sick snake? - Page 2

shaunyboy · 08-29-12, 06:26 AM

too much heat can cause neurological issues to start showing

please check the tanks not too hot

please let us know how things go

cheers shaun

mykee · 08-29-12, 08:00 AM

The chances of a ball python having IBD is one in a million. Not a concern.
Overheating is a concern.
Your tank is WAAAAY to big for a baby ball pythons; you're stressing him out with so much space and he's not eating because of it. Limit his space to 1/3 of what you have now. Offer a live hopper mouse. Chances are pretty good that if your additional husbandry is spot on (which, no offense, I doubt), it will eat.
Tell us everything you can about the enclosure, heating, furnishings, etc.
Keep us posted.

SWLewis · 08-29-12, 08:26 AM

Well, it happened just as most of you said. I got up early this morning to find our snake dead. I took my son on to school without telling him. I plan on taking it back to the store anyway. Don't expect much, but at least they will know. Now I'm looking for a replacement. My son is just fascinated with snakes so I'm not going stop. I'm open to suggestions: Location Atlanta West Side

alessia55 · 08-29-12, 10:01 AM

That's unfortunate

I'm curious to know what the pet store says.

I've PMd you with ball python breeders.

snake man12 · 08-29-12, 10:49 AM

They will deny and evade any evidence presented to them.

Wildside · 08-29-12, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snake man12

They will deny and evade any evidence presented to them.

That's why I suggested taking it in still alive

Lankyrob · 08-29-12, 11:04 AM

Sorry for your loss, hope that it doesnt dampen your sons enthusiasm and that you find a nice healthy snake for him to love for the next 25+yrs

Personally i would discard any substrate you had in the tank and thoroughly clean the enclosure/decorations and then set the enclosure up and keep it running for a while to check that all the temps/humidity etc are stable before getting another one

rmfsnakes32 · 08-29-12, 11:52 AM

I would not buy from any pet store they are often housed together in un sanitary conditions! I to bought a baby ball python from Petco it lived for 1 week found it dead I am fortunate to have a vet that works with every animal known to man so he did a necropsy he found internal parasites. I then took this info and the snake to Petco and demanded a full refund which I got! I dont know what area you are from but I know several BP breeders that ship all over the US and have a health guarantee on them message if interested thanks good luck

mykee · 08-29-12, 01:20 PM

Fact: most large pet stores buy their animals from a wholesaler who gets 500 lot of ball pythons directly from Africa in giant oil drums. Most die, but at under $2 a head, it works out for them. These animals are unhealthy to say the least; internal and external parasites, non-feeding and dehydrated to name a few ailments.
Stay away form buying pet store ball pythons at all costs.

MoreliAddict · 08-29-12, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mykee

Fact: most large pet stores buy their animals from a wholesaler who gets 500 lot of ball pythons directly from Africa in giant oil drums. Most die, but at under $2 a head, it works out for them. These animals are unhealthy to say the least; internal and external parasites, non-feeding and dehydrated to name a few ailments.
Stay away form buying pet store ball pythons at all costs.

How come I mostly see tiny babies Balls when I go to Petco?

iBaman · 08-29-12, 01:39 PM

Hm...how long can a snake live with internal parasites? And can they test for them while alive? I sometimes wonder if that's why oliver is so small....

Gungirl · 08-29-12, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iBaman

Hm...how long can a snake live with internal parasites? And can they test for them while alive? I sometimes wonder if that's why oliver is so small....

Bring the vet some poo and get a fecal sample done. That should show any issues with parasites.

iBaman · 08-29-12, 01:48 PM

Def going to do this next time he poops. It'd be good to know.

TheBoogieDown · 08-29-12, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmfsnakes32

I would not buy from any pet store they are often housed together in un sanitary conditions! I to bought a baby ball python from Petco it lived for 1 week found it dead I am fortunate to have a vet that works with every animal known to man so he did a necropsy he found internal parasites. I then took this info and the snake to Petco and demanded a full refund which I got! I dont know what area you are from but I know several BP breeders that ship all over the US and have a health guarantee on them message if interested thanks good luck

Same thing happened with a Rough Green I go from PetCo, he died 15 days after purchase and they adamantly refused to give us a refund because the 14 day return had expired. Unfortunately, we found out later that they hadn't cleaned the tank and stuck another snake in that tank and he died shortly after as well.

As for your story, I'm deeply saddened by this, and I wish you the best of luck finding a new one for your son! I wish my parents would have gotten me a snake when I was younger!

mykee · 08-29-12, 02:30 PM

Baby balls that you see at a pet store are so small because they likely haven't eaten at all, and definitely not for the three weeks they were in the oil drum on a boat somehwere in the Atlantic.
Independant, smaller pet stores on the other hand, get their normal and morph ball pythons from breeders like me to sell their stuff at wholesale prices to clear out space in their racks.
These animals are always without parasites; both internal and external and most always are established eaters.