Baby Ball Python Overheated?!?

[jewelz]

Ok, so this may seem really stupid, but I am just trying to make sure that I am doing the right thing here...

I went to a reptile expo today, and I purchased 3 hatchling Ball Pythons; two females, and one male. To make a long story short, the male was in my car(in which the AC is currently out) for a total of about 15-20 minutes. I had the windows down, and the vents blowing. The temp was definitely cooler than it was stationary outside, but I drove as fast as I could home just in case. The two females were fine, however, when I got into my room with them all, the male was laying his head to the side, and breathing heavily with his tongue slightly poking out. I IMMEDIATELY rushed him over to the tub and began cooling him down with lukewarm water, and as he drank it and began to regain consciousness, I turned the temp down gradually. I was hoping with would successfully lower his temperature without putting him into shock or something similar. This was at about 5pm today, and it is now 930pm my time. He is still alive. He's breathing more normally now, and is responding to touch, but only slightly. I am hoping that because he has made it this long it means he will recover. He drank a LOT of water, and I currently have him soaking lightly in a small water bowl, off center to a heat lamp. I don't want him to get too warm, but he seems to stop breathing as well when he gets cool. I am very worried, as I have never had this happen with any reptile I have owned(I know, hard to believe here in Texas). I am normally very careful, and I really didn't think the quick drive from where I was to my house would get to him so badly. I don't want to lose this guy; he's incredibly sweet and beautifully coloured. I would have taken him straight to the vet, however, I didn't want to risk the heat again, and, being a Sunday, the only vets in town had closed at 5pm. I am going to take him to the vet on Tuesday(I get paid then) if he is not significantly improved by then. Can anyone here please tell me if I am doing anything stupid? I know I screwed up letting him get hot like that, so please don't be rude about it. I am genuinely asking for help, because I don't want to lose my baby!

Also, I'd like to add that the outside temp today was sitting at about 96 degrees Farenheit when I was driving home with him.

Thanks everyone!

[Joshua Jasper]

I will let someone more experienced then I answer, but my initial thought is that was a really short time in a moving car to overheat, especially since 96 doesn't seem all that hot to me for that short amount of time. Honestly, anything is possible but was he completely healthy when you picked him up?

I have never dealt with overheating in my pythons, so hopefully someone else has some thoughts but try to get him to the vet ASAP if not better. I hope your little guy is better!

[GenePirate]

You did the right thing by offering a bath and some water. It's hard to believe that a 20 minute exposure to 96 degree temperatures would have been so detrimental to the little guy without affecting the other two. The fact that he drank so much water may indicate that he was dehydrated to begin with. Depending on where the vendor was from might give you a clue as to how long the snake may have been without water. Ball pythons can usually handle temperature extremes for short periods, but depending on how young he is and if he was sufficiently hydrated to begin with...difficult to tell. Keep an eye on him, and give him the correct gradient so that he can thermoregulate. If anything is going to happen, it will probably happen sooner than later. You should see something either way by Tuesday. Good luck.

[jewelz]

Thank you both very much! He did seem a little more sluggish that the two females when we were checking him out at the expo. The vendor was one of the ones there that had a MILLION snakes with him, so it's possible that the poor little guy might have been a bit neglected. I just checked on him, and he seems to really be responding to the heat lamp. He even moved when I just walked up to the terrarium. I think he's pulling through. I am also thinking it will probably be at least another 24 hours before he gets his full mobility back though. If he's still not showing good improvement on Tuesday afternoon, he and I are taking a trip to the vet. It would be a good opportunity to get all of my herps checked out anyway, so I might go do that in a few weeks regardless. At any rate, he has definitely improved. I have to say, when I saw his tongue hanging out like that, I just KNEW he was gone. I am glad that I noticed he was still breathing, or I might have not been quick enough to save the poor guy!

Thanks again guys!

[Missy King]

sounds to me like the poor thing was just dehydrated and stressed out. I have had a snake from a reptile show drink, and drink, and drink, and had a urate blockage when i got him home. If i were you i'd feel around a little near his vent after he settles to see if you feel any "rocks". I hope he's okay!

[rdoyle]

It was 97 here, but the heat intext it was 107. So I wouder if your temps where even hotter in 96. I am in Louisiana

[jewelz]

I think I actually DID feel some "rocks" when I was holding him earlier. What do I do about that? He is still very lethargic, and will hardly even turn himself over if I lay him on his back. He is better, but not "well" per se. And yes, the Heat Index may have been over 100 today. I think the humidity was pretty low today though, so that kept it down. I thought the "rocks" down there were maybe just his spurs poking up because he is so small. This species is pretty new to me. Males in general are new to me. I tend to keep the girls, so this is an experience for me for sure. I just want this guys to be alright!

[jewelz]

Just a little update here:

I am sad to say that as of around 7am this morning, the poor guy finally let go. He seemed to be doing better when I finally fell asleep last night, so I left him be. At around 5am I went to check on him, and he had gotten sluggish again and his breathing was heavy like before. I tried to keep him going, but I think whatever happened to him yesterday was just too much for the poor little thing. I am sad to see him go, but I would rather that then him suffer any longer. Thanks again for all of your help everyone.

[ringoyam]

Just a little update here:

I am sad to say that as of around 7am this morning, the poor guy finally let go. He seemed to be doing better when I finally fell asleep last night, so I left him be. At around 5am I went to check on him, and he had gotten sluggish again and his breathing was heavy like before. I tried to keep him going, but I think whatever happened to him yesterday was just too much for the poor little thing. I am sad to see him go, but I would rather that then him suffer any longer. Thanks again for all of your help everyone.

nooooo it thought he was going to pull through

[Capray]

Sorry to hear he didn't make it, you tried your best.