HELP! Suddenly Weak Ball Python

[MisterDespair]

Let's just start by saying that he is going the vet tomorrow morning. As a broke student I'm upset and nervous about the cost, but I can't imagine my ball python dying...

Long Post Ahead

Anyway: My 2 year old male has not eaten in 4 months. He took a rat just once during that time, and hasn't ever again. I know this is a normal occurrence, especially over the winter for a male ball. All along I chalked his non-eating up to the winter problem. His husbandry has not changed and he used to eat voraciously before he stopped eating, so I didn't/don't imagine it could have been because of husbandry.

Although, not too long ago I moved him into my bedroom which is a quite a bit cooler than the other room he was in. Temps still stayed the same in his cage, and everything was good. (He's in a rubbermaid container). About 4 days ago I cleaned his cage (he hasn't pooped or peed in a very long time) and held him and he appeared in perfect health- he was just as active and strong as ever. I then did not look at him for the next 4 days. He was watered, attempted to be fed (but was denied), his temps were right, all was well.

Well, yesterday the thermometer was dead when I checked it, and the cage not as warm as normal. I believe over the night the temps must have gone down quite a bit because it was cold in the room. I never even considered the temperature of the room and I feel like an idiot for it, thinking his heating pad would be enough. I went to pick him up to hold him, and he was not the pile of muscles he usually is. It felt as though all his muscles were relaxed. He did not grip me. I immediately knew something was wrong. I attached a second heating pad to the tub to heat him up and have been watching him constantly. He can/is still moving around his tub, but he's not moving when I bring him out. I attempted to feed him last night thinking maybe he's starving, and he seemed VERY close to eating, closer than in the last 4 months, but ultimately, he did not eat the rat. I left it in his tub over night and it was still there this morning. I was so upset because it seemed that he'd finally eat it last night. He was even yawning and fawning over the rat.

Today he curled under his log. He still moves when startled, but he seems lethargic. Still weak when held, not strong like he is usually. I'm going out after I post this to get a new thermometer and see what's going on in his tub, but it'll never be able to tell me what happened recently to make him this way.

He seems to have loose skin just behind his jaws, as he usually does after he feeds, but he has not fed. He is stargazing but he shows no signs of respiratory stress as far as I can see. No wheezing, bubbles, audible breathing, opening mouth, so on. Although I just feel like it's probably an RI because I can't imagine what else.

I'm going to attempt to feed him again tonight, but I don't think I should expect any response. My heart seriously hurts so bad because I feel like I can just tell that he's going to die. I don't know what's wrong and he still has some life in him, but it just seems so final and fatal. There's a herp vet nearby and I will be taking him in, but it just seems like a moot point if the snake is dying in front of me.

Has anyone experienced this? Is this an RI? Is this starvation? Is there any hope for him? I've honestly never felt this sorry and guilty in my life...

TL;DR: Temp dropped in BP's tub, now lethargic and weak, hasn't eaten in 4 months, almost ate last night but didn't, skin behind head is loose like after eating, hasn't pooped/peed in about 4 months as well, I thought it was winter breeding but it could be husbandry, despite temps and humidity always being proper.

[mackynz]

Are you in and out of your room alot? I know mine doesn't like a lot of movement near his cage so maybe that is stressing yours out?

Otherwise I don't know, but good look. I'll be back to check for updates.

[Kaorte]

It's a little odd that he hasn't peed or left urates at all in the last 4 months. Do you ever observe him drinking?

A vet is obviously the best decision. He is probably lethargic from being cold for a while. It's probably too late, but you should have warmed him up slowly so you don't shock his system.

If he is alert and moving around on his own, tongue flicking and what not, I'd say he is probably going to be okay. Do you have any pics?

[MisterDespair]

It's a little odd that he hasn't peed or left urates at all in the last 4 months. Do you ever observe him drinking?

A vet is obviously the best decision. He is probably lethargic from being cold for a while. It's probably too late, but you should have warmed him up slowly so you don't shock his system.

If he is alert and moving around on his own, tongue flicking and what not, I'd say he is probably going to be okay. Do you have any pics?

Thanks very much for your response. It actually gave me a lot of hope that I didn't have 20 minutes before.

I just checked him, taking his hide off him, and he was very alert. Tongue actively flicking, exploring and looking out over his cage. He actually seemed much more active than when I checked him this morning. Also, he seemed to have a little less give in his body when I put a finger under him (still weak though)

He has peed maybe 2 or three times over the 4 months he hasn't eaten. I know for sure that he peed and left urates and pooped after the rat he randomly ate at about the 2 month mark. I can't distinctly recall another occasion.

I've seen him drinking in the past, but not recently as I can recall. He does seem to be drinking it because the water goes down quickly, but I haven't witnessed it.

Also when I just checked him... there was definitely a small amount of mucus where he was resting his head on his body. I took his head in my hands and pressed lightly like on that Snake Bytes video about sick snakes, and there was no mucous. His breathing is not disturbed either.


The two bumps on his far left side make me think he's dehydrated or starved. He is a normally robust and round snake.


He looks good here but the far left curvature along the spine worries me.


Skinny neck

[Slim]

1) Why did you move him from the warm room to the one he's in now? Have you given any thought to moving him back to the warm room? If he ate in the warm room, but won't eat in the cold room, that might be something to think about.

2) Don't try and feed him so often. It can really stress a picky eater out. Offer once a week, and if he refuses, wait till the next week to try again.

3) Try live.

[MisterDespair]

1) Why did you move him from the warm room to the one he's in now? Have you given any thought to moving him back to the warm room? If he ate in the warm room, but won't eat in the cold room, that might be something to think about.

2) Don't try and feed him so often. It can really stress a picky eater out. Offer once a week, and if he refuses, wait till the next week to try again.

3) Try live.

Thanks for your response. I moved him because he previously was in the highest traffic room in the house: the computer and budgie room. There are two budgies in that room who are constantly making noise and we are always interacting with them. It's just a very noisy room combined with music. But regardless, he did used to eat in there, and there is a huge temp difference between that room and this room. I moved him to this room because he had already stopped eating and I wondered if putting him in a quieter place would encourage him more.

Also, he has only ever eaten F/T hoppers as long as I've had him. When I first purchased him from a breeder, he was eating 3 of those every 7 days. In the month or two before he stopped eating, it had gone down to 1-2 with no change in size of rat.

I wouldnt be surprised if he did go for a live rat because I usually have to dangle and move the rat in order to entice him.

OK, since I tried feeding yesterday, should I try again today? He was SO CLOSE yesterday, seriously. It was the first time he's shown any interest in all this time. When he yawned I thought for sure he'd eat...

[Kiyayiya]

OK, since I tried feeding yesterday, should I try again today? He was SO CLOSE yesterday, seriously. It was the first time he's shown any interest in all this time. When he yawned I thought for sure he'd eat...

I know as worried as you are it may seem like a good idea, but you would probably just wind up stressing him out more. I think you should wait at least another 5 days and try again.

[Slim]

OK, since I tried feeding yesterday, should I try again today?

No. Wait till next week. Toss in a live rat, and I bet his fast comes to a rapid end.

Sometimes they just go off F/T for no good reason. Live will usually get them jump started and you can try going back to F/T after they get established eating again.

[MisterDespair]

Just a small update on Jules:

Vet appointment has been pushed back a day, so I'm just monitoring him at home.

I moved him back into the warm budgie room and I think it's already made a difference! He's actively moving about his cage and flicking his tongue. He's also got his eye on the budgies, which should be alarming but it's making me think that he's hungry and will accept a live rat when I bring him one!

He's still showing no signs of RI, but still weaker than usual when I lift with one finger. I'm going to try to leave him alone for the rest of the day because he doesn't need the extra stress of being prodded constantly. I'm feeling very optimistic and hopeful for my baby's recovery now! He still needs a vet visit though, because if it is an RI, I'd rather catch it and cure it than lose him. I think the bulk of the issue on this occasion was a cold room and a cold heating pad and my thermometer flaking out...

[RetiredJedi]

Glad to hear he seems better. I was going to say when I first read this that he may be conserving energy to stay warm since it was a little cooler than he's used to. Keep us posted.