Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I know they happen - I have two that are constantly trying to escape - they spend ours just going along the top of the tub and thus they constantly have nose rubs. I treat them with antisceptic and they heal up and don't get infected or anything - but they just keep doing it and now both of them are growing that ugly little bump on the end of their noses. It's so frustrating especially since it's two of our most beautiful snakes that keep doing this. Anyone know of any tips or tricks to help? Anyone ever try liquid bandage on a snake?

Thanks!
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Tosha

"Nihil facimus sed id bene facimus"

7.33.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and gang)
1.0.0 Angolan Python (Anakin Skywalker)
0.0.1 Green Tree Python (Verdi - yeah I know but my kids love the book)
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Desert Tortoise (Pope John Paul aka JP )
2.2.1 Fish (1,2,3,4)
0.0.2 frogs rescued from pool skimmer

s
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0.1 Leopard gecko's
0.0.1 Ball Python's
0.1 blood python's
0.1.1 Crested Geckos

sweet they are

try a different cage?.......lower or higher temps.they rub for a reason.....

........?.......too cold,hot,hungry (doubt it)....no hide,bad smell? as in substrate?.....

white cage?......try a black hide?...

..........wish they could talk
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...........and with that stick....he would dig up cobra and python eggs...............................

Though I don't have a solution for you (wish I did, you've always had great input for my queries), I think you need to look at it as a message of sorts. I think there is something about the enclosure that they need or don't like. They're trying to escape... why??

Perhaps you could experiment with different aspects... adjust temps and humidity, add hide boxes, sunstrate, etc. Perhaps they require larger housings? Maybe it will clue you in on what makes them so unsatisfied with where they are.

I recently took a friends Animal to the Vet, because it had the same scar in between the eyes and nostrils..The Vet told me that the scar is from the snake rubbing itself against the enclosure! And their is only 2 reasons why they would do that!

#1 The enclosure is way to small and/or

#2 The enclosure in wich the animal lives is absolutely filthy

I gave my fiend his snake back and let him know what the Vet had told me, so he changed bins and he sais that they are not rubbing anymore! Hope this helps you..

Isaac

LOL -does your Vet actually know anything about snakes? LOL - anyway - neither of those apply. But thanks.
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Tosha

"Nihil facimus sed id bene facimus"

7.33.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and gang)
1.0.0 Angolan Python (Anakin Skywalker)
0.0.1 Green Tree Python (Verdi - yeah I know but my kids love the book)
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Desert Tortoise (Pope John Paul aka JP )
2.2.1 Fish (1,2,3,4)
0.0.2 frogs rescued from pool skimmer

Well it sounds like you know what your doing! My Vet Probly doesnt Know much, He is only a lowly Reptile Vet!

Anyways Hopefully You can get what ever it is Fixed!

Isaac

What Isaac told you is accurate. The animal is stressed out from one or moe of the reasons he stated. It does appear from your question, you were looking for an answer that someone with 30 years of breeding experience should have known. Since you think all vets that defy your logical explenations are crazy, here is his contact info:

Mark Burgess, DVM
Southwest Animal Hospital
6139 SW Murray Blvd.
Beaverton, OR 97008
Tel: (503) 643-2137

Call him and find out for yourself and this man has over 20 years in reptiles and is the "MOST" knowlegeable man I know in balls today. If you call, you will be surprised as the information Mark gives is a bit overwhelming at times. I received a snake as well with a spot on its nose and it looked like a fresh wound. I imediately thought it had something contagious so I called Mark and talked with him about it. He said the previous owners comditions were lacking at best and caused the animal to be stressed which in turn equated to the self mutilation and excessive attempts and trying to escape. Balls have a high spot on the tip of their nose and is the first part to come in contact and ultimately the only contact from escaping. He said to apply betadine to help dry it out and it would be just fine. With a wound of that nature antibacterial cream is not that important because it softens the tissue instead of helping to heal.

Next time you post a question that you know the answer to, don't post. People are just trying to help.

Jeff
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Whatever your particular case maybe is not mine.

They have been to see a very cometant herp vet and his conclusion was otherwise.

Having raised snakes yourself - I'd assume you know that cage exploration and is typical snake behavior - some do it more than others.

Oh well - thanks for your input.
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Tosha

"Nihil facimus sed id bene facimus"

7.33.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and gang)
1.0.0 Angolan Python (Anakin Skywalker)
0.0.1 Green Tree Python (Verdi - yeah I know but my kids love the book)
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Desert Tortoise (Pope John Paul aka JP )
2.2.1 Fish (1,2,3,4)
0.0.2 frogs rescued from pool skimmer

As I said, you asked a question and a guy answered and you belittled him for it. If your vet is so competent, then why in the world would he not have offered more than one reason for its injuries??

I do know balls explore, but yours are not exploring, they are self mutilating. Which means the are not content enough in their surroundings for one or more reasons stated. Any animal that causes itself an injury as a result of exploring is not exploring. It is not as if it escaped and got injured in some unknown area of your home.

I gave you the information you needed to have a second opinion on your ball by a certified DVM. Make the call or accept the what fellow herpers are offering without brash comments.

Your welcome,

Jeff
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I think anyone with a snake has sat there and watched it explore and try to work it's way out of the cage - it's normal behavior - some do it for short times, some do it all night - these two are all nighters. Yes they are kept in appropriate sized cages, yes their cages are cleaned daily - yes - I've tried changing things around, changing hides, substrates, moving them to bigger cage, etc.

They do go for weeks without any excessive exploration (aka escape attempts) but then will turn around and spend the night poking around the top of the cage - I have not been able to link it to anything - possibly since they are the ones we have out the most they just don't like being caged, possibly since they are both males, they are in some kind of breeding mode. It happens at the normal snake activity times and when they are done they go back into thier hides.

They are both very healthy - great feeders, good temperments, and show no typical signs of stress or aggitation.

Whatever it is - I just wish there was some what to keep them from dinging up their noses - maybe it's time to try them in a plastic type cage.

Thanks everyone for your input.
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Tosha

"Nihil facimus sed id bene facimus"

7.33.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and gang)
1.0.0 Angolan Python (Anakin Skywalker)
0.0.1 Green Tree Python (Verdi - yeah I know but my kids love the book)
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Desert Tortoise (Pope John Paul aka JP )
2.2.1 Fish (1,2,3,4)
0.0.2 frogs rescued from pool skimmer

Maybe it's time for "the rubber room!" It does seem the ones get out are the ones that spend the most time trying to get back out .

Quig

beautiful angolan, how bout a full body shot. I want one sooo bad and hopefully in 2 yrs I'll finally get one. now to the rub, I've found in my experience that my more active species (retics, several colubrids, and some cobra species) just like to roam no matter how much room I give them to the point I had a 9ft retic in a 12'x4' cage and he was still rubbing. I'm not possitive but I've read angolan's are alot more active than ball's so this could be the case. I'd call one of the larger angolan breeders and ask them if they see this commonly with them too.

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2.3 het pied (RDR, alan bosch x 2, BHB x 2)
1.1 het albino (ben siegel, gulf coast)
1.2 het citrus ghost(gulf coast line)
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a BAD dog is MADE not bred, support the American Pit Bull Terrior as the greatest breed of dogs on Earth!!!!!