ball pythons musking/hemipenes?

[Lickeypie]

I hope this isn't a silly question! I'm not quite sure what happened... I just went to soak my albino bp, it was my first time soaking him. When I put him in the water, I noticed his hemipenes (possibly?) exposed and I was immediately worried, so I took him out of the water. Then a few drops of yellow smelly urine or musk or something dripped out of his vent- meanwhile the pink hemipenes (?) were exposed. I'm not sure if it was a reaction to the water or if his hemipenes are bothering him? Whatever it is is not exposed currently, they only expose when he's around/in the water.

His enclosure is a 15 qt sterilite bin, belly heat mat with hydrofarm thermostat, hot spot of 89 and cool side 78, sani chips substrate.

[xSerpentGoddess]

No such thing as a silly question

Your temps are great. Sanichips are a little dry. For balls I really like 50/50 Cyprus mulch/coconut fiber. Its really easy to maintain the right humidity that way. Once I Switched to it my ball had her first complete shed ever.

Does he do this when he gets in his water bowl also? Or just when you go to soak him?

If its just when you soak him, he be uncomfortable with being put in water. They usually get used to it.

He could also be constipated. I've seen constipated snakes do the same in water. It's easier to pass it seems. If you gently run your fingers down the abdomen to the vent you may feel if he is. If he is he'll need a warm soak.

[Lankyrob]

Why was it being soaked?

[Lickeypie]

When I felt his abdomen to the vent, it didn't feel like there was anything in there. Which would make sense, I've have him for about a month and he hasn't eaten for me yet.

I had him on papertowels, which work very well for me humidity wise and for ease of cleaning. But I recently bought sanichips, so I thought I'd try them out.

He was really only doing it when he was being soaked, and when I held him afterwards- It was just strange because there was a few drops of a yellow fluid dripping out(?). I've never heard of a ball python musking or urinating on someone. He doesn't really ever soak in his water dish.

[e] He was being soaked because I thought he might have stuck fecal matter.

[SSSSnakes]

Originally Posted by Lickeypie

When I felt his abdomen to the vent, it didn't feel like there was anything in there. Which would make sense, I've have him for about a month and he hasn't eaten for me yet.

I had him on papertowels, which work very well for me humidity wise and for ease of cleaning. But I recently bought sanichips, so I thought I'd try them out.

He was really only doing it when he was being soaked, and when I held him afterwards- It was just strange because there was a few drops of a yellow fluid dripping out(?). I've never heard of a ball python musking or urinating on someone. He doesn't really ever soak in his water dish.

[e] He was being soaked because I thought he might have stuck fecal matter.

All snakes musk and empty their colon on you.

[Sharlynn93]

The snakes I have soaked due to stuck sheds, dehydration, etc, all urinate in warmish water...its natural...gets their "juices" flowing, so to speak

[xSerpentGoddess]

They definitely will pee on you. I know first hand lol.

What are you feeding him? I have found most balls are started on mice because its cheaper so they don't want rat pups right off the bat.

[Lickeypie]

I've tried f/t mice, f/t rat crawlers, and live mice with no luck.

[xSerpentGoddess]

try a fresh rat pup instead of frozen or live. The smell is a little different. If the doesn't work sometimes frozen chicks get them going.