EMERGENCY | My Ball Python's Scales Just Split

[Nixon]

Dave has been curled up in his log for quite some time. He's usually, at the least, peeking out of his log or, like most days, he's out of his log and exploring his cage. Though, he's been cooped up in his log. It's strange but not too strange. Snakes want their quiet time. But, I took him out the other day and I found that he is shedding again. I'm hoping it goes well and doesn't take off his built up scabs. I'm seeing some weird overlay patterns on his lacerations. (I don't know how to describe it, sorry.) But it looks like some scales are trying to form back!

For now, it seems safer to feed him a little bit of bigger mice. Around adult size, a little bit less, he can handle. His scales seem to be holding up good and I'm trying hard to remember to put the vitamin supplements on. Still, I won't push it.

All in all, he's doing fantastic. Going back to one of the first comments, saying that I should let Dave die - well, look at him now. This little guy isn't going to give up. If he's made it this far with bad care, then why stop? Dave still ceases to amaze me. I hope, when he's well enough to be brought to some reptile conventions, I can get myself a stand and talk about him. Raising awareness for this slipped skin disease, and also sharing his story and how hard he fought and how the community of Ball-Pythons.net helped both him and me through all of this.

I couldn't of made it this far without you guys. All of you deserve some credit. Except for the negative ones all the way back who didn't want to fight for him.

Thank you so much.

[bcr229]

The wounds will scab up and then scale over slowly. You may have to help those areas shed for quite a while.

One of my retics had surgery earlier this year, and the incision is a few inches long. That area will probably always have issues shedding, and after that girl "pops" her shed I either apply a warm, damp rag to the area to help soften the shed and remove it, or if the weather is nice she goes outside into the baby pool for a swim.

[AbsoluteApril]

Was so surprised you were able to save him, I really thought he was a goner when this thread started and now look, he's thriving and doing great! Kudos to you and way to go Dave! Such a wonderful outcome, you did an awesome job with this guy!

[paulh]

I just found this thread and had to read the whole thing. Way to go, Nixon and Dave!

And thanks for giving me some new key words to look up. I've seen spontaneous skin rupture in a couple of snakes but never had a name for it or anything but the haziest idea of treatment.

[Nixon]

It's still a blur for me, Paul. I'm not sure if there is an actual cure or if it's simple a malnutrition thing that will go away when the animal is in a healthy state. I have a feeling it would return if Dave were to go back downhill again, but I don't expect him to be traveling down that path ever again.

Most of what I gathered was that it was linked with malnutrition and possibly having to do with a deficiency in vitamin C. Obviously, it needs awareness. There are many abused animals out there and there are plenty of snakes who have been rescued from going through what Dave did - or worse. They may suffer the same disease. Dave was lucky enough to not be infected.

A big problem is that I never expected that at all. I had never heard or seen anything like this. In my case, I'm a teenager who simply owns them as pets. I took in Dave only expecting it to be an unstable ride of him getting up into a healthy state but it went haywire within mere seconds. I was scared. I could've panicked. I'm assuming people who take in rescues have more knowledge, but still, this disease needs to be made more aware. Knowing at least it exists and some ways to handle it would be a lot, a whole lot better than scrambling to get a vet and seeking out people online for any source of help. The internet doesn't have much to offer if you don't know the name.

Dave is lucky. Other snakes and owners might not be. I was lucky to act with my wits and find anything that could help me, maybe some others would freeze up or not think twice to put them down. I'm just happy that my emotional and logical side can come to an agreement sometimes. It saved me from dread and Dave from risking anything worse than what he got.

I just wish I knew.

Also, why do I have to type paragraphs every time I reply? I'm supposed to be doing math homework. Man, oh, man.

[WintersSerpentine]

Nixon,
You have a beautiful story. Your persistence and care for Dave is truly heartwarming. Rock on, Nixon & Dave!!
It stunned me to learn that you are only a freshman in High School and had the intellect to find answers as quickly as you did. Most adults (as you saw on pages 1,2) would have had the snake put down. Sadly, it's true. But you saved Dave. And from the looks of it, you have quite a few years left with your (growing back) scaled best friend!
I cannot wait to see more pictures of Dave's progress and watch you grow as a BP owner!

With nothing but positive vibes,
Mac, Ty & our Loucie, Graeae, Mj, Nipper, Cersei, Imbra, and champagne (we haven't named him yet :p)

[Nixon]

Such cute names.

Thank you for the praises. I love seeing people who have learned so much from this. I would call it a mess but it barely is. It worked out better than I assumed because I assume the worse but, hey, just because something bad happens - it doesn't mean we can't try.

Now I'm sophomore and I'm hoping to talk about Dave for my final project in Animal Companionship. (Even if school just started.)

[paulh]

....

Most of what I gathered was that it was linked with malnutrition and possibly having to do with a deficiency in vitamin C. Obviously, it needs awareness. There are many abused animals out there and there are plenty of snakes who have been rescued from going through what Dave did - or worse. They may suffer the same disease. Dave was lucky enough to not be infected.

....

Also, why do I have to type paragraphs every time I reply? I'm supposed to be doing math homework. Man, oh, man.

Malnutrition and possible vitamin C deficiency was about were I have been for a while, too. For what it's worth, my experience with the problem was in the late 1970s. This was before the Internet, when exotic vets were nonexistent in my area. So this disease is not a new thing.

This little menagerie had a dead reticulated python, and the skin split as the carcass was being moved. I boarded one of their boa constrictors one winter, and its skin split as I moved it into one of my cages. The boa healed on its own, fortunately. From what I have found, snakes are supposed to be able to make their own vitamin C. But stress depresses the immune system, and possibly vitamin C production. There was plenty of stress at that menagerie, with people walking by the cages and often rapping on the glass. I was able to give that boa a relatively stress free environment as well as good food. So I think there is a stress component to the problem, too.

I think that there are other problems in snakes that are at least partially caused by vitamin deficiencies. Such as congenital problems like bug eyes in Texas rat snakes and spinal kinks in a number of species. But that is another story.

IMO, this thread will be helpful to future people facing the same problem.

I also write paragraphs when there is a sympathetic audience.

Good luck with the math!

[Nixon]

Ah, I understand. Awareness still needs to be raised, though. The local vets I went to had never heard of it. Also, I never knew they made their own vitamin C. It'd make sense of how far it'd go down if they're stressed and mistreated. Dave is probably still a little stressed because of his limited environment. I don't want to put bedding in just yet and all he has is a tight log he likes to squeeze himself into. I know these snakes love to have three walls they can press against so I made sure to give him that.

But!

Dave just finished shedding and I'll try to get pictures as soon as possible. He looks so smooth and healthier. The tears are slowly becoming scars. Also, my parents keep mistaking him for my female ball python, Medusa, who is about the same size but she's only a year old. She's a big girl. I don't know her weight off the top of my head but she's pretty thick for being young. Which is weird because she's the pickiest eater. But, they keep mistaking the two because Dave is getting chubbier. It's so good to see him like this.

[Nixon]

Okay, guys, sorry this is taking forever. I missed a week of school because when I get sick, my asthma likes to kick in and it's a whole mess. I've been trying to catch up on all of that - and also, for some reason - videos from my camera won't go to the computer. I want to at least get a video of Dave so I can try it with my phone and if it doesn't work then I'll go back to pictures.

I probably shouldn't have spilled spilled pudding on my camera.