Man

[SarahMB]

I am getting pretty depressed about poor Trey. It seems like he's gaining weight one minute, and then he urinates and has diarrhea, and he's back to where he started. I would expect a gain by this point! I think it's been over a month that I've been tube feeding him, now.
To me, this shows the classic symptoms of a worm infestation. Does anyone think I'm wrong? I want to take him back to the vet, but the one I went to said no worms, and I'm just starting to doubt that he checked very well.

What do you all think? Should I maybe try a different vet? Should I try deworming him on my own?

Even knowing that he is just a normal old BP, more likely than not a WC one, man...I just can't tell you how attached I've become to him. He is the sweetest little thing...not a bit headshy, loves crawling all over people, only hisses when badly startled. He's just genuinely a sweet little guy, and I really love him a lot, already!

Seeing my CB little girl, how fat and sassy she is, it just breaks my heart to see Trey in this condition. I really want him to survive and florish.

He did perk up a bit tonight. He's starting to shed in earnest now, but he doesn't have the energy to rub up against stuff, so I soaked him for a bit. He *really* wanted out of that water! I loved seeing him be so active again. I just want him to get better.

[recycling goddess]

i'm so sorry it's not getting any better... sending hugs to you both.

i'm not much help otherwise.... just hugs.

[SatanicIntention]

He needs to be dewormed regardless of what the vet or vet tech saw on the fecal, as some things like Giardia, coccidia and tapeworms aren't usually caught on a fecal float. Flagyl or Albon works well for protozoan/flagellates and some pyrantel pamoate(Strongid) or fenbendazole(Panacur) works well to get rid of pretty much anything else. I would also get the vet to give him some subcutaneous fluids, with some lactated ringer's solution(for electrolytes) or just place warmed saline.

What type of enclosure is he set up in? I have a small male that weighs about 50g, was dehydrated when I got him, had mites(gone now thanks to Provent-A-Mite) and was just overall a skinny little dude. He's in a 12qt tub with his heat 94 on warm side and 84 on cool side, a small water bowl, two plastic saucers, newspaper for bedding and is due to eat tomorrow. We'll see. He's been settling in for about 2 weeks now, handled once for tub cleaning.

I would try to increase his heat a bit and get him deparasitized. That is probably his main concern right now. Maybe try to get some acidophilus into him too as his gut flora may not be working as it should. Handle him as infrequently as possible and keep him in a dark, quiet place. Maybe do the newspaper balls(lightly balled) in his tub to see if that will destress him enough to want to eat. You could always try a live fuzzy mouse overnight in his tub to see if that sparks an interest. He just may not have enough energy right now to digest that.

I hope this helps and I hope he does well for you. I can tell you have a great affection for this little strong-willed being.

[frankykeno]

If you aren't feeling confident in your vet Sarah or just want a second opinion then by all means phone around and find another good herp vet to see the snake and do another fecal float. It never hurts especially in a case like this to seek all the professional help you can find. I know we are all pulling for you, your family and little Trey. You've certainly had a time of it with him and I know it must be disheartening to not see much improvement at this point. Think of it this way though dear, he isn't getting worse is he and if not for your hard work he probably wouldn't have made it this far.

[SarahMB]

i'm so sorry it's not getting any better... sending hugs to you both.

i'm not much help otherwise.... just hugs.

Believe me, I can use all the empathy I can get, just as much as advice. No one I know has any interest in snakes, so this is about the only place I can come for understanding. I seriously want to meet other people who have snakes!
So thank you so much for letting me vent, and 'getting it'

[SarahMB]

Becky,

He's in a 10 gal aquarium, with newspapers and paper towels as substrate, 80 degree cool side, 92 degree warm side, identical hides on each side. His screen top is mostly covered, to keep humidity levels in. Usually it's at 50%, I have it between 60-70% since he went blue. He also has a little tree to climb on, but hasn't been in it lately.

I have some fenbendazole on hand, should I give him some? I think I will try to find a different vet on Monday...And I saw PAM at my pet store tonight. Should I just go ahead and get it?

I did try leaving him with a fuzzy, both in his enclosure and in a paper sack for a while. I really don't think he has the energy for that at this point. I really think I have tried every trick in the book with this snake, I have been so intent on saving him!

[SarahMB]

If you aren't feeling confident in your vet Sarah or just want a second opinion then by all means phone around and find another good herp vet to see the snake and do another fecal float. It never hurts especially in a case like this to seek all the professional help you can find. I know we are all pulling for you, your family and little Trey. You've certainly had a time of it with him and I know it must be disheartening to not see much improvement at this point. Think of it this way though dear, he isn't getting worse is he and if not for your hard work he probably wouldn't have made it this far.

Thank you so much, Joanna.
I think I will call around Monday and get a second opinion on him. I can't imagine he can get any worse, so I will do whatever it takes.

[muddoc]

Sarah, bear in mind that his diarrhea is probably due to the fact that he is not eating solid meals. I have noticed that most of my ball babies that are on pink rats, also have a runnier stool than other snakes that are eating food with hair. I think that the hair is a big contributer to firmer stools.

[SarahMB]

Sarah, bear in mind that his diarrhea is probably due to the fact that he is not eating solid meals. I have noticed that most of my ball babies that are on pink rats, also have a runnier stool than other snakes that are eating food with hair. I think that the hair is a big contributer to firmer stools.

Oh, hmmm, I hadn't thought about that. I still worry about his lack of weight gain, though. And this last week, he's just gotten more and more lethargic. I'm not sure how much of that has to do with the fact that he's shedding, though.

[muddoc]

His weight gain could still be an issue, and thelethargy may or may not be an issue. Most ball pythons are lethargic by nature. As far as the weight gain, it is not usually large gains that are made by hatchling ball pythons. As long as there is a gain, however small it may be, I would say he will be alright in due time. I was mostly talking about the loose stool in my last post.