Possible Problem

[bryanerb]

My youngest son and I 2 baby ball pythons, one male and one female. Today, my son and I noticed that the male has sort of a flattened area (top to bottom) on the rear 1/2 to 1/3 of his body, it's an area about 3 inches long. This is the first we have noticed it. Nothing unusual has happened to him, he ate this evening with no problems. He is eating small adult mice. Nothing has happened to him, i.e. squezzed, dropped, stepped on. Cage is kept at 80-82 on cool end with warm end 90-94. He has a hide, and we keep fresh water in bowl at all times. Anyone seen anything like this?

[daniel1983]

how 'flat' is the area compared to the regular cross section of the bp? Is there anyway you can take a picture? When was the last time the bp deficated? The more details the better....how long have you had them?

[mr~python]

i noticed you said you have one hide. you should have 2; one for the cool side, one for the warm. that can't contribute to him being flat though. sometimes my BP's look flat at there rear when they've just pooped, has he pooped in the past couple days?

[bryanerb]

We've had them since 9/21/05. Monty went poo yesterday. And I will try and get a picture once the mouse he ate this evening is digested. And will get another hide for both snakes on the cool end.

Thanks,
Bryan

1.1.0 Ball Pythons
0.0.2 Corn Snakes

[mr~python]

Monty went poo yesterday. And will get another hide for both snakes on the cool end.

mine look kinda flattened sometimes after they poop too.

and, are you keeping them in the same cage? thats a HUGE no no!!

[Shelby]

Probably just because he pooped.

You should really separate your snakes.. it's been discussed to death on this site, but snakes do not do well together.. it stresses them out, and if one is ever sick, you can't tell which one it is.. etc etc. They may look 'cute' curled up together, but trust me, they are not affectionate animals in the least, they are designed to live alone.

[daniel1983]

Probably just because he pooped.

You should really separate your snakes.. it's been discussed to death on this site, but snakes do not do well together.. it stresses them out, and if one is ever sick, you can't tell which one it is.. etc etc. They may look 'cute' curled up together, but trust me, they are not affectionate animals in the least, they are designed to live alone.

They can eat each other too...

[Shelby]

Yep.. there was a very graphic set of pics somewhere of one BP that ate another.. not much size difference either, quite amazing!

[mr~python]

can anyone show me a link of that? when i asked this question when i first joined someone mentioned that too, but they couldn't show me the pic. i really want to see it.

[bryanerb]

Each snake has it's own cage.