Background: I have a 10 year old male. I adopted him from a friend about two years ago. I've had corn snakes & boas, but this is my first ball python. I initially had issues getting him to eat, but in the past 6 months, he was doing better & feeding consistently. Last month he ate two fairly large rats (1 one day, another the next) & regurgitated both a day later. Since then, I've only tried to feed him once (unsuccessfully) & he's lost some body weight, which I was already concerned about. I had the feeling the regurg was because he was too cold... So, I switched his bedding to paper, covered the sides of the glass tank & made sure the temp levels were warmer.


Meanwhile, I've been trying not to handle him at all except when I take him out to clean the cage. But, I feel like I may have not been handling him enough, because in the past week he's developed an upsetting scale issue - all along his spine area the scales look like they were ripped off. He's also got a wound-like pink spot on one side & a larger one near the end of his tale. I've been putting neosporin on the sore spots for the last few days, but I'm not sure it's helping.


I realize I should probably take him to a vet & I'm trying to find one in my area to take him to this early this week... Regardless, I'd like any thoughts or suggestions as to why he's suddenly gotten in such bad shape... This whole thing is really upsetting me, I feel like I've missed something critical & now it may be too late....