Help on health with my BP!

[missbenzo]

Hey guys.. I'm new.. to the forum and to owning BP's in particular... I'm hoping someone will say I am just overreacting and have a gravid female but here are the partic's on what's going on..
Tank is kept at 80/82 degrees, no breathing or wheezing issues, don't actually know if it's he/she honestly... haven't wanted to pop it to check since I'm a newbie... started in the past couple of days I guess... very noticeable yest. afternoon to evening.. mid body down to tip of tail looks very swollen but solid, no lumps. Sam is VERY cranky and at the end of a shed cycle.. gave him/her a nice long soak yest. and when I ran my hand down around the lower portion of the body I could hear a clicking or popping noise?? Snake moves fluidly and without difficulty but hasn't been using the hidey log for quite awhile.. hasn't fed in one month but obviously that's not my concern here... what the heck is going on?? To get Sam to a vet will prob. be a 2 hr. road trip and at least a few hundred dollars... I'm in a VERY rural area. ANY HELP PLEASE??
Here are some pics too...
http://picasaweb.google.com/11062960...eat=directlink

[wolfy-hound]

The pic link doesn't work. What size snake do you have? Why do you believe her to be possibly gravid? When did she/he last poo?

Popping and clicking when you press the swollen section could mean she/he has a blockage or gas inside? Not sure at all. Does it feel like fluid, like muscle, or like hard?

You'll probably end up with being advised that a vet visit will be the best idea since we aren't vets, and diagnosing over the net can be dicey at best, impossible at worst.

[Boanerges]

First off welcome to BP.net The over all temp of your tank is low 80's or your hot spot is low 80's? Also, did you try and breed her and that is why you think she may be gravid? How long have you had her?

[llovelace]

Welcome to BP.net , try using photobucket.com to post pics, it's fast an easy.

[missbenzo]

hey guys....

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo...eat=directlink

hope the link works this time... just cutting and pasting.. I've had Sam for 5 months, first time there have been any probs.. really concerned and have 6 tabs going on different sites to get some answers along with sending an Aquarium Herp. friend some e-mails. Sam is about a foot and a half, don't know current weight.. I do have two BP's and Dean is doing just fine.. have NOT been trying to breed cuz as I said still wasn't sure of sex... didn't think they were anywhere big enough to breed when I got them.. can't be much older than 8 months I think...

[RichsBallPythons]

Well First the snake is constipated and at this point may need VET care to help on this. Soaking in warm water may help relieve him to poop but may not.

Also the scars look healed over but also from either rodent bites or from constant rubbing on the back on hard surface.

Also you need to get a digital thermometer the stickon ones just read the glass temps, you need the temps to be ground level as thats where they spend 99% of thier time

78-80 cool side and a 88-92 warm side

[missbenzo]

... oh and to add... center avg. temp is 80/82... one side stays bout 88/90 other side bout 78/80 ... swollen area is soft and smooth.. but just swollen... especially when looking at the very tip of the tail....?????

[RichsBallPythons]

... oh and to add... center avg. temp is 80/82... one side stays bout 88/90 other side bout 78/80 ... swollen area is soft and smooth.. but just swollen... especially when looking at the very tip of the tail....?????

I just told you the snake is constipated and needs to poop.

[missbenzo]

yeah the bites are from mouse attack... one of the reasons I take care of them now and fortunately they have healed well.... I do have a digi therm. to check temps at each end.. I just leave the sticky tape one in there to keep a general eye on avg. temp... gonna do another soak and see what happens... so far poops have seemed normal.. ranging from white to brown depending on the color of the mouse... last feed was one month ago so been a lil while for a poop... can it be gas???

[missbenzo]

sorry bout that... actually hadn't seen your post yet... I was trying to answer previous ones with as much info as I could...