Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Im a first time Ball Python owner, and I have a question about snake illnesses. MY snake has some weird black stuff in the right side of its out. I have a picture of what it looks like.. I have no idea what it is or what I should do about it. It could be his substrate, I have black sand that I purchased from Petco. (someone there recommended it) Anybody have any ideas?

First, I would get rid of the sand. This type of substrate is too fine for a Ball Python. Small grains can become lodged and cause infection and/or irritations. For now, use newspaper.

Gently rinse his mouth out - perhaps a nice bath. If this does not clean his mouth out, get him to a vet. If it does clean it out. Watch him for a couple of days to see if anything returns. If it does, get him to a vet.

Good luck!
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Jay A. Martin

I agree with Jay’s advice regarding getting rid of the sand substrate and switching to paper. The best case scenario is that it just got a mouthful of sand. Is it possible it still has some skin attached to its snout that it was trying to rub off when it last shed? It kind of looks like that in your photograph.

If you are able to restrain the python safely and keep it from thrashing about and injuring itself (it is nice if you have someone else to help with the holding), then you could take a q-tip and swab gently from front to back on that right side of its mouth. What comes out? Hopefully, just sand and not necrotic tissue.

You could also open its mouth and take a further look inside. It is helpful if you have looked at healthy, normal mouths before looking at one you have questions about. But you really don’t have to be an expert to know something might be wrong if you see something like blood, or masses of cheesy-looking gunk, for instance. If you want to do this, make sure you use a small, perfectly smooth, cylindrical object which you can hold gently across its mouth. Lacking that, you could use a small, rubber kitchen spatula.

-Joan

It is possible that about the skin.. and yes he just shed recently. I included another picture for another view, I looked closer and it didnt look like sand, unless it hardened and attatched itself to its gum. My friend thinks its a gum infection, I think Im going to take him to the Vet soon, and Im going to change my sand out.. Ive heard Astroturf is good and easy to clean. What do you think ?

I’m not a big fan of artificial turf/carpet material. Some types are very hard on the ventral surfaces of the snakes which are lying on them 24/7. And they are not as easy to keep clean as paper. I use newsprint (unprinted newspaper). When it gets soiled I roll it up and throw it away, clean and sanitize the cage as necessary, and lay down new paper. Easy. It may not look as nice to me as something more naturalistic might, but I don’t think the snakes care.

Sorry - I can't really see any more from your photo.

I have seen this often enough to know you need to seek vetenary care. Until you do, use hydrogen peroxide on cotton swabs and wipe down the gums to prevent further infection. A course of antibiotics is most likely needed. The problem with this type of infection is that difficulty in getting the antibiotics to reach this area sufficiently so the mouth cleaning will add to that. Also, depending on the severity of the wound and the amount of necrosis, the vet may have to remove some of the tissue to allow the healthy tissue to heal. Go to a qualified vet. Check out arav.org if you can't find one.

I checked with the petstore I got him from, (Petco) and they said since they told me to use sand, that if the infection is caused by sand, that they would pay for my entire Vet bill, so he is going in tomorrow to get it taken care of. Thanks for all your replies.