Help!

[Cassiopeia]

Hello everyone. I've been stressed the last few weeks and feeling terrible. I'm very unsure what is going on with my ball python. My snake Cassiopeia is still between baby and juvenille in age. For the 2 weeks her temp has been low (68 degrees) and it was a huge concern for me. I'm going tomorrow to pick up a tank (which I've been told holds heat better) and a heat lamp in addition with the heat pad she already has. She didn't eat 2 weeks ago, ate last week but didn't eat again this week. I also haven't seen much feces either. For the past 2 weeks she has only stuck the fork of her tongue out and has been opening her mouth more frequently than she should. Today I also noticed her skin felt dry (not on her tummy) and the humidity is where it should be (60%). I'm worried she may not be drinking water from her bowl. I am EXTREMELY WORRIED. My boyfriend is offering to take her to the vet if these symptoms proceed after a week of getting her husbandy on par. I just wanted to know if anyone had any ideas of what this could be or sounds like? My parents keep telling me I'm overreacting but I'm sure they are just telling me this so that they can shut me up (I'm 17 and they help me pay for her, they would not want to pay for her to go to the vet.) They don't value her life as much as they would if she was a pet dog or something but I completely love her to death. It makes me cry thinking about something being wrong with her. Any advice or input is really appreciated.

[AllThatInThemGenes]

For the 2 weeks her temp has been low (68 degrees) and it was a huge concern for me.

is that on the hot side?

I also haven't seen much feces either.

don’t stress about that part just yet. They can hold and do hold it for long periods of time (over a month with no feces is not that uncommon)

when she yawns does she keep her mouth open for a long period of time or is it quickly shut? First and most important thing is to get the heat where it should be. If its 68 on the hot spot she could be developing an RI from the cold. Try not to stress too much. My recommendation is to keep a close eye out for signs of RI

1. Check her mouth/nose for mucus
2. Move the side of her bottom lip down with your thumb and check for small bubbles. Should be a nice pink color with no bubbles.
3. Take her out and handle her for 10-15 min then turn off anything that makes sounds and while holding her up close to your ear listen for wheezing/popping. You should not be able to hear breath.
4. Check the sides of her enclosure for smudge marks. if they are producing mucus as the result of an RI you will sometimes find evidence of that rubbed off on the walls of their enclosure.

You always want to be mindful of their behavior but people often to stress over nothing. You may just be noticing her yawn more because your worried about her health and have been watching her every move lol. Start with getting the heat right and looking out for signs of RI or other illnesses.

[PitOnTheProwl]

68 is way to low to start with.
Also is your heat pad regulated?
With those temperatures and a dry feeling belly you could possible have created a RI and belly burn?

You need to get your husbandry corrected.
Your ambient temps should be in the 78 to 80ish range and the hot side surface temperature shouldnt be over 94 or 95 max.

[Cassiopeia]

is that on the hot side?

Yes thats on the hot side however right now it's 75.

when she yawns does she keep her mouth open for a long period of time or is it quickly shut?

She shuts it rather quickly. I've never seen her hold it open.

1. Check her mouth/nose for mucus
2. Move the side of her bottom lip down with your thumb and check for small bubbles. Should be a nice pink color with no bubbles.
3. Take her out and handle her for 10-15 min then turn off anything that makes sounds and while holding her up close to your ear listen for wheezing/popping. You should not be able to hear breath.
4. Check the sides of her enclosure for smudge marks. if they are producing mucus as the result of an RI you will sometimes find evidence of that rubbed off on the walls of their enclosure.

I haven't seen any mucus around and I thought she may have been trying to get mucus out of her nose by bumping her nose on me a little forcefully but I didn't feel any on me. She doesn't make any noises and there are are no smudge marks on the edge of the enclosure.

is your heat pad regulated?
With those temperatures and a dry feeling belly you could possible have created a RI and belly burn?

You misread that part, her tummy is smooth but she feels a bit dry but she is due for a shed (no signs of one though and she hasn't shed with me yet and I got her in early September when she just finished a shed). And yes it's regulated and set to 90 with a thermostat.

Also I know sometimes the tongue flicking can be from stress or off husbandry so I hope she's fine once we get her in a warmer enclosure.

[AllThatInThemGenes]

Once you get the temps right, and you can maintain them consistently...your stress levels can come down a bit. it’s great that you are not seeing any signs of an advanced RI but you are not out of the woods yet. I was reallllllly hoping the 68 was not on the hot side. That is pretty darn low for a two week period. It sounds like money might be a little tight but if you can...get a temp gun to double check all your readings.

[Cassiopeia]

Money is a little tight but I will try. I'm going to get her a tank that will hold the heat in better and also a heat lamp (right now she only has the heat pad because it was really warm when I got her (the heat pad is 20 gallon ZooMed and unfortunately doesn't reach the temp I have it set at, 90* it usually reaches 75-80*). I have a blanket covering some of the ventilation right now to help keep heat in and she has always been on her heat pad (except right now she is in her other hide since I put her back near her water bowl worried she wasn't drinking). I've felt so terrible with her cold like this and have been arguing long and hard with my parents about it because they don't want to run the heat high enough to keep her temps up because of the heat bill.

Edit: Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure the reading is accurate. Just dropped $40 on a digital thermometer/hygrometer to make sure of that

[bcr229]

Money is a little tight but I will try. I'm going to get her a tank that will hold the heat in better...

It will not. Tanks suck at retaining heat and humidity without a lot of added work and expense. They are also $$$ at pet stores.

Go to Target or WalMart and spent $3-5 on a latch box style tub with the handles that lift up and over the top to secure it in place. You want one that isn't too tall with a decent amount of floor space, something like a 28-quart would work for a while. Punch a few holes in the sides for ventilation, use the heat pad with thermostat for heat, don't waste money on the heat lamp, and just cover the top with a towel or blanket instead to help insulate it and keep the heat in.

[Cassiopeia]

It will not. Tanks suck at retaining heat and humidity without a lot of added work and expense. They are also $$$ at pet stores.

Go to Target or WalMart and spent $3-5 on a latch box style tub with the handles that lift up and over the top to secure it in place. You want one that isn't too tall with a decent amount of floor space, something like a 28-quart would work for a while. Punch a few holes in the sides for ventilation, use the heat pad with thermostat for heat, don't waste money on the heat lamp, and just cover the top with a towel or blanket instead to help insulate it and keep the heat in.

That's almost identical to the set up I have and it's not working and doesn't keep temp high enough even though the heat mat's thermostat is set to 90.

EDIT: I even have a blanket on top and the temperature on a warm/cool fall day is 75*

[bcr229]

You can set the t-stat a few degrees higher, as there will be some heat loss between the pad and the tub. Putting a hide over the heat pad will also help, as it will trap heat in the smaller area.

Also you need to measure the surface temperature of the bottom of the tub, not just the ambient air temperature, as the surface temperature could very well be 90*F to match the pad.

[Cassiopeia]

ah okay. I have a hide right over it too and do have it set a few degrees higher. I'll move the probe. But the air temp is still low, correct? Another heat source should be necessary?