What is this?

[IslandJack]

Hi all!

So my son just sent me this picture of one of our ball pythons and I was hoping someone could help in identifying it.

I plan on taking him to the vet this evening, but was hoping someone could provide me with a bit of insight.

Thanks!

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[indygunnerguy]

Hi all!

So my son just sent me this picture of one of our ball pythons and I was hoping someone could help in identifying it.

I plan on taking him to the vet this evening, but was hoping someone could provide me with a bit of insight.

Thanks!

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Is it near the base of the tail? It may be a spur, which is perfectly normal.

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[IslandJack]

It does look like a spur. Is it common for it to just appear like that?

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[Bogertophis]

If you mean that little yellowish thing in the middle of the photo, that appears to be one of two spurs on his ball python...one on either side of his cloaca.

It's totally normal...not all snakes have spurs (they are the vestigial remains of having evolved from lizards...you're looking at what's left of his thigh bone), but
of those that do, they are typically more prominent on the males, & in fact when mating the male snakes actually use their spurs to actively to stroke the female
in an effort to gain her cooperation in mating. In some snakes, both males & females have spurs, so it's not a reliable way to identify the gender. Rosy boas have
them too, incidentally.

If you run to the vet with this question, he'll have a good laugh... & at your expense.

[IslandJack]

If you mean that little yellowish thing in the middle of the photo, that appears to be one of two spurs on his ball python...one on either side of his cloaca.

It's totally normal...not all snakes have spurs (they are the vestigial remains of having evolved from lizards...you looking at what's left of his thigh bone), but
of those that do, they are typically more prominent on the males, & in fact when mating the male snakes actually use their spurs to actively to stroke the female
in an effort to gain her cooperation in mating. In some snakes, both males & females have spurs, so it's not a reliable way to identify the gender. Rosy boas have
them too, incidentally.

If you run to the vet with this question, he'll have a good laugh... & at your expense.

Thank you!

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[Craiga 01453]

Yup, as the others said, it's a spur.