I have a five-year old male ball python. Lately, I've noticed some odd pinkish colouring along his body on one side, getting darker toward the tail. It begins about ten to twelve inches down from the tip of his nose.

At first, I thought it was just a burn mark from a light (it happens) but then I had him out and noticed some odd things about his skin--more of that later. I lifted a couple of his scales and his skin looks normal under the marks, but I couldn't see very well.

He has a few places that seem "loose." Again, I thought maybe I should feed him a little more. (He gets 3-4 mice a month.) As I continued poking at him, I discovered two pockets of what I think are fluid around the base of his tail.

Instinctively, I want to just spear them with a sterilized needle, but I have refrained from such things.

As far as his behavior, he has been rather lethargic and he's done nothing but lie in one or two spots. He's usually pretty active at night, especially when someone is in the room with him. I've taken him out for a couple of hours. He's normally very active when out and I have to watch him very closely, but he just lied there.

Any ideas?