Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ever had a ball that just didn't use his tongue? I've never seen a certain ball in my collection use his tongue...at all. Is this bad or just him being an odd ball?

I didn't have a ball do it but I did have a carpet python with that condition. I don't mean to scare you but it can be very serious. I'll post my youtube videos on it. There are two so make sure you check them both out.

Original
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhyRJ_qEyRw

Update
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhDJ2o6slFs

I've had this one from a baby so I know it's not anything to do with a problem like the one you had. He still only uses it when he yawns or maybe when he drinks before or after. The rest of the time you never see it.

I have a girl I hatched many years ago that I've never seen her tongue. Actually I hadn't noticed it at first and sent her out on a breeding loan and the guy who had her pointed it out and now I see that's the case. I'm wondering if she even has one. She has always needed help shedding and would only eat mice but now that I have them also ASF's. She was the only good egg from a female I had only put with a young male so I always wondered if she was some odd fully homozygous half clone of mom but I suppose bad incubation in the Styrofoam incubator I used back then is more likely.

>>Ever had a ball that just didn't use his tongue? I've never seen a certain ball in my collection use his tongue...at all. Is this bad or just him being an odd ball?

Is it feeding?
-----
Jay A. Martin
Jay Martin Reptiles

Eats like a champ! Fed him two mice in one sitting about two days ago. That's the reason I'm not worried too much about him. Anyway I'll have some pictures of him for this and another question I asked probably around tomorrow night. He is going to the vet tomorrow just to get a checkup for his skin and for a complete sexing to be sure he is a he. Oh while I'm here, anyone know a good site where I can see pictures and info on sexing my own reptiles? I'm ordering some ball tipped probes in the next week or two.

Thanks

>>Eats like a champ!

In that case, I would not worry. I have seen hatchlings without the ability to stick out their tongues (weak muscle, short tongue?) that eventually die because they don't feed.
-----
Jay A. Martin
Jay Martin Reptiles

I took him to the vet since he was so expensive and they say he is perfectly fine not to worry about it. Thanks very much for the input and if anything changes I'll keep you posted.