Hi All,
I don't have a clue what happened last night but, I have a ball python (1640g so not a small animal, 3"diameter min) and built a rack identical to the one on the website www.ballpython.ca
My spacing between the end of the shelf and the back wall for the heat tape is 5/16" (0.3125"
. The spacing between the top of the cage and the bottom of the next rack is about 3/8" (less then the diameter of two cigarette butts put together). I cleaned the snake's cage last night, put her back, and this morning one of the cages above her's was pushed out about 6". I pulled it out and discovered her!!!!!!!
I have no idea how she got there!! My best guess is she crawled through the 3/8" wide space!! I checked her and it would appear she has no broken ribs (that I can tell, she is outrageously nervous and skittish right now handling her) and trying to hold her to support her weight down her length to check for a broken back. Didn't find anything unusual. No kinks.
If she did this, could there be some damage? She is just CRUSING the cage right now. She explores everynight about 10min after I turn out the lights but she is doing this now in the morning. Probably stress but it really freaked me out.
She now has cardboard underneath the cage to hold it flush to the top of the next shelf. I know I don't need to run to the vets for an xray right away (until she calms down a bit anyway) but are there some tell tale signs she could have done some damage to her? She has no cuts or blood coming out. Detailed scrape inspections will have to wait until she doesn't squirm or try to shoot away.
I would imagine she’d need to be put down if her back is broken? Any help is appreciated.
Thanks
Dave
