Buying first BP soon, health exam tips?

[About10Owls]

I'll be going to a reptile expo soon with the intent of getting my first Ball Python. I've done a lot of research and have his habitat set and ready to go, but I was wondering if you all had any tips on what to look out for as far as health is concerned.

Preferably looking for a young male <100g, and have some specific questions to make sure I'm getting a healthy snake...

1.) When people say "Look for mucous in the mouth/nostrils", is that something that will be apparent without actually looking IN their mouth? / Pictures?

2.) I know to listen for wheezing sounds, but have also heard they shouldn't whistle from one source, and that whistling is normal from another... any clarification?

3.) Snake mites look really nasty and I definitely don't want to have this new snakeling put up with that, so - How difficult is it to actually tell if they are infested (say, even in the early stages) and how difficult would it be to treat given I have no other reptiles that it could spread between.

--- And also, for my curiosities sake, how do they keep their heat pits clean? It seems like in a natural environment they would likely be shoving their face through dirt/possible mud as they follow into rodent burrows, and their tongues don't strike me as particularly capable of cleaning them.

Thanks a lot, such a wall for a first post, sorry!

[Crowfingers]

I'm also going to be getting my first BP soon and had some of the same questions - especially with how to tell if the new snake has mites. I'd like to think that if I asked the breeder if they had been treating their collection for mites that they would be honest and say that they did and all the snakes were being treated, but I am skeptical...hopefully someone with experience will reply soon.

[AllThatInThemGenes]

I love it, two people getting first BP's! I will go through and answer Crowfingers three questions;

1.) When people say "Look for mucus in the mouth/nostrils", is that something that will be apparent without actually looking IN their mouth? / Pictures?

If the animal is suffering from an advanced RI you may be able to see mucus around the mouth/nostrils but if the snake is just starting to develop the infection this will most likely not be apparent. (I don’t think you will see any animals in this condition at a show but I have not been to all that many). You seem to have done your research and the vendor will respect that, if you feel the need to you can ask the vendor to pull down the snake's bottom lip to check for little bubbles (if there are any small bubbles present it could indicate the start of an RI).

2.) I know to listen for wheezing sounds, but have also heard they shouldn't whistle from one source, and that whistling is normal from another... any clarification?

You should not be able to hear the animal breathing at all. Not sure what the whistling stuff is about...never heard that before.

3.) Snake mites look really nasty and I definitely don't want to have this new snakeling put up with that, so - How difficult is it to actually tell if they are infested (say, even in the early stages) and how difficult would it be to treat given I have no other reptiles that it could spread between.

Snake mites look like little bits of pepper. Best spotted on plain white surface or some other high contrast surface. If for some reason you did purchase an animal with mites they are fairly easy to take care of. There are lots of great post on here that address the best ways of going about getting rid of mites.

Hope this helps and congrats in advance to both of you!

[gtrdeath87]

I agree with the advice given most definitely I would just like to add.

1.) When people say "Look for mucous in the mouth/nostrils", is that something that will be apparent without actually looking IN their mouth? / Pictures?

Also you can lightly pinch the too and bottom jaw together to make sure no mucous bubbles out the sides of the mouth.

2.) I know to listen for wheezing sounds, but have also heard they shouldn't whistle from one source, and that whistling is normal from another... any clarification?

Just place its head close to your ear and make sure you don't hear any rasp of wheezing sounds.

--- And also, for my curiosities sake, how do they keep their heat pits clean? It seems like in a natural environment they would likely be shoving their face through dirt/possible mud as they follow into rodent burrows, and their tongues don't strike me as particularly capable of cleaning them.

I have never seen a snake with anything stuck in their heat pits. I would assume if anything ever did become lodged it would just come out the next time they shed.

[hanzo_baseball]

I bought my first two BPs from an expo a few months ago; I bought two from the same breeder; one worked out and one did not. I knew all the questions to ask, then got so excited by finding what I was looking for that I forgot most of them. Be sure to get a business card from whomever you buy from; you will never remember their name and you may have questions later. Find out about their eating routine. This is especially important for a BP that's <100 grams.

Regarding the mites, they're pretty easy to identify. Look at the BP's white belly, and you can see the black spots, they aren't microscopic, you will be able to spot them. It's more important in my humble opinion that the snake looks otherwise healthy: full, solid, not looking dehydrated or his backbone showing too prominently. I'm not a BP expert by any means, just sharing what I learned.

[carlisleishere]

Also check that the snakes eyes are clear. Check for any open wounds or abrasions. A snake should have a good grip and not lay like a limp noodle. Check cloaca to see if it's free from debris or irritation. Healthy snake should also be flicking it's tongue regularly. Belly should be clean and smooth. This is just some tips on what I do when I choose a snake.

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[Galaxygirl]

The only experience I've had with getting a sick snake is when I almost took one home that was covered in mites. The snake was a cinnamon morph, so pretty dark and I didn't see the mites right away. I noticed the mites crawling on my hands first.

[gtrdeath87]

Usually with mites if you don't notice them on the snake they make it pretty obvious they are infested if you have a water dish big enough for them to soak in they will spend a lot of time soaking trying to drown the mites.

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[D3lacr0ix]

Doing your research-- great start!
I would have to say besides checking for mites and RI, you really have a few important things to also consider. A few good/important questions to ask the breeder:

1. What substrate do they use?
Since ball pythons aren't big fans of change and will sometimes go off feed after a big change like a new home, it might be best to continue using the same substrate the snake is used to, at least for a little while.

2. Is the snake fed frozen or live mouse/rats?
They have the potential to be injured by live prey, plus you would have to handle live mice/rats (I'm personally not a fan). You would have to watch live mice/rats to insure the snake isn't being injured-- which means you will also have to watch the mouse/rat die. I'm also not a big fan of watching that either. Lol. If the snake has been fed live prey, it's unlikely you will be able to switch him to frozen. Consider these things before making a decision.

3. What size mouse/rats is the snake currently eating? How often is it fed?
You can usually determine this yourself by looking at the widest point on the snake, but it doesn't hurt to ask. Personally, I got my BP from Petsmart and he was being fed weekly 1 fuzzy mouse. Clearly he was much larger than to be fed little itty bitty fuzzies, BUT I used fuzzies to feed him the first few times just to make sure I wasn't messing with his routine too much until he was adjusted well.

Sounds like you've done your research and probably didn't need any of my advice, but I threw it out there anyway! Lol. Good luck & post pictures of your new baby when you get him!!!

[About10Owls]

Thanks so much. I've made a list of questions to take with me, just so I remember what to ask. I hadn't considered asking what substrate the breeder uses, so that went on the list too. Everyone has been so helpful on this post, and I've learned a lot from this site in general. Your all awesome