Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey there all, got a question. I have an rescued numerous snakes and countless ball pythons, this one though may take the cake... I don't think it has a TONGUE.

I got her from a kid who knew NOTHING about her, and besides that, retained eye caps, and a small respitory problem she should be fine.

I've had here for 3 days now and she is becoming more and more active, but still haven't seen the tongues. I got her to open her mouth.... nothing.

We are going to my vet (a great vet), but not till Monday... anyone ever her of something like this?

Ryan

Never, and I'd hate to think it's been cut out

Quig

I might have one.

I sent her out on a breeding loan once and they guy noticed that she never sticks her tongue out. She has also been a problematic shedder since hatching (usually needs soaking) and only likes mice.

Cut out? I hope not also. However, Dr Walter Vonstele has done research on snake tongues and if one is removed (cut out) it regenerates. Care to comment on that Scott? I've never tried it myself to prove it out. But that is documented. I did have a bull snake once that was born with no tongue.

--Michael

...most snakes lacking tongues have difficulty recognizing prey items, but some do overcome this handicap...others require a bit of assist-feeding...good luck with yours.

Scott J. Michaels DVM
Serpent City

np

I have something like that in an Albino male I got almost 2 years ago from a well known breeder.

When I first got him I never noticed any problem with him except the terribly long time it took to switch him from live to F/T.

Then he turned into one of the most finiky eaters I have ever seen. I would have to turn the lights out, allow him to grab the F/T rat pup, and then if i would have to stand perfectly still or he would release and refuse to eat.

Back on topic though. One day I had him out for a cage cleaning and noticed something strange, a super thin white looking thing came about an eigth of an inch out of his mouth. So I sat down and watched him and realized he has barley any tongue, and the part he does have isnt forked at all. So now I was furious. I spent 2500 on a male albino that is deformed, and a bad feeder. I figured that was the end of him being a breeder because he cant smell the female.

After about an hour of holding him I noticed his mouth begining to open slightly. Then I noticed more of a tongue comming out and the further out he stuck out this thing the pinker it got.

He is a Year and a half old now and is still sometimes a picky feeder which is expected from a ball. but has no other problems besides this deformity. My visit to the vet ruled out any RI or parasites etc. All the vet could do was ASSume it was either due to inbreeding or just a one in a million chance.

So the end result is I have an Albino ball with a deformed tongue. Hes too small to mate to yet but I will find out soon enough if he is capable of breeding.

Sorry for the long post. Ill keep you guys posted.
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Stupidity should be Painful!

"When I first got him I never noticed any problem with him except the terribly long time it took to switch him from live to F/T.

Then he turned into one of the most finiky eaters I have ever seen. I would have to turn the lights out, allow him to grab the F/T rat pup, and then if i would have to stand perfectly still or he would release and refuse to eat."

I'm happy when my ball pythons eat live well. I'm not sure I would call any ball that would actually eat F/T off tongs a bad eater. Maybe I should try it some time but since I switched from corn snakes to ball pythons I pretty much gave up on dead prey.