Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, I am a new snake owner. I have had my ball python for about a month and a half. The snake is eating normaly, and going poo, about once a week. The last time it went, i noticed that its rectum did not return inside. Is this a normal occurance with ball pythons, or should i be conserned.

i've also got an animal that moves it's bowl all over the place, she's a big girl.
you've got a prolapse situation going there. this doesn't happen all that much in balls.try soaking the animal in a warm water sugar bath. gallon of water with about 1/2 cup sugar. be sure the water level is not higher than it's body height.
keep the animal on paper towels until this rectifies itself ( in case the bath doesn't work right away )
above all, make sure your animal always has access to clean drinking water, your problem may be hydration related.
let us know if this works,

ck

A prolapse is something to be concerned.. best to take him to a vet right away. keep him on damp paper towel so the prolapse doesn't dry out.
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PHLdyPayne

Depending on the severity of the prolapse, you definately need to take the snake to the vet.
Soaking the snake in shallow water should help keep the tissues healthy, and also help in cleaning the exposed tissue off.

The sugarwater trick is a myth. I've never seen it work, and I've seen prolapses in a few different reptile species and sugar water was tried in all of them. Chemically speaking, all that table sugar is is a bunch of hydrogen molecules, some carbon, some oxygen. It is not going to do much in helping the rectum go back where it belongs.

If it is a small prolapse and you can only see a little bit of pink tissue, a shallow soak and being kept overnight on damp papertowels should be enough to let the swelling go down on its own. If it is more than that or the tissue has dried and will not go back to normal on its own, take it to a vet ASAP as it requires very delicate maneuvering (and possible surgery) to get it back into place.

~jenny
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"Polysyllabism in no way insures that what you're saying is actually worth being heard." - Blake (an e-friend of mine)

"I have never made but one prayer to god, a very short one: "O lord, make my enemies ridiculous." And he granted it." - Voltaire

Thanks for the help, although the sugar water didn't work, I got some information from an aquantance who has a few snakes.

She told me to use a sugar water paste, and within 30 minutes it was no longer prolapsed. Don't know how it works, but it is definatly not a myth.

The sugar paste is something to be careful with - if it dries out just a little too much you can have some pretty severe tissue damage from the sugar granules.

Theoretically, since the sugar absorbs water or at least dissolves in it, it would suck moisture out of the prolapse and allow the swelling to go down. I am kind of skeptical about this because blood is made up of more than just water (which is what the sugar would suck out thanks to osmosis)...but if it works, it works.
Salt does the same thing...but because sucrose is an organic substance the snake's body can use if absorbed, it makes much more sense to use that than sodium (salt), which could cause problems in large doses.
I wonder what else could be used that would have similar effects?

In any case, at least it's better now!

~jenny
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"Polysyllabism in no way insures that what you're saying is actually worth being heard." - Blake (an e-friend of mine)

"I have never made but one prayer to god, a very short one: "O lord, make my enemies ridiculous." And he granted it." - Voltaire

a vet once told me for a small prolapse you can try preparation H and it will shrink tissue. Haven't tried it but since you asked I thought I'd mention it. Sugar water has never worked for me either. I have had some luck with a cold compress to the immediate area. Had a bearded dragon that eventually had to have both his hemipenis amputated because of ongoing prolapse trouble. (OUCH!) He'll never be a Dad but he is a health dragon now.