Help with Pastel ball python

[JenGirl0146]

I am new to this website and I am unsure of how to get information from others. I am hoping this works. I have had my pastel ball python for about 2 years already and this is the first time that he hasn't eaten since Nov. 17th. I did however bring home a new albino ball python that night. They seem to be getting along just fine. The sleep together, they lie together, they soak together, they just will not eat since Nov. The albino doesn't seem to have anything wrong with him and doesn't seem to be losing body weight. My guy the pastel however doesn't seem to be doing to great. His under belly scales that are normally pure white are turning brown and feel a little crusty. Also he seems to have lost some body weight within the last couple of days. I'm unsure what to do at this point and I am nervous for his health. He does seem fine besides the scales on his belly and him being a little leaner. He is active at night and gives a good fight when I want to put him in a container to soak him. If anyone can help me that would be wonderful!!! Also i just switched them over to the reptile carpet instead of the wood chips I was keeping them on for about a month or so.

[dragonboy4578]

Pictures of the belly would help us in determining what is wrong with the belly. Most of us on here do not put more than one ball python per enclosure. This is because it can stress out the snakes. Which may be the reason that they are not eating. Another issue with having more than one snake per enclosure is that if one is sick both can end up sick.

If you can provide more information on your setup would be appreciated. Please include temps, humidity, hides, and enclosure size.

[JenGirl0146]

The only reason why we got another snake for my guy was that his original buddy passed on. My snake was, what I would call in distress about it. He wouldn't stop looking for the other snake. I figured that getting him another friend would work. But now he isn't eating, well they both aren't. The tank is a 75 gallon. It is very simple. They have a huge water bowl, big enough that they both can both very comfortably soak together. Then they have a ceramic tree that lies down in the center. Then there is a big hide that they both fit with much room to spare. I will take a picture of his belly and send it as soon as i figure out how to.

[The Serpent Merchant]

Putting more than 1 snake in the same cage can have tragic consequences. It is most likely cause of your snake not eating. Ball pythons are solitary creatures. from the time they hatch they go out on their own. no interaction with siblings or their mother. Forcing 2 snakes to live in the same cage can cause stress/transmit illness/cause one to eat the other/ etc...

This is never recommended and almost always ends badly.

What are you using to heat the tank, what are the temperatures, and how are you measuring the temperatures?

You might want to read this: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...ius)-Caresheet

Also Soaking Ball Pythons is not recommended. all it does is stress them out, and can even cause a bad shed.

[JenGirl0146]

The temps are done by a very large heating pad on the hot side of the tank with the water bowl is about 95 degrees and the cooler side of the tank with the hide is currently about 82 degrees. The only reason I soaked mine was I was told at the westchester reptile show today that my snake may have urine burn. they told me to soak him,pat dry, and put triple antibiotic ointment on his belly to help him heal. If you guys truly believe that my guy is not eating because of the other snake I have no problem separating them. I just felt bad because his first buddy, which he grew up with and never had any issues such as this past on.

[Ashleigh91]

It seems that no one has mentioned yet that cannibalism does occur in snakes, however rare it may be. Size doesn't seem to be a factor either.

If they're lying in the same spot, they could very well be competing for the best hiding space/ heat source. They don't "cuddle."

Also if you are using an Under Tank Heater and you don't have it on a thermostat then the brown crusty scales could be a burn.

I hope things work out for you.

Edit: If you could post pictures of his stomach it would also help.

[JenGirl0146]

How do I post the pictures. I took them and I can't figure out how to get them on here to show you guys. If anyone can tell me how to do it that would be wonderful. So far all the information that I have been getting is great and I had no idea about.

I was thinking that it could be a burn. While he was on wood chips they both moved the water bowl over and got onto the heating pad without anything between. Also, i hate the fact that heating pads don't have thermostats on them!!! Someone needs to make one. I fixed it the next morning when I noticed it to change the lights from night to day.

I have always had my snakes in pairs and this is the first time that two of them are having problems. Today they haven't been anywhere near each other as far as I noticed but normally they are curled together. It never occurred to me that they may be "battling" for the same warm location.

[Ashleigh91]

You can post the pictures onto photobucket and then copy the "IMG" code into your post.

There are a few good thermostats that you can get, Hydrofarms are only 30 dollars or so from Amazon.

[JenGirl0146]

http://i1172.photobucket.com/albums/...derbelly-1.jpg

http://i1172.photobucket.com/albums/...underbely1.jpg

here is two photos of the belly

[JaGv]

could be a burn if the uth doesnt have a thermostat to regulate heat