Adopted Adult Ball Python (need expertise)

[Dirulurv]

hey all,

I just picked up an adult bp from my dads friend. he was looking to get rid of it so I took it in.

okay ill start with the reasons I decided to take it:

incredibly bad sheds
has stopped eating
was ice cold when I picked it up
completely open screen cage so no humidity
bedding that looks like it was never changed
bad shed that wasn't checked for stuck pieces caused tail rot that took the tip of her tail.

now that she is at home
ive noticed she whistles occasionally
her lip lining is dark maybe could even say "purple-ish"
she keeps adjusting her mouth
she had some water come out from her mouth when handled (but she did drink not long before)

im thinking R.I with possible start of mouth-rot?

theres no discharge from her nose and shes not hacking up anything... (atm)

ive contacted some clinics by email..since its sunday and theyre all closed. gonna bring her in for a check up and to get some meds if she is sick.. right now ived cleaned nasty water dish, her cage and keeping her separate from my young one for now.

what are your thoughts on this?

[CrazySnakeLady0]

Pictures will help us determine the possible mouth. Sounds like she does have a URI, which is good you're getting her into a vet, and it doesn't seem too bad yet. Put her in the bare minimum (two hides, paper towels, heating pad, large water bowl) and keep things stable and stress free. The water coming out after drinking when handled is a normal thing for BPs. She will pull through with lots of work. Keep us updated!

[Dirulurv]

Pictures will help us determine the possible mouth. Sounds like she does have a URI, which is good you're getting her into a vet, and it doesn't seem too bad yet. Put her in the bare minimum (two hides, paper towels, heating pad, large water bowl) and keep things stable and stress free. The water coming out after drinking when handled is a normal thing for BPs. She will pull through with lots of work. Keep us updated!

thanks so much for your reply, I will do exactly that, kinda keep like u said bare minimum, I haven't taken any pics of her mouth close up today so I will sometime tm or Tuesday. I did however manage to get her to eat tonight and get her somewhat warmed up. she needs a new heater. seems like the one they gave me is barely heating.

get her to the vet this week anyways, I will post updates soon thx!!

[CrazySnakeLady0]

Awesome that she ate! That may mean she doesn't have a URI, or at least a very mild one. When I adopted my ball python, his cage was dusty and the aspen bedding so dirty that he was sneezing on that. So hopefully it is just that!

[Dirulurv]

Awesome that she ate! That may mean she doesn't have a URI, or at least a very mild one. When I adopted my ball python, his cage was dusty and the aspen bedding so dirty that he was sneezing on that. So hopefully it is just that!

I was able to get in at the vets this Monday. Turns out my girl is actually a boy AND he got a clean bill of health as well. The vet said he was a bit underweight.. But overall very good health and muscle tone. So all in all im happy to hear that and happy that it was a false alarm. *whew* i was worried. right now my boy is happy and warm.

I was wondering though if i should try to feed him a larger rat tonight (since he only had a rat pup Sunday night when I got him) or wait till next feed day for my baby royal which is Sunday. Reason i gave him the rat pup was to see if he would even eat f/t rats to begin with. He's been on live his whole life. He took it no problem tho.

[NH93]

If he's underfed to begin with, don't go too big off the get-go. REALLY don't want any regurges right now. In my opinion, it is better to go a little smaller than a little larger. Feed a rat that is about the same width or a little less than the widest part of the snake's body. No more. I would also feed every 7 days myself, but perhaps others who have rescued ball pythons can chime in with their own experience!



Keep an eye on the things you've mentioned. Was it specifically a herp/reptile vet you went to??
Also, don't forget about a UTH with thermostat!! That should be included in the "bare minimum" - belly heat is essential.

All the best, and looking forward to photos and updates!

[Dirulurv]

If he's underfed to begin with, don't go too big off the get-go. REALLY don't want any regurges right now. In my opinion, it is better to go a little smaller than a little larger. Feed a rat that is about the same width or a little less than the widest part of the snake's body. No more. I would also feed every 7 days myself, but perhaps others who have rescued ball pythons can chime in with their own experience!



Keep an eye on the things you've mentioned. Was it specifically a herp/reptile vet you went to??
Also, don't forget about a UTH with thermostat!! That should be included in the "bare minimum" - belly heat is essential.

All the best, and looking forward to photos and updates!

Thanks! .. I did pick up some medium rats, they're smaller than his girth by a bit. That rat pup he got Sunday as a tester looked like a snack lol, he's 4yrs old at the least and looks like he could handle a large rat but for now I'll buy mediums.
and yes it was a reptile vet i brought him to, to date ive cleaned his entire cage replaced all the bedding and put new stuff down, cleaned his water dish with a scrubber since it was brown with slime -_- and i bought a new UTH, added a hygrometer, thermostat and thermometer as well. I've decide to put him back in his full set up rather than bare minimum since he got his clean bill of health, the rep vet also said it was fine.

I currently feed my other guy (about a year) every 8 days, it was every 5 but he went off feed for 3 weeks due to being too full so i stretched the days in between a bit. I was thinking trying every 10 days for my adult? Till he's at more reg weight for his size at least?

thanks for the fast reply!

[NH93]

You know what I'd do? Buy a digital kitchen scale! Just a cheap one from Wal-Mart or whatever, for like $10. It's hard to say what underweight is, especially with no pictures. But for yourself, a scale may come in very handy. I have one and use it all the time for my snakes. It's good to see how they grow and change, and if there were any feeding issues to see if they lose weight. I also log in snake notebooks for mine (feeding days, sheds, changes in behaviour, etc.).

All the best!

[CrazySnakeLady0]

My ball was underweight when I first got him and feeding him a mouse every week got him back to good weight. He's gonna be moving to rats soon. So, I'd suggest every 7 days with a little bit smaller prey than "usual". Don't want to over feed him. Again, pictures would help determine if you could go a longer stretch because he's not super underweight.

Awesome on the good vet trip!!!

[Dirulurv]

You know what I'd do? Buy a digital kitchen scale! Just a cheap one from Wal-Mart or whatever, for like $10. It's hard to say what underweight is, especially with no pictures. But for yourself, a scale may come in very handy. I have one and use it all the time for my snakes. It's good to see how they grow and change, and if there were any feeding issues to see if they lose weight. I also log in snake notebooks for mine (feeding days, sheds, changes in behaviour, etc.).

All the best!

My ball was underweight when I first got him and feeding him a mouse every week got him back to good weight. He's gonna be moving to rats soon. So, I'd suggest every 7 days with a little bit smaller prey than "usual". Don't want to over feed him. Again, pictures would help determine if you could go a longer stretch because he's not super underweight.

Awesome on the good vet trip!!!

thanks for your replies! im having issues posting pictures at any to my posts. im sorry, I don't know how to successfully do it.. I do have a kitchen scale, exactly one from walmart too! that ive reserved for weighing my royals. at the vets he was weighed in at 1600g+.. I didn't get to see exact weight and I have a min 2 day "no disturbance" rule after my royals eat so they can digest so I wont weigh him till tm or Friday. ill keep a note book on weight changes.

thanks!