View Full Version : Sick Ball Python?? Please help
Theweinz
01-06-13, 07:24 PM
Last week I noticed a little blood in the urine and then again in a poop of my four month old female Spider Ball Python. The blood was bright and fresh, only a tiny bit at the end of both the pee and poop (saw it twice). She fed again, quite aggressively actually, and I waited to see if blood appeared again. Yesterday, after about a week she peed and there was no blood. Today she pooped and it was completely clean too. After the poop She fed again without hesitation. She is active, growing, not irritable, handles well, and feeds. What do you think? I feared a intestinal bug, amoeba or something, but there was no diarrhea, always well formed poop. It could be cancer but she is not slowing down in any respect (at least not yet). Never had a snake do this. I was all ready to take her to the vet, but with clean pee/poop and all other indicator ok I am going to watch and wait. Any opinions or experience with this? She is a beautiful little snake.
JW
dinosaurdammit
01-06-13, 07:29 PM
if its bright red then it is likely she tore something while taking a poop. Its fresh blood which could indicate the feces was large and she strained to get it out or she may have bothered her vent. This is just my guess and the only real way to know is to see a vet. Old blood is usually a worse sign. Think dull gross old blood that kinda looks like craisins when passed.
Calihusker
01-06-13, 07:42 PM
I'm not an expert on the intestinal tract of herps.. but could it possibly have been as simple as an aggravated roid?
I would agree with above...maybe more of a tear or strain with it being fresh blood. regardless sounds like a vet visit.
Theweinz
01-06-13, 09:52 PM
Thanks guys. I have her in quarantine now. Ambient temp not as warm as with main collection.
JW
Aaron_S
01-06-13, 10:29 PM
Thanks guys. I have her in quarantine now. Ambient temp not as warm as with main collection.
JW
Wait...What? Why would you lower the ambient temp for a snake that MAY be ill. Ideal conditions are needed moreso than ever!
alessia55
01-06-13, 11:28 PM
Wait...What? Why would you lower the ambient temp for a snake that MAY be ill. Ideal conditions are needed moreso than ever!
This. If your snake is possibly ill, the husbandry should be spot on now more than ever. Quarantine is a good measure since you don't know what's going on, but the quarantine enclosure should have ideal husbandry.
Juicy tidbit: you can increase the effectiveness of a snakes immune system by increasing their temps.
Theweinz
01-07-13, 11:14 AM
No temp has been lowered. It is just that my snake room is warmer than the rest of the house. If I have a potentially sick animal it is taken out of the room. I can give it the high end temps ok, but the ambient temp is lower (mid-70s). Any more imput on experience with blood in stool would be appreciated. Thanks
JW
SnakeyJay
01-07-13, 11:44 AM
If the ambiant temps are dropping then try n get an oil heater in the room set to a low temperature.. Lowering the ambiant and low end temps will have a detrimental effect I believe :)
vBulletin® v3.8.7, Copyright ©2000-2025, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.