Is this normal? Getting worried.

[FollowTheSun]

Finally, at the 37-day mark, he pooped and peed on his own - very explosively, I might add - after I had just finished deep-cleaning his tub and was about to put him back into it. So I guess the moral of the story is, continue keeping a close eye on him, but also no need to panic yet. The little ones seem to be able to save things up for a very long time.

So what RedRabbit is saying is the best way to make your snake poo is to deep clean the enclosure

[Bogertophis]

So what RedRabbit is saying is the best way to make your snake poo is to deep clean the enclosure

Some snakes do seem to possess a perverse sense of humor. -though realistically, you have to handle your snake to clean their enclosure, so you're partly to blame.

[RedRabbit]

So what RedRabbit is saying is the best way to make your snake poo is to deep clean the enclosure

That is exactly how it works.

[Luvyna]

Update on the situation — after I waited a week, I think Noodle... "deflated"(?) slightly:



Here's another angle, there's still a bulge but not as bad as before:



I'm confused because I looked all over the enclosure and I don't see any poop. Wondering if he is still slowly digesting what's in there? Argh, why don't ball pythons come with instruction manuals? To soak or not to soak?

[RedRabbit]

I'm confused because I looked all over the enclosure and I don't see any poop. Wondering if he is still slowly digesting what's in there? Argh, why don't ball pythons come with instruction manuals? To soak or not to soak?

Hmm, Noodle is going on week 6 at this point, right? Out of curiosity, have you tried feeling around his vent area just to make sure there isn't anything firm that could be a blockage, like a large/hardened urate? I kind of doubt it, since you mentioned he expelled a good amount of pee and urates onto your lap not too long ago, but it's always reassuring to check.

At this point, if you wanted to give the warm water bath a try, certainly I don't think anyone would fault you for it. Sure, Noodle probably won't like it, but it's hardly the end of the world for him, and if it works, you and he will both probably feel better for it afterwards. Just make sure to be attentive to the water's temperature (aim for 85 F, no warmer than 90 F), and supervise him - both for his safety, and so you can "encourage" him, if needed, to keep moving around (the swimming motions should help get his bowels moving).

[Luvyna]

Thanks for the input, I did end up soaking him in my sink yesterday but I took him out after around 15 mins. I used a temp gun and the water temp was 90F when I put him in, but as soon as Noodle touched the water he went rigid with fear (he basically just went stiff and his body would stay in the same shape even when I moved him. I tried gently massaging down his body and tail but no results (then again I think the time he was in the water was shorter than recommended). When the water cooled down I took Noodle out and replaced it once but when I put him in the second time he started trying to climb out so I ended up just taking him out.

Before he peed on me I could feel something hard around his vent area but once he passed the urates that was gone. I've felt around his vent again and everything seems to be soft so I don't think he's impacted or anything. If he still doesn't pass anything for another week or two I'm going to try soaking him again for a longer time.