Reptile & Amphibian Forums

the other day my ball python was injured, it got some of its skin ripped and left a large open sore. i thought this was a freak shedding accident, but now i am noticing that this may have been the result of blisters i have found on my ball pythons sides. There is once on each side of his lower half and they seem like they might be filled with puss or blood. They skin is red and irritated around these areas. They arent very big but im really worried. If anyone can tell me what these might be and what i should do to help it, please tell me.

thanks
vince martino

GO TO A VET ASAP!!

For the sake of your snake, go to a vet.

They know better about this than any of us here on the forum...
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-Ohh, what a Lady-

Balls for Life, Baby!

www.heathersherps.com

>>GO TO A VET ASAP!!
>>
>>For the sake of your snake, go to a vet.
>>
>>They know better about this than any of us here on the forum...

After I got my first ball, it came down w/ a respiratory infection. I took it to a "reptile" vet immediately, who prescribed an injection, and showed me how to inject it near it's tail. I learned later (on this forum and was then verified at a new vet) that the snakes liver would have filtered the antibiotic out before I went to the rest of the snake.

I have to say that there are SOME on this forum with more ball python-specific know-how than some vets (who deal mostly with dogs, etc.) Are there idiots here who spout out of their ignorance? Yes...I'm one! Are there breeders here who know more than all us idiots combined? Absolutely...

To everyone out there - if you don't know, don't give "expert" advice...if you do, please share!
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Jeremy Conrad
bpConnection
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...Can't...stop...must...get...more...balls...

Rub the animal down with some triple antibiotic and

GET IT ON SOME HEAT TAPE!!!!!! and make sure the temps are what they should be.

Are you sure about that? Have you tried it? I have always heard and read on this forum that there is no cure for blister disease. I got a call about a rescue and when I checked out the snake it had what I believe is blister disease. Balls of fluid trapped under the skin. They would clear up and come back. I had it in a quarantine rack, temps were right, etc. I ended up euthanizing the snake.

Hey,

I nearly lost two animals to blister disease. One finally cleared up, but one almost didn't make it- vet trips, antibiotic shots, cream, etc.- until finally it was diagnosed by a friend as a fungal infection- a big waste of a bunch of antibiotics and time. The poor animal is scarred up from head to tail, but has gained 800 grams this year alone!

good luck,

Steve Harrison
J-ville, FL

I got over 30 babies from a friend that all had it. Some had it very bad. Put all the babies on aspen bedding, put some triple antibiotic on my hands and ran every one of them thru it. Put em on heat tape at 90-95 and you could see a difference after 2 weeks. Now they are all better but 1 that didnt make it. She looked better than the worse one so not sure what happend there.

Thats experience.......PUT EM ON THE HEAT TAPE AND KEEP EM ON A DRY SURFACE!!!

moisture. Keep them dryer. I agree with your treatment of it.

Thanks for the reply. Next time I come across this, if ever, I will try your treatment.

NP

Can you post a picture?
My first advice is to make sure the cage is cleaned VERY well (put the animal in a holding cage and use an antibiotic cleanser to clean well and then rinse with plain water). Remove the water for a few days and raise the ambient (room temp) heat. Post a pic of the blisters if possible.

Susan Sentman
SSNAKES

thanks alot! i cant figure out how to post pictures, but i am about to go get a nice rubbermaid as a holding cage. i think what caused it may have been the fact that i cleaned his cage. i put new substrate and cleaned the whole cage and now this is happening days later. maybe it was somthing in the substrate. also, can i get some a specific topical cream to use? some people are saying a triple antibiotic and some say an anti-fungal.

I used neosporin or whatever.......cant spell

Do you have them on heat tape or something, if not it wont get better......

i have a heat pad that i used for my leopard geckos, i know some people say they are too hot, or too inconsistent, but i have a thermometer.

........

one other thing, should i replace the substrate in his cage?

I can't say for certon with out examining it for my self but I have Sean the type blisters your talking about on snakes and lizards with renal problems such as a bacterial infection of the kidney and needs to be on Baytril Orelie in shot take it to a repretal Vet soon !!