PDA

View Full Version : Sick ball python?!


Ashleighh1093
04-12-18, 04:30 AM
Hey guys,

So about 2 months ago my ball python started "constantly pooping", meaning his tail is lifted and hes dropping tiny bits of liquid constantly. So, after talking to several vets, reptile stores, and snake enthusiasts with the same responces, we came to the conclusion that he was constipated and itll probably pass. (Sadly im on welfare so a vet trip is out of the question. i called many vets to ask for advice, suggestons, fees, possibly a free bee check up... but had no luck).

Anyways, so i soaked him aswell as raised the temps and humidity like suggested and after about 2 weeks of no progress i started to panic a little. I started searching for someone or somewhere who i could surrender him to so he can have a chance to live a long healthy life; but next thing i know, another 2 weeks pass and hes just gotten worse.

A month in and hes now showing other symptoms. Hes drinking more frequently, bubbling from his nose and mouth, farting, and open mouth breathing. Talked to a few places and people and now were thinking its a RI, but no one has ever seen or heard this constant pooping thing. Ive sent pictures and they dont think its prolapsed hemipenes either. Google is also useless with this!

Now, its been a month a half and im still looking for someone to take him. Hes gotten worse within the past 2 weeks, his tongue looks darker, not active at all (ive had to double check if hes passed a few times), he doesnt care if im in his enclosure but before hed strike, hes hissing alot or letting air out of his mouth but i cant tell, and as of today hes releasing constant blood instead of the usual brown and white stuff.

I feel so bad for him suffering but i dont know what to do. I dont have the heart to euthanize him myself and clearly finding him somewhere thatll take care of him is impossible. Ive thought about the fridge/freezing euthenization method but ive read alot of mixed reviews about it (the way i think about it is hes suffering now, so atleast id be stopping it) but idk.

I think at this point i just want to see if anyone has experienced this? Do you know what this is? Why its happening? If theres hope for him? If i should euthenize him myself if i cant find someone within the next week? Can you think of anywhere in toronto that would take him (all places ive contacted wont take him without a surrendering fee or wont take him because hes sick)?

His thermastat is set to 90F with a heat lamp on the hot side and the ambient temp throughout the enclosure lowers to the cool side of 80F. The humidity is 55%. water dish always filled and the paper is changed weekly unless actually dirty. Right before he got sick i had removed his hide because he outgrew it, but i dont see how 1 day of being hideless could cause all this. Before this he was eating normal, normal bowels, normal movements and actions; my other snake which lives right above him is perfectly healthy.

All this time ive been cleaning his enclosure daily because he is literally slithering in his own liquids, making my house stink, and covering the paper towel almost completely within a day. ive removed his hide completely now since he doesnt use it anymore and just gets it dirty. The following picture is literally within an hour of a cleaning:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/htdt4tzdqwcwe35/IMG_20180412_053155.jpg?dl=0

This picture is of his vent and his "constant pooping" stance (it wasnt like this the entire month and a half, at the begining he would stop for a bit and it would go normal again; but after so long of the issue it wont go back to normal now).

https://www.dropbox.com/s/mye0izb3jr43yop/IMG_20180412_053944.jpg?dl=0

Thanks for any advice or suggestions and feel free to post your own experiences with this sort of issue!

EL Ziggy
04-12-18, 09:33 AM
I'm not sure what's wrong with your critter but I'd suggest finding a local reptile rescue facility. They may be able to nurse him back to health or give him a humane euthanasia if he's too far gone. I'm sorry to see this happen and I hope the snake isn't in pain.

craigafrechette
04-12-18, 01:50 PM
I'm not sure of the medical issue with the snake, only a qualified vet can answer that...

However, I do believe the right thing to do is to rehome the animal asap. Get the animal to an owner who can properly care for it, find a rescue, post the animal free on craigslist...etc...etc...

I'm sorry, but it's unfair to the animal to keep it if you can't properly care for it. That includes vet visits. Animals CAN and WILL get sick and require medical attention. If you can't provide that it is unfair to the animal for you to keep it.

I'm sorry your snake is ill and hope it isn't suffering....

Albert Clark
04-12-18, 03:42 PM
Sorry to see and hear this. Absolutely I ditto EL and craiga's recommendations. It's simply a matter of surrendering the animal to a appropriate entity capable of administering the medical intervention. The animal is most definitely suffering and must be in a lot of pain due to blood and fluid loss. Maybe your local zoo will take him or at least offer other alternatives. I hope you can get him some definitive help right away. Good luck.

Aaron_S
04-16-18, 12:26 PM
You should literally just hand him off to an organization capable of ethuanising or getting vet help for the snake.

As for the rest, I doubt it's constipation at this point. Did you feel at the vent area and see if there's any hard rocks in there? If not then it's something else. My random guess is some sort of disease or illness.