Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi...I offered to help a friend with his ball python. Apparently she has not ate in quite a while and they thought she was sick.

Well..sick would be a vast understatement. She cannot turn her body around when placed belly up, and her head sways side to side. (I know this is nuerological, but unsure whether due to lysol, pesticides or deseise) She was placed behind a couch with no regulated heat source or light, and I am unsure if she even got water. I placed a dish in there and she drank atleast half of it. She now has blisters that have swollen her scales and they pop when she moves.(scale rot? They look to have a blue green tinge in color) It is in several areas of her body, mainly on sides and belly. Shes also cloudy eyed because she is apparently about to shed. But her body weight appears normal.

What I have done is placed clean white paper towels in a new aquarium and a bowl for her to curl in. I also have the black lightbulb for heat with a heat pad. The other half is kept cool. I keep some of the cage covered so not to stress her too bad.

She is not moving around much.

There are no vets int his area that will treat a snake. Should I try to treat her and see if she recovers or would it be more humane to put her down? Should I wait until she sheds and see?

Someone please help.

Personally, I would NEVER kill a snake! I know maybe it would be better for it if it was sick, but I just could not bring myself to do it.

Ask yourself this... If it was a super pastel worth 15 grand would you still consider putting it down, or would you try your hardest to help it recover? It sounds like you are doing a good job so far, but I would find a vet for it.

This is a lengthy post...sorry.

If it was deathly sick....yes I would. I do not care if it was 50,000.00 animal.

And its not the matter of the money, its the condition of this animal.

I have done many animal rescues from wild life to your average domesticated cat. This includes, but not limitied too squirrels, chins, hamsters, gerbils, foxes, birds, frogs, degus, rabbits....your Pet Store exotics. But... I am not a snake expert.

I came here to get opinions from people who live and care for these animals day to day. Not to be judged.

I have a Califonia Kingsnake, but its never been sick, nor have I ever had to have it treated. He eats twice weekly and sheds nicely. Never a problem with him.

I would have to travel over 200 miles to get this snake the care it needs. And what is more humane? To let the snake live with this nuerological thing it seems to have going on (which who knows, it might not can eat) or to put it out of its misery.

I wish you could see this for yourself, and if I can get some photos, I will submit them.

I have soaked her 20 minutes 2 days in a row, and although it seemed to perk up a bit, shes still in dire straits. Applied neosporin to the blisters (thats what the internet suggested).

Shes not moving, and from what I read they do move around a bit, she cannot climb, she cannot turn over when placed on her back, her head moves side to side like someone with vertigo (which I cannot help but wonder if it is this ( http://www.anapsid.org/ibd.html) or if Lysol or Pinesol was used around the snake, which also causes nuerological problems in pythons, and now.... the blisters. Can someone suggest what else could have caused this?

I think I will await her shedding and see what happens. Meanwhile I will call the "speciality vet" at Georgia State University to see what, if any help they can be.

Trust me I want to help the snake, and I would not turn my back on her. I am becoming attached as well as my 6 year old and 3 year old. But get this......the owner will want her back if she recovers. What am I to do? Give him back the snake, so it can become gravely ill again from poor husbandry and lack of care???

I am rather shocked and uncertain of "how sick" she really is.
I do not expect you guys to be a vet, but you do care for these animals day to day.

That's the way my female was acting.

Unfortuanately I came home from work and she had died.

I wish you the best of luck....keep us updated.

Boy, you've got your hands full....I'm not an expert, but I would like to offer my personal opinion. Do exactly as you've been doing. If the snake CAN recover from whatever has happened to it, it will with time and care. If the damamge is too vast, then the animal will pass on it's own. I would still recommend a vet visit if possible. They would be able to diagnose definitively what ails it, and give you a probable outcome, but I alo know that sometimes that isn't a viable option. I think you are doing a very good thing, to try and help this snake recover. I wouldn't give it back to the person after rehab, though.....not without finding out exactly what the person did (or didn't do) that caused this situation. Do you have a pic you can post??? Is it eating at all now, or has it shed yet?

Thanks Kikai.

I currently do not have photos of her. I am going to try to get some later tonight or sometime over the weekend.

I have not tried to present food to her, since shes in process of shedding. I thought I would try after she sheds. A small killed rat, or something of that nature. I cannot honest see her trying to chase down anything that is alive.

And she still has not shed as of yet. I am awaiting patiently.

I called Georgia State and they recommended someone nearby with some expertise in this area. But,shes not available until Tuesday. Wish us luck during the wait.

BTW her name is Samantha.

Don't give up hope! Ihave taken in a couple of BPs in such a condition, with very little hope of them making it. Miracles do happen! I have one who is on the rebound right now, and is the happiest little snake I've seen. Putting on wieght nicely, burns healing up, froliking about.
On the other hand, sometimes there is nothing we can do but make them as comftorble as possible until the end, which is worth a lot!
Bless your heart, and keep us posted!
GratefulFred
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GratefulFred