ball python fart?

[gka19]

Hi all,

I recently got a ball python about a month ago and I think he's having a problem. I've fed him live mice twice which he eagerly ate. A few days ago I tried feeding him again and he wasn't interested. Now i'm noticing his behavior is weird. He's opening his mouth more than usual and making weird clicking noises with his mouth. Also, and this is the weirdest thing... I saw/heard him do something which I can only call a fart. There was a long farting sound (pretty loud) and he expelled some weird gunk out of his tail-end. I'm worried something is wrong... I did some research and it looks like maybe a respiratory infection but I dont know how he could have gotten it and why he's expelling gunky fluid out his tail.

Anyone have any ideas? Anything I can do to help him along?

[JLC]

First off, welcome to BP.net! : We'll do our best to help you out.


Yes, it sounds like he has an RI. The very best thing you can do for him is to get him to a vet as quickly as you can. The sooner it is caught, the better it can be treated. If left untreated, it can kill your snake.

As for the other end...snakes do "fart." As weird as that may sound...if you use the forum search feature, you'll probably find several amusing (disturbing??? LOL) threads on the subject. A snake's poop is usually pretty recognizable for what it is. Their "urine" though, is called urates, and is a mix of liquid and solid "chalky" material, usually white or yellow in color. So what you saw may have been perfectly normal...hard to say without a better description. I don't know if being sick will give a snake "the runs" or not...but I do know internal parasites can cause loose or otherwise unhealthy stools...so you might want to get that checked out as well.

Put a sample of the stool into a baggie and put it in the fridge to take to the vet with you. They can test it for parasites.

Can you describe your set-up and what temps you keep your snake at? And the humidity?