Reptile & Amphibian Forums

A friend of my cousins has had this poor snake for 8 years, and its only as long as my arm and not as big around as my wrist... He's been underfeeding it, and its got a skin problem on its back...

I'm hoping since he's probably really hungry, he won't give me too much of a fight about switchin to f/t, but I was hoping for some insight on his skin problems....

I disinfected the cage it was in, and I'm waiting on mice to thaw to try and feed it before I put it back in the enclosure... Will it clear up now that he's going to be in a clean cage, or should I try something else to help him out...

my pics are terrible, but I don't want to handle him more then I have too until he gets used to me and his new surroundings...

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~Maggie~

"Not one shred of evidence supports the notion that life is serious."
1.1 Cal Kings (Spot and Fry)
1.0 Brooksi
0.1 Red Belly Piranha (Fluffy)
1.0 Australian Shepherd (Spooky)
1.0 Springer Spaniel/Beagle mix (Snoopy)
0.1 German Shep mix (Shadow)
0.1 Cat (Echo)

The pictures are rather bad to be able to tell what it is -- it looks to me like scarring likely from trying to squeeze himself through something that ripped the top off him or his food chewed on him. Aside from better pictures you might want to take him to a vet to have him looked at -- if it's an old scar then it won't likely clear up -- if it's something fresh then it might be treatable.

Good luck with him!
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Tosha
JET Pythons

it almost looks like a retained shed or dehydration... the guy told me it has been improving, so I'm hoping with better care he'll get better soon... A vet visit is pretty much out of the question until I get my car fixed... I don't want to run an unreliable car 90 miles to the closet herp vet...
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~Maggie~

"Not one shred of evidence supports the notion that life is serious."
1.1 Cal Kings (Spot and Fry)
1.0 Brooksi
1.0 Ball Python
0.1 Red Belly Piranha (Fluffy)
1.0 Australian Shepherd (Spooky)
1.0 Springer Spaniel/Beagle mix (Snoopy)
0.1 German Shep mix (Shadow)
0.1 Cat (Echo)

>>it almost looks like a retained shed or dehydration...

That's what I was thinking. You might want to soak him for a hour or so (not too deep) and see if any breaks loose. I'm sure he'll appreciate the hydration anyway.

And as Tosha said, you might want to get him to a vet.
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Jay A. Martin
Jay Martin Reptiles

Thanks for the tip, I'll draw him a warm bath and see if that helps...
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~Maggie~

"Not one shred of evidence supports the notion that life is serious."
1.1 Cal Kings (Spot and Fry)
1.0 Brooksi
1.0 Ball Python
0.1 Red Belly Piranha (Fluffy)
1.0 Australian Shepherd (Spooky)
1.0 Springer Spaniel/Beagle mix (Snoopy)
0.1 German Shep mix (Shadow)
0.1 Cat (Echo)

Not too warm. Remember, warm to us is hot to them.
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Jay A. Martin
Jay Martin Reptiles

thanks... I won't get him to warm...

How big should an 8 year old ball be? I know he's been underfed and is to small, but does he have a chance at getting at least close to were he should be size wise?
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~Maggie~

"Not one shred of evidence supports the notion that life is serious."
1.1 Cal Kings (Spot and Fry)
1.0 Brooksi
1.0 Ball Python
0.1 Red Belly Piranha (Fluffy)
1.0 Australian Shepherd (Spooky)
1.0 Springer Spaniel/Beagle mix (Snoopy)
0.1 German Shep mix (Shadow)
0.1 Cat (Echo)

Anywhere from 3-5 foot but there are no hard-fast rules. Healthy is the key. I have a couple of adult males that are 8 years old and only 3 1/2' long and slightly larger in diameter than a golf ball.
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Jay A. Martin
Jay Martin Reptiles

ok, so he's not as small as I thought he was, that makes me feel a little better about him then...

I'll feel a lot better after he eats for me and his skin starts to clear up...
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~Maggie~

"Not one shred of evidence supports the notion that life is serious."
1.1 Cal Kings (Spot and Fry)
1.0 Brooksi
1.0 Ball Python
0.1 Red Belly Piranha (Fluffy)
1.0 Australian Shepherd (Spooky)
1.0 Springer Spaniel/Beagle mix (Snoopy)
0.1 German Shep mix (Shadow)
0.1 Cat (Echo)

I feel a little bit better, he just took 2 f/t mice without any hesitation...
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~Maggie~

"Not one shred of evidence supports the notion that life is serious."
1.1 Cal Kings (Spot and Fry)
1.0 Brooksi
1.0 Ball Python
0.1 Red Belly Piranha (Fluffy)
1.0 Australian Shepherd (Spooky)
1.0 Springer Spaniel/Beagle mix (Snoopy)
0.1 German Shep mix (Shadow)
0.1 Cat (Echo)

Pictures are not good at all, except maybe the last one.. read the manual that came with your camera to find out the minimum focus distance, that will make it easier to get at least focused pictures. Standard distance usually is about three to six feet for a portrait style photo with a point and shot type camera. Macro figures work best for close ups...

Anyway, the scaring/mark along the spine, could be tons of old shed that never came off, or scarring either from burning (bad over head lighting/heat source) or live prey injuries. Hard to tell if the injury is old or new... Soaking will help deal with unshed skin but if its old scars, nothing can be done about it.

He does look under weight though, seems to sag off the spine, not as filled out as a ball python should be. Not horribly though, I have seen far worse looking snakes on the forums. Soaking will also let you see if he has any mite problems (dead mites in the water are a good give away).

Weigh him to and get an actual length, that will also help to see if he is under weight easily and you can also monitor his weight gain each month but taking weights a day or two before each feeding. Get him on rats too. If he can eat two adult mice, a small rat wont' be a problem.
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PHLdyPayne