My Ball Python has a Problem

[Riokeshen]

I'm a girl! Haha, e-dee, not eddie!


Riokeshen -

Did they say anything about the weight loss? Or why it wasn't eating? And I have heard before (I might be wrong) that using oil on a snake isn't recommended anymore.. anyways, water works just as well if you soak her and let her run though a damp towel afterwards.

I'm glad she went to the vet, but save up money in case she needs to go again, and be sure to get he the supplies she needs so that there will hopefully be no problems in the future - buying the correct items for her care now will help prevent other health related problems in the future.

lack of eating is the cause for weight loss plus she is gained a lot of weight just from drinking lol *JK* any ways she should be fine within a weeks time ^^'

and yeah people all ways say I'm a guy when I'm not XD most people think that cause of my username ..

[littleindiangirl]

lack of eating is the cause for weight loss plus she is gained a lot of weight just from drinking lol *JK* any ways she should be fine within a weeks time ^^'

and yeah people all ways say I'm a guy when I'm not XD most people think that cause of my username ..

I think your missing what some very experienced people here are saying.

Lack of eating is from husbandry problems or internal parasites. Loss of weight in such a short time is a symptom of an illness.

Did your vet perform a Fecal Float? If he/she didn't, I would question their experience. Remember, not all vets got all A's in school.


I also don't follow along with the vets logic that olive oil will help with the dehydration of the animal. This is NOT just a stuck shed. A bad shed is from too low of humidity AND can also be created by an animal that is dehydrated.

It has been shown that putting olive oil on a snake can actually increase the likely hood of stuck shed.

Also, how is olive oil going to rehydrate the body, the actual body of the snake?

Oil is NOT water, oil and water do not mix. Does that make any sense what so ever to you? He needs to have water ALL the time and given oppurtunity to drink it.


No, my personal advice is to find a different Vet, one who knows what the heck they are talking about. The only thing olive oil will do is give you a greasy snake. Give him fresh clean water in a nice big bowl that he can soak in.

Have you given us a detailed set up of your animal?

Keeping a baby ball python in a 55 gallon tank is going to dramatically hurt your chances of getting them to eat by making them feel unsafe and open for predators. Ball pythons love small tight spaces and feel more comfortable eating when secluded and alone.

I would first give us the best description of your set up (tank, substrate, lighting, heat, how you measure heat), down to the littlest bit of information because we want to see you do well with this snake.

[Inknsteel]

we bought every thing we plan on geting another one next month or so.

I would SERIOUSLY advise you to get your setup straight and get THIS snake back to good health before you even THINK about getting another. Honestly, you've had one "beat half to death" and another that won't eat and probably has more problems than you know. Getting another snake with the one you have in its current state is IRRESPONSIBLE, CRUEL, and just DUMB.

Get this one straight and healthy before you even consider the possibility of buying another snake.

[TanyaL]

[shakes head in disbelief]

I hope and pray that you get your bp the care that it needs. Sending you a PM

[edie]

lack of eating is the cause for weight loss plus she is gained a lot of weight just from drinking lol *JK* any ways she should be fine within a weeks time ^^'

and yeah people all ways say I'm a guy when I'm not XD most people think that cause of my username ..

Okay, obviously not eating causes weight loss. A BP isn't going to stop eating and lose all that weight because it is too dry, that is a husbandry issue that can be fixed in a seconds time (I don't see why that is even still an issue, if my snake has a stuck shed they are soaked for 20 minuets and its taken care of - end of story and humidity is checked and corrected if it is not normal) - weight loss like that is a serious issue and should be treated as one.. and how do you know she should be fine within a weeks time? She isn't going to put all that weight back on after one meal.

If the quote Inknsteel posted from you means you are getting a new BP soon then I am very disappointed. I know I have my hands full now with the pets I have, I AM NOT GETTING ANY MORE! Imagine that! I'm being responsible and not taking on more than I can handle and provide for! You need to really think about this, you have had serious problems with your (dead i'm guessing) car BP and this one.. do not bring any more animals into this situation, it is not fair on them at all.

Seriously, I tried to be as nice as possible in the last post since I know you are young, but PLEASE do not get any more snakes until you are at least 18, you are a child and children shouldn't be responsible for a life, since obviously they do not understand everything involved with caring for one.

[gothkenny]

Okay, obviously not eating causes weight loss. A BP isn't going to stop eating and lose all that weight because it is too dry, that is a husbandry issue that can be fixed in a seconds time (I don't see why that is even still an issue, if my snake has a stuck shed they are soaked for 20 minuets and its taken care of - end of story and humidity is checked and corrected if it is not normal) - weight loss like that is a serious issue and should be treated as one.. and how do you know she should be fine within a weeks time? She isn't going to put all that weight back on after one meal.

If the quote Inknsteel posted from you means you are getting a new BP soon then I am very disappointed. I know I have my hands full now with the pets I have, I AM NOT GETTING ANY MORE! Imagine that! I'm being responsible and not taking on more than I can handle and provide for! You need to really think about this, you have had serious problems with your (dead i'm guessing) car BP and this one.. do not bring any more animals into this situation, it is not fair on them at all.

Seriously, I tried to be as nice as possible in the last post since I know you are young, but PLEASE do not get any more snakes until you are at least 18, you are a child and children shouldn't be responsible for a life, since obviously they do not understand everything involved with caring for one.

While yes, I agree with everything else you've said, the last part where you said that children don't understand about caring for a life was a bit un-needed. Just because this person isn't taking care of her animal doesn't mean I'm taking care of mine because I'm about the same age as her too.

But back to the OP, please, please, please, please never get another animal. Why is this such a big drawn out thing? Soak him. Not in olive oil. In water.
Then find another vet. If you can't do that, give him to a nice, helping member on this site that can take care of him. You have two options. Pick one. Oh, and the whole dropping 100 grams is really scary.... Just had to mention that. D:

[edie]

While yes, I agree with everything else you've said, the last part where you said that children don't understand about caring for a life was a bit un-needed. Just because this person isn't taking care of her animal doesn't mean I'm taking care of mine because I'm about the same age as her too.

I am only 20, but I know more about caring for a life than a 13 year old does (I know nothing about caring for a humans life, I'm only speaking animals here) - and, in some cases age and maturity play a big deal in certain situations. I do not believe that calling her age into the conversation was un-needed at all.

Clearly you can see she is having problems and I don't think you can say her age has nothing to do with it, because I'm sure it has a lot to do with it. I do not know how old you are but it seems as if you clearly know more about reptile husbandry then the OP does based on the second half of your post, which shows although you are young you are mature enough to educate yourself about your pet - your responsibility, which is a great thing, and a thing that the OP doesn't seem to get. Age and maturity are two different things but they do go hand in hand usually, and one young person may be more mature about certain situations than another in that same situation.

Maybe I meant maturity more than I mean age in my post, but I don't expect many 13 year olds to be mature.

Hope that makes sense.