet? That sounds IMO like something my kitty vet would say...

Snakes most definitely have salivary glands.

[DVirginiana]

Yes, snakes have salivary glands. That's why the prey looks 'sticky' when they're done constricting and release to start looking for the head.

Sounds like water reflux to me, which isn't a problem, but shouldn't be happening all the time. Keep a close eye for any other symptoms until the 'drooling' stops.

[anicatgirl]

Snakes most definitely have salivary glands.

Fair enough. TY for the correction/education to you and DVirginiana. But am I correct in gathering that it should not be in this kind of measurable amount?