Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I got my ball python from a guy that rescued it from a humane society. I have had him now for about three months and all he has ate is 4 small mice. I was keeping him in aspen bedding and switched to newpaper and then just recently switched to carpet. He is in a 55 gallon with an undertank heater and a top light to keep temp around 90-95 degrees. I have a big water bowl that he can crawl in and the humidity is usually aound 55-60%. He has shed only once and he had a very bad shed. I did soak him in water for about a hour and thought he was doing better. I was wrong!! I was going to show him to some kids and took him out and noticed his skin is very crusted around is upper and lower body and also towards his back side. His belly is bleeding and his skin looks like rotten hamburger. He is very pissy (as I would probably be too) and will not even let me touch him wihout hisssing and trying to bite me. I am taking him to a herpotoligist tommorow, he is actually the guy I got the snake from, to take a look at him. My question (finally), WHAT DO THINK IS WRONG WITH HIM OR HAS ANYBODY EVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE? Could it be stress because he has never allowed me to really hold him? Please help I am deseperate and very worried. I also have a cornsnake and he is doing fantastic but I have also had him since he was a baby.

A few thoughts come to mind...along with questions.

How many and what type of hides do you have? A 55 gallon is way to big for single ball unless you have a ton of hides.

55-60% in a glass tank isn't that high of humidity..what level are you measuring it at...top or bottom? Remembering your snake is at the bottom.

What is the temp gradiant...you mention 90 degrees but at what level in the tank..what is your cool end at? Again at the bottom of the tank. Too high of temp could also be why he isn't eating well. How often did the previous owner say he ate?

If he is all torn up you need to immediately get rid of the carpeting and put him back on paper...the smooth paper will help to stop further damage to his belly.

Mites? Have you checked? I had an outbreak once that caused similar effects so look closely as they are very small.

Not a lot of help I know...but hopefully we can fix the living conditions and allow him to heal himself.

Sean

sean,

I have 2 cardboard box hides one at the hot end and one at the cool end. The ball is about three feet long. As far as the humidity I am measuring towards bottom of tank but it is close to water bowl.

The temp is 90-95 degrees towards bottom of tank and on the cool end it runs about 70-75 degrees. I was not able to talk to previous owner because he was at humane society. I know that he did live with 2 other ball's.

I will get rid of the carpet and go back to paper.

Rodney

could be belly rot, switch the big dish with a small one so he cant soak then put neosporin on the cuts
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jake

my addiction:
1.1? normal ball pythons (lazlo and izzy)
0.1? amelenistic corn snake (zyklon)
0.1 blizzard corn (blizz)
hybrid breeders association
hybrid haven

Thanks I will try it, But what about the crusty skin all over him, it has been like that for about 2-3 weeks?

If you want to maintain humidity better, I would suggest switching him to a 41 qt Sterilite container.
Drill some holes in the sides...
I did 5 on the sides and 3 on the front and back.
You can attach a heating pad right to the plastic, and with the heating pad, you won't need the light to maintain temps.

Since I have switched Eve and Damien to Sterilite containers with Aspen bedding, they have shed in solid pieces for the first time since I've had them.
They also have GREAT feeding responses because they are in more enclosed, secure areas...which is what BP's LOVE.

Just my opinion/suggestion.
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-Man fears the beast in the Wolf because he does not understand the beast within himself.

Sounds like you have gotten some good advice here, It does sound like your snake has belly rot from what you described. Your friend will know how to treat that as well as the dry skin issue, Get him off of the carpet ASAP as it will stick to the wounds and cause infection. If you do not know it's back ground I would also have it treated for parasites as well. Best of luck with him/her. Thanks Erick
Exotic Designs

Hi,

Sorry to hear about your sick bp. If the skin is cracked and bleeding and looks like "hamburger" then something is obviously seriously wrong with the animal. If the problem is on the belly, then it is likely the result of a burn from the undertank heater. Those should always be on some type of temp control like a rheostat, because they get way too hot w/o one. It could also be a form of necrotic dermatitis (skin rot), which can be caused by constant damp, or filthy conditions. That is why I think that carpeting stuff is a crummy substrate. It doesn't absorb anything like pine or aspen does. Urine just soaks through the carpet and creates a place for bacteria to thrive, while keeping the snakes belly constantly wet.

I'd skip the "herpetologist" and go right to a vet that has some knowledge of reptiles who can treat the problem. Also, this type of problem is usually a symptom of prolonged poor husbandry. I am not sayng that you are the one at fault, but whomever cared for that snake in the recent past did a p!$$ poor job. Ball pythons are tough as nails and it really takes some serious neglect to to cause a skin infection like that. the burn is another story, that could occur over the span of a couple of days. In either event, skip the "herpetologist" and go to a vet. Good luck.

Will