Vote for BP.Net for the 2013 Forum of the Year! Click here for more info.

» Site Navigation

» Home
 > FAQ

» Online Users: 2,729

1 members and 2,728 guests
Most users ever online was 6,337, 01-24-2020 at 04:30 AM.

» Today's Birthdays

None

» Stats

Members: 75,034
Threads: 248,490
Posts: 2,568,459
Top Poster: JLC (31,651)
Welcome to our newest member, jeremymichels
Results 1 to 7 of 7
  1. #1
    Registered User Bri123's Avatar
    Join Date
    05-17-2021
    Posts
    10
    Thanks
    8
    Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts
    Images: 4

    Help! Ball Python face looks swollen after feeding?

    Hello, this is now my second posting on my second addition to my ball python family. Of course he is worrying me AGAIN.

    So, he is eating fine (which he hadn't been before), this would be his third or fourth meal with me since I got him in early September. He was hungry and eager to eat, he is about 114g when I last weighed him and I fed him a f/t rat fuzzy.

    His first strike he ended up missing but got it the second time. After he finished swallowing the rat I noticed his upper lip looked a little wonky? I tried to get a good picture of it here. It looks like it might have been swollen?



    I did some googling and I was worried that maybe he had hit his nose on something or scraped it when he was eating? I also saw someone talk about their lip getting stuck on a tooth? After my google I went to look at him again and it looked like it may be bleeding a tiny bit as well? I don't know if its easy to see in this picture?


    He is still "hunting" me when I go near, so I am not sure how much it bothers him. I never experienced anything like this with my other boy. Does this look like anything anyone else has experienced? could it be that his tooth got stuck or something else? How worried should I be?

    Thanks again in advance for any replies

  2. #2
    BPnet Veteran Snow Balls's Avatar
    Join Date
    03-03-2020
    Location
    Murrieta, CA
    Posts
    321
    Thanks
    145
    Thanked 316 Times in 174 Posts

    Re: Help! Ball Python face looks swollen after feeding?

    It just looks like he needs to reset his jaws. I have a few balls who strike at the tubs as soon as I go to pull my tubs out. He should be fine!


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    "I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not" -Kurt Cobain

  3. #3
    BPnet Veteran nikkubus's Avatar
    Join Date
    12-20-2018
    Posts
    1,370
    Thanks
    2,509
    Thanked 1,847 Times in 972 Posts
    It's hard to see but it does look a little swollen. I wouldn't freak out immediately, but it's definitely something I would keep a close eye on and get him to the vet if it gets worse or doesn't get better soon. I wouldn't mess with him for a couple days because of eating, but it might be worth it in 48 hrs to try and get a peek in his mouth gently to see if there are any obvious signs of a problem. Could be from breaking a tooth on a prior occasion which can heal on its own most of the time. Have his sheds been really good and complete in one piece? Sometimes a small piece can get stuck in the eye and cause a duct to clog and cause something like this.
    7.22 BP 1.4 corn 1.1 SD retic 0.1 hognose

  4. The Following User Says Thank You to nikkubus For This Useful Post:

    Bogertophis (10-16-2021)

  5. #4
    Registered User Bri123's Avatar
    Join Date
    05-17-2021
    Posts
    10
    Thanks
    8
    Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts
    Images: 4

    Re: Help! Ball Python face looks swollen after feeding?

    Quote Originally Posted by nikkubus View Post
    It's hard to see but it does look a little swollen. I wouldn't freak out immediately, but it's definitely something I would keep a close eye on and get him to the vet if it gets worse or doesn't get better soon. I wouldn't mess with him for a couple days because of eating, but it might be worth it in 48 hrs to try and get a peek in his mouth gently to see if there are any obvious signs of a problem. Could be from breaking a tooth on a prior occasion which can heal on its own most of the time. Have his sheds been really good and complete in one piece? Sometimes a small piece can get stuck in the eye and cause a duct to clog and cause something like this.

    He has only shed once so far since I have had him. it looked a little rough where his head was but both of the eye caps were on there. Is it possible that the f/t rat had anything to do with it? Like if it was too big for him or something?

    Thank you for the quick reply by the way!

  6. #5
    Registered User Bri123's Avatar
    Join Date
    05-17-2021
    Posts
    10
    Thanks
    8
    Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts
    Images: 4

    Re: Help! Ball Python face looks swollen after feeding?

    Quote Originally Posted by Snow Balls View Post
    It just looks like he needs to reset his jaws. I have a few balls who strike at the tubs as soon as I go to pull my tubs out. He should be fine!


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

    Thank you for the quick reply! I just worry with bit of blood from the area where it looked a bit swollen. Have any of yours bonked their nose while striking and caused something like that to happen?

  7. #6
    Bogertophis's Avatar
    Join Date
    04-28-2018
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    20,184
    Thanks
    28,089
    Thanked 19,740 Times in 11,797 Posts
    I agree that it looks a little swollen but it's hard to say the exact cause- it might be he just needs to reset his jaws- it's rough having all those rows of teeth to manage. It might also be that he bonked his nose when he struck the rodent, or that a tooth got bent or loose, & then got stuck a bit awkwardly. As already mentioned, I'd wait a couple days & see how it goes, but I wouldn't worry too much.
    Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength.
    Eric Hoffer (1902 - 1983)

  8. The Following User Says Thank You to Bogertophis For This Useful Post:

    Snow Balls (10-16-2021)

  9. #7
    BPnet Veteran Snow Balls's Avatar
    Join Date
    03-03-2020
    Location
    Murrieta, CA
    Posts
    321
    Thanks
    145
    Thanked 316 Times in 174 Posts

    Re: Help! Ball Python face looks swollen after feeding?

    Quote Originally Posted by Bri123 View Post
    Thank you for the quick reply! I just worry with bit of blood from the area where it looked a bit swollen. Have any of yours bonked their nose while striking and caused something like that to happen?
    I haven’t ever seen any blood but I have hatchling who is about 350g now who strikes the tub as soon as she sees hand movement. Literally every time I feed, like nikkubus said just monitor it. From the pictures you posted he might’ve split his upper lip and that’s why you’re seeing blood. Since you’re leaving him be I doubt you saw him reset his jaws. Check him again in 48 hours after he’s digested his meal and see if he still looks swollen and if he does then a vet trip wouldn’t hurt. Snakes strike at glass/tubs all the time and are fine


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    "I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not" -Kurt Cobain

  10. The Following User Says Thank You to Snow Balls For This Useful Post:

    Bogertophis (10-16-2021)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v4.2.1