Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Okay, for starters, if you're going to say how stupid I am, please don't reply to me....I already know that i screwed up and I don't need anyone else to tell me that...

Now, I checked on my ball pythons today after not checking on them for the weekend. They both have belly rot. I was wondering what I can do about it. I'm getting a vet appointment asap but I need to know if there's anything I can do. Should I put them in water or anything like that, or what? I want to help them. The heating pad must've gotten too hot, but they had hides on both sides of the tank...I don't know why they stayed in the hot one, but they did.....I don't know....Any help would really be appreciated.

-Drako
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1.2.0 Leos
0.2.0 Corns
0.1.0 Ball Pythons
5.1.0 Cats
2 Leo eggs Due December 30

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Check Out My Albums

1.0 Ball Python
"Aragorn"
1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa
"Gimli"
1.0 Saharan Sand Boa
"Frodo"
0.1 Rough-Scale Sand Boa
"Arwen"
0.1 California Kingsnake
"Gentoo"
1.0 Mexican Black Kingsnake
"Indigo"

0.1 Australian Cattle Dog/Pointer
"Kira"

n/p
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1.2.0 Leos
0.1.0 Corn
0.2.0 Ball Pythons
5.1.0 Cats

First, fix what caused the problem. Get the temps correct if its burns, fix the dampness if its scale rot.

I would use a dry substrate, either paper towel or newsprint.

In either case, burn or scale rot, I would apply Providone Iodine solution(generic betadine) a few times a day(its good stuff for a variety of ailments).

Get to vet ASAP in all but the mildest of cases.

A photo might help to determine the problem.

Good luck with the snake
TomChambers

I'm taking them to the vet today, in like 3 hours....the little one keeps trying to tag me though....Would you recommend a lamp for balls? I was told that under tank heaters were best.... and I was using newspaper as a substrate before...I put 2 bath towels in there to keep them further from the heat pad until I know better what to do....any suggestions? I'm told that I'll be putting creams on them, but I'm not sure if I should just put more substrate between the snakes and the heat source or if I should get a new heat source all together.... What is your take on this? I've got a lamp already...but I was told NOT to use it on balls....I don't know why...I was just told to use the pad....thanks for any help.

-drako
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1.2.0 Leos
0.1.0 Corn
0.2.0 Ball Pythons
5.1.0 Cats

Are you using a rheostat or dimmer switch or thermostat on the UTH? That would be the problem if you aren't. That and I would get a good thermometer so you can check temps ON the UTH.
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Sonya

Haven't we warned you about tampering with the structure of a chaotic system?
Mrs. Neutron

how was the visit?

Also, what were the temps at when you found them? What are they usually? What are you using to measure temps and where are you measuring? Do you have a rheostat/dimmer or thermostat hooked up to the UTH? There's nothing wrong with a UTH - but you usually need a rheostat or thermostat. You could also need a more reliable thermometer(digital w/ the probes are best) or are perhaps measuring in the wrong spot.

Hope the visit went well.
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Check Out My Albums

1.0 Ball Python
"Aragorn"
1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa
"Gimli"
1.0 Saharan Sand Boa
"Frodo"
0.1 Rough-Scale Sand Boa
"Arwen"
0.1 California Kingsnake
"Gentoo"
1.0 Mexican Black Kingsnake
"Indigo"

0.1 Australian Cattle Dog/Pointer
"Kira"

We went to the vet yesterday, and they recommended that I use a lamp with a porcelin blub.... They also said the snakes weren't too bad, but my older one is worse than my little one... They're on antibiotics and some cream stuff too. I'm having some kind of test on the skin done and I'll have another check up next week. They said it'll be like 6 mos before they're completely healed. I think I'm going to get the bulb like the vet said.

I do have a thermometer in the cage, but it's just the one you stick on each side of the tank (on the glass)....I didn't realy look at them when I foudn them because I was really flipping out... But they were laying right on it with only newspaper between them and the glass...so I'm gonna go to a lamp and see if that doesn't help.

Thanks for all the help.

-Drako
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1.2.0 Leos
0.1.0 Corn
0.2.0 Ball Pythons
5.1.0 Cats