Reddish Vent Area?

[Kaoslb]

So I've made a couple of posts about my new male ball python. He was born on 8/20 and I've had him since 9/17. He's grown from ~100g to ~150 grams in less than a month. He has shed once since I had him but he has yet to poop. He's eaten a LOT since I've had him, eating about once every 4-5 days.

Everything I've read says that it is normal for them to not poop for a while, but today I noticed that he has a reddish tinge around his vent.



It looks sort of engorged and I'm worried about possible impaction. He was only on aspen for a couple of days after I had him and since then he's been on newspaper.

Am I being overworried and he'll poop in the next few days and everything will be fine? Or should I be worried about impaction?

Note 1: He shed on 10/1
Note 2: I looked over the other Redness/Rash thread and this doesn't appear to be a "rash" just a general redness.

Thanks in advance.

[Kaorte]

Ball pythons rarely get impacted. Looks like he is just ready to blow soon.

If the area around the vent is soft and movable then he is fine.

[Kaoslb]

Thanks, the area is still soft and movable. I'm a little afraid now of when he does blow. He has like nine assorted hopper mice/fuzzy rats in there.

[Kaoslb]

So tonight I check out his tub and still no poop. His vent still has that reddish look to it and in feeling around the vent area I can feel something that feels hard and round. It feels like it is about a small marble size. Should I be concerned?

[dr del]

Hi,

Probably just a urate.

Have you tried a soak in 85f water? That can start a poop reaction.

Mind you so can changing their tub so it is nice and clean or handing them to a relative who is unsure of snakes.

Is the redness still the same or has it moved or changed?


dr del

[Lolo76]

Hi,

Probably just a urate.

Have you tried a soak in 85f water? That can start a poop reaction.

Mind you so can changing their tub so it is nice and clean or handing them to a relative who is unsure of snakes.

Also doing a photo shoot or putting them on your freshly washed bedsheets... both seem to work with my snakes, LOL.

Seriously, though... Sometimes just letting them roam/slither around gets the poop moving!

[Kaoslb]

Dr. Del,

I did try soaking him in warm water, actually twice now. He didn't like being in the warm water and so the baths didn't last real long, maybe 10-12 minutes.

The redness has not changed except maybe very slightly redder.

I have had him out for about 20minutes at a time the last couple of days. I'll keep doing that.

Today would have been his normal feeding day. Should I wait until he poops? or is it okay to feed him, I'm pretty confident he would eat.

[Kaorte]

You can feed him, he will be fine

[teebyrd393]

Some BPs like water, some (like my own) dont care for it.

If you need to give him a soak...help a poop along or remove stuck shed, you can find and adequately sized tupperware container and drill holes in the lid for air flow. Add, warm (85 F) water to where half the height of your snake will be covered. Place him in and snap the lid shut.

Voila! Soakin' time Just make sure the water is low enough that he can hold his head above with out straining and it should not be so deep that he has to swim, just a wading pool.

[Kaorte]

Some BPs like water, some (like my own) dont care for it.

If you need to give him a soak...help a poop along or remove stuck shed, you can find and adequately sized tupperware container and drill holes in the lid for air flow. Add, warm (85 F) water to where half the height of your snake will be covered. Place him in and snap the lid shut.

Voila! Soakin' time Just make sure the water is low enough that he can hold his head above with out straining and it should not be so deep that he has to swim, just a wading pool.

Another thing to add to this. If you do choose to soak your snake, DO NOT LEAVE IT UNATTENDED. Once you put the snake in the container, put it right in front of you and do not take you eyes off of it until you take the snake out 15-20 minutes later.

Many snakes have died from careless owners leaving their snakes in a pool of water.