Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a hatchling that has a discolored belly - I just noticed it today it's kinda bluish looking. It feels kinda bloated (puffy, squishy). This one's had 2 hopper mice, but has not pooped yet could it be a blocked or something? It appears to act normally. I know the picture isn't great the flash it wipes out the color. Thanks!

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Tosha

"Of course, this is just my opinion...and I believe I am God." -- Christopher Bianco

8.20.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and gang)
1.0.0 Angolan Python (Skywalker)
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Dessert Tortoise (Pope John Paul)
2.2.1 Fish (1,2,3,4)
0.0.3 Lizards rescued from pool skimmer

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Tosha

"Of course, this is just my opinion...and I believe I am God." -- Christopher Bianco

8.20.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and gang)
1.0.0 Angolan Python (Skywalker)
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Dessert Tortoise (Pope John Paul)
2.2.1 Fish (1,2,3,4)
0.0.3 Lizards rescued from pool skimmer

How long has it been since the last meal?Could be that hes so small it looks discolored.i have a hatchling that when turned beely up he has a bulge that sticks up kinda pointy.Its near where the little slit is in a newborns belly.Seems to act fine I just check in on him every day and still tries to strike at me (bless his little heart)he can barely eat a pinky.Tosh I would keep an eye on him and you may want to put him in the sink with warm water and GENTLY RUB HIS BELLY to make sure there is no blockage.Hope this helps.

...if you get the right lighting conditions you can make out the large blood vessel that runs along the midline of the belly, which may explain the faint bluish color you see...similar situation with feces in the lower gut...sometimes you can make it out...

...if the meals are small or infrequent, it can be a disconcertingly long period of time before a specimen passes feces...obstruction is very rarely encountered in BPs...TRUE constipation is rare as well...I wouldn't worry on that...

sjm

on another forum, some people reported having problems keeping their BPs on newspaper... their belly would get "pink-ish".. the explanation was apparently that surface of the substrate was too smooth and there wasn't enough air circulation to dry up the belly or something.. I've noticed that recently on some BPs I had on newspaper... once moved to shredded aspen, that disappeared... I'm not saying that's the problem, but something to keep in mind...

Good luck and keep us posted!

Bristen.

were the hoppers black? sometimes I can see the darkness of the food item. Just a thought