Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a son who bought a ball python about 4 months ago, and in the past week, it has been lethargic and is staying on the cool side of the enclosure. He hasn't moved much and seems to be breathing shallow, and eyes are closed. I haven't seen anything in books or online yet about hibernation, but I am hoping that this is typical behavior for him.
Has anybody else had such an experience?

If you have a ball python that has the ability to close its eyes, then you have one incredible animal. Most (all) ball pythons don't have eyelids.

Onto the hibernation thing ... they will slow down and cool down, especially if its getting cold in your house. How old is she? From my experience, they don't necessarily hibernate in their first winter.

Joel
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3.6.3 Leopard Geckos (1.4.3 Albino)
~~25 Leo eggs cookin'~~
1.1 Ball Pythons
1.0 African Fat Tail Gecko
0.1 Okeetee Corn Snake
1.0 Blair's Phase Gray Banded Kingsnake

Thanks for replying! Well, it's eyes are mily white. It is approx. 8 months old. It ate about 5 days ago, and was just fine until about two days ago. It is getting colder here, but the temp in the home and the cage has not changed recently.

It sounds like it's going into shed. In a few days his eyes should clear up...he may also be a little temperamental. Keep your humidity levels a tad higher than usual, and in 4-6 days he may just be himself again

Follow JM's advice and also make sure that you have a hide on the cool side as well as the warm side...it shouldn't have to sacrifice a feeling of safety for thermoregulation.

I believe the word you are looking for is burmation.
What is his cage temp?
Does he have a heat tape?
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RicK Denmon

Ball Boutique,Inc.

THe temp inside the cage is about 80 degrees F on the warm side, and about 70-75F on the cool side. It really has me worried that something might be wrong with it. It wouldn't respond to me this morning, and it is usually pretty active in the early mornings. It would move its head a little, but that was it.

Raise the temps. 90F hot side, 80F cool side. As pointed out, snakes do not have eye-lids. If the eyes have gone cloudy then the snake is going into shed. He/she will clear up in a day or two, and in about a week shed.

That is what it SHOULD do. But I suspect yours may need a vet visit. You say it is lethargic and breathing oddly, and you have been keeping it too cold. Watch for Respitory Infection. Mucus/saliva/drool.....raspy sounds. Take snake to a vet if you suspect a RI.

Yeah, I was thinking of moving the snake to the other side where it is warmer, and that I would try to warm up the cage a little more. It just seemed odd to me that he hould not go to the warmer side on his own. He seems lethargic, but has no RI symptoms as yet. Thanks for the info. I will warm up the cage tonight when I get home.

It depends on which side they go too. Do you have adequate hides on both sides? Try switching the hides as one might be preferred over the other.
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Jay A. Martin