Please help carpet pyhton

[carpetterror]

i have a 6ft costal carpet python yesterday while he was eating he struck the plastic tote i feed him in and now it looks like one side of his bottom jaw got stuck under one of his top teeth can this happen or can it be broken ?

[presspirate]

First off, welcome to the forums. You've come to a good place.
Snakes jaws are pretty flexible. Without seeing a picture, it would be difficult to asses whats happened with him. Did he finish his meal?
As always, if he seems to be acting, or looking out of the ordinary you'll want to get him to the vet. Or at least consult with one.

Let's see if someone else has an idea for you.

[marvelfreak]

Hello and welcome! A picture would really help, but i think i got a pretty good idea of what it looks like. If i am right next comes the fun part. Your going to what to get someone to help hold him. Then get a good hold of his head and carefully lift his bottom jaw and try to unhook it from the tooth. Also like Presspirate asked did it finish eating? If you can please post a picture before trying to unhook it just to make sure i am right. No need to chance a bite for nothing.

Just had a thought it could be just it jaw out of place and he just hasn't pop it back or having trouble doing so. Can you see a tooth?

[carpetterror]

no he was finished eating and he saw something move outside the clear tub i feed him in. I was just holding him and he seems normal lets me touch his head and is very alert. Sorry he decided to take a bath in these pics.

[Freebody]

hmm that does look like your going to have to just unstick it, but lets see what marvelfreak says first, i have never had my snakes do that and not unstick it themselves, so im not sure why it didnt, my snake has done it and then did a big yahn and relocate everything proper again. im looking forward to seeing what is the conclusion. got my fingers crossed it a nice and simple easy fix. Welcome to the forum btw :)

[shaunyboy]

as chuck has said it may be a case of his lip being stuck on a tooth.

i personally would take him out and carefully open his mouth a little to see if this was the case.

i had a jag once that hurt his bottom left jaw.he could'nt move it for a couple of months.when eating he would prees the food item into a corber of his viv so he could get it down.his bottom left jaw would not walk up the food like normal.

it all sorted itself out after 7 or 8 weeks.my vet reckoned he had bruised his jaw and it just needed time to heal.

in your picture imo it looks like its lip is hooked onto a tooth.

let us know how it goes please

cheers shaun

[carpetterror]

what would be the best way to open his mouth he is realy strong and i dont want to get bit but he has never struck or bitten anyone

[shaunyboy]

what would be the best way to open his mouth he is realy strong and i dont want to get bit but he has never struck or bitten anyone


take a firm grip of him just behind his head.where the neck joins the head.so you have your thumb on one side and your middle finger on the opposite side of his face.the back of his head and neck will rest on the palm of your hand.you can place your index finger on the top of his head to further stop any wriggling.

get someone else to hold his body down

once your happy he's comfertable and you have a good grip

use something wood or plastic.i use a pencil

use the pencil horizontally so your putting it in like a human would bite down on a leather strap when having something painfull done

do not put the pencil in tip or end first

sorry but ive just found out how hard it is to explain this without a picture.

gently slide the side of the pencil between his lips

its his top jaw you want to try and prize up wards.dont push the bottom jaws down.

he will start to open his mouth as you go further in

once the pencil is right at the back of his mouth it will be fully open

once you have his jaws prized apart you can inspect his mouth

have a pair of tweezers at hand

if his lip is stuck on a tooth then just gently lift the lip up and off the tooth.

follow the direction of the tooth when lifting the lip up as his teeth will be curved towards the back of his mouth

let us know how it goes and be very carefull around his teeth.they can be broken quite easy

cheers shaun

[marvelfreak]

From the pic it looking like a tooth most likely. Shaunyboy is right on with how to do it. Let us know how it goes.