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  1. #1
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    My ball python is hurt should I go see a vet ?

    My ball python recently escaped and got some very slightly damaged scales. It didn't looked bad so I didn't preoccupied with it. Later he shed, he shed yesterday, and I found that where his scale where damaged it was way worst that I thought. The shed didn't go off from his injury, should I remove it ? There is some white spot on his body that weren't there. I am not able to find a way to post picture from mobile, so I can't include them for now.

    Should I go to the veterinary or what should I do if not?
    I don't whow if he could help, but his shed was fine excluding his injury, his terrarium got a hot spot of 88-93f and an overall of 24 (75f) Celsius, but it sometimes droped at 22(72f) Celsius, at night, which I know is too low. At day it goes from 24 to 27(75f to 80f) and it did happened to go up to 29(84f). Moisture is almost always in the range of 50 to 65%
    Is my day temperature ok ? And how can I prevent the night temperature to drop in the enclosure?
    I am new to reptile keeping.

  2. #2
    Bogertophis's Avatar
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    Do NOT remove the skin stuck to the injured area & I'd recommend a vet check (should be a qualified herp/exotic vet with snake experience) since you've said
    it's appears way worse than you first thought. We aren't seeing it, so better to be safe. What you could have done ("hindsight") after you got your snake back
    from his escape & noticed minor (?) wounds is to apply either Betadine (Povidone Iodine) or Vetericyn (a topical antiseptic gel for snakes) preferably. A few other
    things can work also, such as Neosporin, NOT the pain relief type, is OK, but use it sparingly, as it's petroleum jelly based which can mess up future sheds. But
    right now, leaving the shed skin covering the wound is better until the vet can determine if it's infected or not, or if it's bleeding (which you didn't mention?) If it
    has scabbed over, you want to leave it in place...you don't want to make it worse.

    Daytime cage temp is a little high...I'd keep it at or below 90 for the hot spot. Preventing heat loss at night depends on many things...first what kind of cage is it?
    What kind of heat are you using? How cold is the room it's in? Might be as easy as insulating the cage to keep the heat inside.
    Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength.
    Eric Hoffer (1902 - 1983)

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  4. #3
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    Re: My ball python is hurt should I go see a vet ?

    There is a bit of blood and do you know how I can put picture ?
    Last edited by Mark144; 08-07-2019 at 11:02 PM.

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    By the way, how many days has it been since the escape & injury occurred?

    I also wonder if he made it worse (re-opening the wound) by trying to shed (rubbing against it)?

    And I agree ^ ^ ^ we can't tell you much without seeing it.
    Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength.
    Eric Hoffer (1902 - 1983)

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  9. #6
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    It's been two weeks and some days

    For his heat he has a heat lamp, but the bulb goes too hot so I don't use it and he has a heat pad with a thermostat
    Last edited by Mark144; 08-07-2019 at 11:07 PM.

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    Re: My ball python is hurt should I go see a vet ?

    Quote Originally Posted by Mark144 View Post
    It's been two weeks and some days

    For his heat he has a heat lamp, but the bulb goes too hot so I don't use it and he has a heat pad with a thermostat
    At the very least you should buy an inexpensive rheostat (lamp dimmer) from the local hardware/home improvement store.

    Easiest to use is the kind already installed in an extension cord so you just plug your light into it & use the control knob to dim the light down- be sure to check temps.

    Otherwise, you can buy just the rheostat by itself, but you'll have to install it into the cord on your lamp, & depending on what kind of cord it has, can be a pain.
    Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength.
    Eric Hoffer (1902 - 1983)

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    Re: My ball python is hurt should I go see a vet ?


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    Hard to tell how deep it is & since it's been a while, a (herp) vet would be a good idea, IMO.

    When a snake gets injured, they often shed more frequently as their body tries to heal...but ironically, the act of shedding can re-open the wound.

    It's also hard to put a bandage on a snake, & when you apply a topical antiseptic, or also just the wound itself, can invite bits of substrate in the cage to stick to the
    wound & cause trouble (promote infection etc). You should be keeping this snake on plain (preferably white) paper towels as substrate while he's healing & until the
    vet clears him. Paper towels won't get stuck in the wound, but also any blood or oozing from the wound will show up on the towels...something you should monitor.
    You need to keep him as clean as you can (change the paper towels when they get soiled).
    Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength.
    Eric Hoffer (1902 - 1983)

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