Reptile & Amphibian Forums

my full grown female ball just threw up this yellowish, foul smelling fluid. just wondering if any of you out there know what that is.

before the whole throwing incident, i cleaned its tub which i thought, at the time, was soiled by its waste and pee, but to think of it, it smelled like the vomit as well. but it had yellowish chunks which i thought was poop.

please share your thoughts.

respiratory infection?

There could be a number of things wrong. The only way to know for sure is a vet visit.
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Please don't talk about snake prices when my wife is around!!

I really have no clue what it could be. A resp. infection would give signs of weezing and mucous bubbles from the nose. You could also gently rub your thumb on the under side of the snakes head up to the front of the head and if mucous emits from the mouth then it's a resp infection. To remedy that just raise the temps in the cage to around 90º until the symptoms go away. If it's not a resp infection then tbe only other thing I can tell you to do is to take her/him to the vet and have it checked out. If you could take the vomit with you so they can test it or feces so they can test that. Good luck to you and I hope there is nothing wrong with your snake.

Thanks for your input. I don't see the clear signs of a respiratory infection. Is it common for bps to throw up if its handled or is it a clear sign that there's something wrong?

To me it sounds like something is wrong to me. Like the one guy and I said, “Take it to the vet and take the vomit and/or feces with you so they can test it.

I really have no clue what it could be. A resp. infection would give signs of weezing and mucous bubbles from the nose. You could also gently rub your thumb on the under side of the snakes head up to the front of the head and if mucous emits from the mouth then it's a resp infection. To remedy that just raise the temps in the cage to around 90º until the symptoms go away. Then you still want tj keep the temps in the mid to upper 80º range. If it's not a resp infection then the only other thing I can tell you to do is to take her/him to the vet and have it checked out. If you could take the vomit with you so they can test it or feces so they can test that. Good luck to you and I hope there is nothing wrong with your snake.

Did you actually see your ball python vomit? From the description it sounds more like diarrhea than vomit.

How much of 'vomit' is there? Just a little spot, like a teaspoon or two, or is there like half a cup or more? When was the last time you fed him and he ate? Typically if fed within a week or two, any vomit would contain the undigested remains of the last meal, more than just yellow liquid.

Though if he is vomiting alot or having really runny stools, both are signs of internal problems, which to me, means immediate vet trip. Excessive vomiting could be problems with the stomach, throat, etc, or environmental factors (ie if its too hot in the cage...heat stress can cause vomiting). Liquid poo often is a sign of internal parasites, so bringing in a sample of the vomit or poo, whatever it turns out to be, to your vet would be a good idea too.
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PHLdyPayne

Well, I didn't nail it on the head like PH did, but I didn't give bad advice either. I hope to learn alot more from the other herpers out there. Not to reiterate what PH said about it sounding like it was just urine, but that he mentioned it that sounds right. I mean I have had balls go months without feeding and once they excrete the last fecal matter there is only urine with calcium balls and what looks like a yellowish/green ambilical cord looking substance attached to it for them to excrete. The calcium balls will only accompany the urine once or maybe twice after the snake has ridden itself of all fecal matter. Unless you saw it vomit then I have to agree with PH. Urine can smell pretty bad sometimes.

No one said quarenteen!I would seperate her from the herd asap.And what about bad rats?I got some bad frozen before and my boas had awful squirts,kinda sounds like what you had.It was a gooey stinkin mess.Do you feed frozen?