Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My friend was having problems feeding his baby ball python. I decided to foster her in hopes of getting her back on feed. I returned from work to see her swollen at her back half near cloaca. I thought she was blocked so I put her in some warm water. With a little help I was able to squeeze out some white puss like secretion. To my knowledge she has only eaten one mouse pinkie and has refused every mouse hopper Ive offered. She is isolated from my other balls just in case this turns out to be contagious. Ive searched the internet trying to find answers. Please can someone give me a straight answer as to what is wrong with her. It would be a shame for him to lose his first ball python.

sounds like it may be an abcess..a picture would be more helpful. However, a vet visit probably be your best pet. A vet can take x-rays and blood work to determine if its a blockage, spinal injury or abscess or combination. The snake may have had a prolapse at some point which became infected, or was bit by a rodent, if your friend was feeding live.

Really hard to say what is going on from your description. Have your friend bring his snake to a good quality herp vet.
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PHLdyPayne

Forum Princess

I would have posted pics but I didn't think to take any while she was swollen. After I helped her pass the white substance she returned to "normal" size. Pictures at this point would only show that she is very much under weight. And she shows no other odd signs like head wobble or "stargazing" as in IBD.