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I have a baby ball python that I'm starting to get worried about. He is very small and weak. the two siblings I got with him seem to be doing fine so far. He hasn't eaten yet for me so I finally force fed him tonight (and gave him water since he doesnt seem to be drinking). He was really starting to look bed, his head is swaying back and forth, he stares off into space alot without seeing movement right in front of him, and his skin is very wrinkly and loose. I'm really worried about the possability of IBD, I cant tell if this is a case of malnourishment or IBD. I checked his mouth out tonight when I fed him and everything looked normal from what I could see, his saliva looked a bit sticky but that's about it. Can anyone show me a pic of mouth rot or at least give me a detailed description? any tips on getting this little guy healthy would be greatfully appreaciated also.

TIA

Mouth rot or an R.I. is pretty nasty looking, and you will know if one of your ball pythons has it...First off you will hear popping or wheezing when they breathe, this is the first sign of the on-set of it...Then there mouth gets puffy and like blisters up and they can't close it....If you think your ball has this or is showing signs of you should put your temps. high like 93-94 hot spot and an ambient of like 84 degrees and increase the humidity and it may clear up on its own....I had a ball come in from a breeder recently that got an R.I. within 14 hrs. of arrival...But luckily I caught it early enough and jacked up my temps. and kept the humidity at like 80-90% and it cleared up totally within' 10-12 days and now she's fine and an eating machine...Good luck with it, or with whatever it turns out to be...
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#1 - If it's sharing a cage with the other animals... separate it, get it out of the enclosure and into it's own !!

#2 - If it's that weak, get it to a vet!! ASAP!!

#3 - If it's mouth rot, you'll know IMMEDIATELY. In the early stages you'll hear popping, etc, in the late stages ,the mouth is all blistered up and in some areas actually black.

#4 - If that snake is in with others, they ALL need to be kept ALONE, quarentined from the rest of your collection, just in case.

#5 - Sticky saliva... if you're hearing any popping at all... could be mouth rot starting... could be a respiratory infection... could be something else... either way you need to get that snake to a vet as soon as is humanly possible.

#6 - If it's not drinking, there is SOMEthing wrong with it.. might be mouth rot starting (you mentioned a sticky saliva), might be dehydration from not drinking, if it's that weak, then it's also in the process of starving.. SOMETHING is wrong with it, and you NEED to get it into a herp specialist/vet ASAP.
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