Sick/Injured Black Headed Python?

[Nick V]

Okay so I'm sure some of you guys have seen my pics on here, I have a four foot juvenile female BHP. I have fed her primarily f/t rat pups but have fed her f/t fish a few months ago. I have also fed her quail eggs before, which was only twice before since they are kind of fattening. Anyway, a few weeks ago she had shed and she had defecated at some point during her shed. Following her bowel movements was a little bit of blood near her cloaca, I didn't think much of it because I searched through her cage for anything sharp and realized that part of a branch I had in there for her wasn't sanded down all the way at the base. Since it didn't appear like it was coming from her cloaca, just near it, I figured she probably cut herself while shedding. Removed the branch, thought I solved the problem, but I was wrong. Now I am home from college for winter break, and I came home to her with her tail up thinking she's about to poop, and I noticed a little red drop come out of her cloaca. It was only one or two drops of blood but I am rather concerned. I have done some research online and found some explanations that I don't know if they pertain to my situation but involve blood at the cloaca:

A.) Parasites- she really shows no signs of being lethargic or underweight, she is in fact a lot stronger and larger since I've first got her and parasites have other symptoms in bloody stool, such as mucus with the protozoan amoebiasis

B.) Passed urate that ripped some part of her digestive track due to dehydration- possible but she has a very large water dish so I don't see why she would be dehydrated.

C.) Prolapse? Nothing came out besides blood, her vent is very tight and I am still very confused.

D.) She is in fact a he that cut his hemipenes while shedding them... ?

E.) Difficulty passing food item? The egg shells of quail are very thin and rat pups should be pretty easy to digest given how strong the digestive enzymes are. Haven't fed her a f/t fish since I first got her so that probably isn't it.

Any input here guys? I'm probably going to get a fecal sample done regardless, just curious what I may be in for. She/he is still very inquisitive when I enter the room and still has a good feeding response, no change in mood or physical appearance. She did go without heat for two days a few weeks ago, since my dad was out of town while I was at school, and the heat bulb on her tank went (which I hate having, got her one for now but I'm getting another thermostat and heat pad for her because bulbs are terrible). I don't think lack of heat can do that to her, my house is pretty warm, almost 75 in here. Also, she has been living in the bottom cage of my stack of cages but they're all hooked up to one thermostat and I've been fiddling with the temps to try and breed my womas so I set up a tank for her for the time being. My womas are in pretty good health and show no sign of physical ailments either, and they are in a separate room. Other reptiles/amphibians in the room that could potentially cross-contaminate include some fire salamanders, in a tank in the stand beneath her tank and baby turtles I have in a tank on my desk. I never ever cross-handle my different species without washing hands I nearly killed a turtle doing that. She is also on newspaper as bedding and I see no drops or trails of blood anywhere on there besides the two drops I witnessed. So if anyone has any advice or suggestions, link to a good site on BHP illness please chime in, I'm getting really worried about my little girl. Thanks for reading this ridiculously long post, I will be sure to post pics if this happens again.

[Derek Roddy]

That's actually pretty common Nick. Unless it's large amounts of blood, I wouldn't be too concerned.
Females will sometime Spot bleed when they shed. Don't know if it's from the lining of the Cloaca/scent glads or what but, I've seen it a number of times with my animals.

D

[Nick V]

That's good to hear! I only read about males shedding that area, it didn't even occur to me that could have been the case but I'm glad to hear it's a pretty common thing. I didn't find anything else on it online so I just figured it would be the worst case scenario. I have had my womas for over two years now and have never seen that happen in either one of them or my carpet I had for a little while. I just took her out and looked at her a few minutes ago and she seemed to be fine and pretty hungry, as usual.
Anyway, thanks for the quick reply Derek, after I posted this I thought to myself I should have just pm'd you. I figured you would see this and chime in and you were the first and only person to comment haha

[marvelfreak]

Originally Posted by Nick V

That's good to hear! I only read about males shedding that area, it didn't even occur to me that could have been the case but I'm glad to hear it's a pretty common thing. I didn't find anything else on it online so I just figured it would be the worst case scenario. I have had my womas for over two years now and have never seen that happen in either one of them or my carpet I had for a little while. I just took her out and looked at her a few minutes ago and she seemed to be fine and pretty hungry, as usual.
Anyway, thanks for the quick reply Derek, after I posted this I thought to myself I should have just pm'd you. I figured you would see this and chime in and you were the first and only person to comment haha

Yes but by posting here other can read about it and learn from your experience.

[shaunyboy]

Originally Posted by Nick V

I figured you would see this and chime in and you were the first and only person to comment haha

as Chuck said,it's better out on the forum for others to learn from mate


also,when someone as experienced as Derek in BHP keeping tells us,then there's not much point in chiming in,as your questions been answered by someone who knows


cheers shaun

[Derek Roddy]

Originally Posted by shaunyboy

also,when someone as experienced as Derek in BHP keeping tells us,then there's not much point in chiming in,as your questions been answered by someone who knows


cheers shaun

Well, it's worth chiming in if someone has noticed anything different.

I don't claim to have all the answers but, that is something I have seen.

Now if it goes beyond just a little spotting here and there...I'd at least have her checked out, just to make sure everything is in order.

Thanks for all the confidence guys. haha.

D

[shaunyboy]

Originally Posted by Derek Roddy

Well, it's worth chiming in if someone has noticed anything different.

I don't claim to have all the answers but, that is something I have seen.

Now if it goes beyond just a little spotting here and there...I'd at least have her checked out, just to make sure everything is in order.

Thanks for all the confidence guys. haha.

D

of course if someone has experienced something different they should chime in,i should have wrote my post better mate

and yes i have confidence in your information,as it comes from years of keeping and hands on experience (imo always the best place to attain info)


cheers shaun

[Derek Roddy]

Hahaha Shaun...cheers brother.

Nick, keep us posted.

D

[Nick V]

Well it's been a while since a reply on this thread so I thought I'd give an update. I haven't seen anything else since, she is more robust than ever and is just doing great. If it happens next time she sheds I will probably attach pics for reference so others can learn from it. Not once did I see anything on that when researching BHP's before getting one but I'm so glad it's nothing serious. Blood definitely raises the most paranoia I feel like, same feeling I get with the various turtles I keep, except the situations aren't always as good as this one. It's always best to hear from someone with more experience than you, like Derek in this case, so thanks to everyone here for your input.