Help : malformed newborn ball python

[Normal_ball]

Hello everybody

I apologize in advance for my bad english

I hope this is the right place for this topic

I need help for a baby ball python, newborn

I had a python ball reproduction. I'm used to it, and my adults are confirmed breeders. These are normal, WC.

As always, the brooded female eggs. I never had a problem with this method, everything went well.

I had to cut an egg, because I saw that the baby was trying to get out, but could not.

So he went out by the little hole that I had made him, but now, he has a jaw quite malformed, and also a small end of the tail.

And also: a small piece of his tongue often remains outside, it seems that he can not get it back.

Otherwise, he is doing well. I will soon give the first meals, I will see if he can eat ...

The other babies are doing very well

Here are some pictures (tell me if you don't see the pictures)

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Have you ever seen this kind of distortion? I was thinking of an abscess, as the baby forced on the shell to get out of the egg, but it looks like bone.

Thank you!

[bcr229]

I have seen snakes survive with worse deformities. If it can eat, shed, defecate, etc. ok then find it a pet-only home, it's not a breeder.

[Normal_ball]

Thanks for your answer

I thought that his jaw might get back into place during the first meal

I'm thinking of doing an x-ray at a vet...

Otherwise, this baby has normal behavior, is active, curious, moves quickly ... no other problem

[Bogertophis]

I too would give it a chance as pet only...from here it seems like it's face got smooshed in the egg & might eventually normalize (or at least get closer to normal?)
but time will tell as it grows. Yes, I've seen far worse also. A vet visit should be helpful too. Tail tip isn't a big worry, it's whether he can eat normally and also that
he can retain his tongue in his mouth. Hope it's just temporary weakness that will improve. If his tongue hangs out it will get damaged (dry out etc) so that's
fairly important. He's got nice attractive color & pattern at least... I once had a snake (not a BP) FAR worse off that I named Longshot...she lived (with me) for
8 months. Good luck, little beep.

[Normal_ball]

Thanks for your answer


Yes, it is cute, and colors very clear in real, the photos are not very good


I will keep it, and see its evolution, which I will post here


Breeders have advised me to euthanize it, but I think it's too early to make such an extreme decision.


I am just a ball python enthusiast, who keep a normal adult couple. I can afford to keep this baby, and see how it evolves.

[dr del]

Those pictures don't look nearly as bad as I was expecting - the end of the tail should cause no issues and ( as long as it can eat ) then yes I would give it a chance at being a pet only animal. Keep us posted on the little guy.

[Bogertophis]

Thanks for your answer

I thought that his jaw might get back into place during the first meal

I'm thinking of doing an x-ray at a vet...

Otherwise, this baby has normal behavior, is active, curious, moves quickly ... no other problem

Are you sure some of his teeth aren't "caught"? That happens sometimes with snakes of any age, like when they hit the glass going after motion, but it could happen
just as well in the egg I would think. And that could explain his awkward tongue flicks too...

[Normal_ball]

Yes, I will keep you informed


@Bogertophis: I have never heard of this problem of teeth, it's interesting.


The first meal will be next week, I hope he can eat normally.

[Bogertophis]

Yes, I will keep you informed


@Bogertophis: I have never heard of this problem of teeth, it's interesting.


The first meal will be next week, I hope he can eat normally.

FYI, when a snake strikes & hits something hard (like the glass/plexi side of cage instead of prey) it can jam their rather soft jaws inward to where their 'lip' area gets
caught on their own teeth. I've had to untangle a few over the years, & some ppl take their snakes in for vet help with this too. I've never seen a snake come from the
egg with their jaw caught on their own teeth, but I think it could possibly happen. Sometimes when a snake does this during a feed, they can yawn repeatedly & get
their mouth straightened out on their own...but not always. Their teeth curve a little...it's tough when you don't have hands & fingers.

[Normal_ball]

Thank you all for your participation


The baby has just been euthanized at the vet :larmes:


His mouth was atrophied, he could not open it. I offered him two meals (little living mouse), and he could not kill and eat them.


The other babies took their first meal, no problem.


The vet told me that nothing could be done for his mouth, and that he would not have a good life if we had to force-feed him every time, all his life.


I cut that baby's egg because he could not get out on his own, while the other babies left without help.
Finally, if he could not go out, he must not go out ...