Pink worms in water dish (and not eating)

[JKO42]

Hello! Long time lurker first time poster, here.

A little back info first- My year old BP has always been a good eater. Though I've never been able to get her to eat f/t, she takes down small rats like they're going out of style. I feed her in her terrarium (supervised, of course!). However, since March 15 she's only eaten twice- the last time being 2 weeks ago. I offer her a meal every Tuesday, and lately she just doesn't seem interested. Temps and humidity haven't changed. Fortunately, she has held her weight at a steady 1125g.

Two days ago, I offered her a small rat in her terrarium as usual, but she didn't take it. I give her fresh water every evening, and clean her water bowl and terrarium once a week (or more, if she defecates). Tonight, I noticed about a dozen small (~1cm) pink worms swimming around by the waterline. Needless to say, I replaced her bowl and scrubbed her terrarium and hides down.

I tried to take a picture of the worms, but they don't show up very well. They're tubular on one end, and flat on the other.

Any ideas where these pink worms came from? The rat? From her?
If they did come from the rat, is there any chance that she could be infected?
Could her not eating be a symptom of internal parasites?

I kept some of the worms in a jar and am calling the vet up first thing in the morning.


Set up:
paper towel substrate
2 hides (warm & cool)
warm temp: 86F
cool temp: 78F
humidity: 50%

Any input is appreciated!

[Capray]

Definitely sounds like parasites of some kind..It must've come from a rat, where do you get them from?
The vet will confirm it. Refusing food is a sign of parasites. Good call on catching some! The vet will probably ask for a fecal sample if she poops, you should save it.

[satomi325]

Sounds like pin worms, which is somewhat common in ball pythons.
They come from ingesting infected feeders.

But luckily, they're easy to treat.

[JKO42]

Sounds like pin worms, which is somewhat common in ball pythons.

Did a quick Google image search- definitely looks like that's it.

But luckily, they're easy to treat.

Good to know! This is the first "something's-not-normal" I've had with her, so I feel like I may be worrying too much. And this would happen the week before finals

[BeccaBurrr]

I just google searched "pin worms" and was not at all pleased with the pictures that popped up. oh god...it was awful.

[kitedemon]

They are quite common. I when looking for a rodent supplier had two rats checked from each of the 4 suppliers I was looking at and found almost half had some parasite. (one didn't but I think that was a fluke (not the parasite kind actually) Most do not keep frozen cold enough or long enough to kill parasites so it is going to happen. I do yearly fecal exams and of my 11, I have twice had parasites in two years.