Quote Originally Posted by LLLReptile View Post
I cautiously suggest waiting until she sheds to make a decision on what to do. Keep things as they are, let her shed, then reevaluate. It's less common in ball pythons but other species of snakes sometimes get saggy skin or swollen looking heads right before they shed, and it is possible that this is something similar.

So as nerve wracking as it is, wait and see - let her shed, take pics again in the same position, and then compare it and see. If it's still swollen at that point, a trip to the vet should be considered.

-Jen
As luck would have it, she shed last night and ate today.

Since I can't get the obnoxious rip's mouth open myself, I waited until she realigned her jaws and I think, maybe, I saw something odd on the roof of her mouth but can't be sure.

My initial freak out was OMG!!! MOUTH ROT!!! but I'm not sure if I saw a white area near her inner gum teeth covering or if it was just her teeth sheath..or whatever ya call it.

The tiny, fleeting glimpse we managed of her mouth last night revealed nothing obvious or ominous so I can't be sure.

How do I get this powerful, willful little hussie's mouth open without hurting her?

We had her in a snake sack, wrestled her, tried to pin her down, attempted a firm grip behind her head and she still easily bested us both.

We've tried credit cards, q-tips and a thin, flexible, soft palette knife to no avail.

Eventually I just said screw it and stuck my fingers in there, willing to get chomped if only I could get a peek.



Post-shed, she looks about the same.

[maybe not quite as weird but still too weird]