Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a 9 year old ball python. I just noticed after this past shed that he was missing one of his spurs. Is this something i should be concerned with, or does it happen from time to time? I am just concerned that maybe it involves a calcium issue. I can see where it broke off, so it wasnt ripped...and there was never any blood in his tank. Any ideas would be appreciated. Much thanks, jen

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"Brains for dinner, brains for lunch. Brains for breakfast, brains for brunch. Brains for every single meal; why can't we have some GUTS?"-Misfits

1.0 ball python- Azazel
0.1 creamsicle corn- Pandora
0.1 motley ghost stripe corn- Raven
0.4 leos- Boji, Sanjae, fae and Kodama
0.1 beardie- Indie
1.1 crested gecko- Jubeh and Inari
0.1 leucistic texas ratsnake-Ojo
1.0 whites tree frog- Sifaka
0.1 Transe pecos ratsnake- Cleo
0.1 Senegal chameleon- Ambaji
1.0 Ruthven's X Thaeri king- Kemushi
0.1 pacific parrolet- Mishka
1.1 cats- Cairo and Oberon
0.0.4 crab people
1.0 Husband (hes my favorite, but i dont let the 'kids' know that. )

I wouldn't be worried, but no, I don't think it's a common occurance. Calcium problems are not common in rodent eating snakes. When it does happen, it might be related to feeding only pinky rodents. They do not have a very solidied skeleton. Still, this prey is usually loaded with calcium rich milk in it's stomach.
Is that your snake in the picture? It looks in great shape to me. Unless there is an open wound of some sort, or the snake is showing anything else abnormal, then I would do nothing.

Ian

Ya, thats him in the pic a few years ago. He is older, but still healthy and happy. I wouldn't see why his spur would break, but he does have a wooden crate as a hide that he likes to sleep on...and he did just shed, so i am thinking that maybe he rubbed too hard on it or something...he has a few belly scales that look 'folded in' as well....maybe due to a hard shed? He is healthy though...so i'm not going to worry. lol, he was out the other day hunting the cat, so i really can't worry, especially because his appetite is still in tact . thanks much! J

-----
"Brains for dinner, brains for lunch. Brains for breakfast, brains for brunch. Brains for every single meal; why can't we have some GUTS?"-Misfits

1.0 ball python- Azazel
0.1 creamsicle corn- Pandora
0.1 motley ghost stripe corn- Raven
0.4 leos- Boji, Sanjae, fae and Kodama
0.1 beardie- Indie
1.1 crested gecko- Jubeh and Inari
0.1 leucistic texas ratsnake-Ojo
1.0 whites tree frog- Sifaka
0.1 Transe pecos ratsnake- Cleo
0.1 Senegal chameleon- Ambaji
1.0 Ruthven's X Thaeri king- Kemushi
0.1 pacific parrolet- Mishka
1.1 cats- Cairo and Oberon
0.0.4 crab people
1.0 Husband (hes my favorite, but i dont let the 'kids' know that. )