Sick Ball

I have a very small collection of corn snakes and one 2009 female ball python. I am very very new to this.

About two months ago I was asked by a co-worker if I would take a ball python from him. He stated that he no longer wanted the snake and if I didn't take him that he was going to let him loose outside. He asked me because he knew that I had snakes at home.

To make a long story short. He brought the snake over about 10:00 the night after I agreed to take him. This is a 3 year old male ball that is supposedly het pied. The snake was in terrible shape. He was extremely thin. His back bone was protruding and he was just a sack of skin and bones.

I've kept him in isolation away from my other snakes. He has been eating two small rats a week up until two weeks ago. At that point he started refusing food. I've tried multiple different things to entice him to no avail. Today I checked on him first thing this A.M. I noticed that one of his eyes looked sunken. As if it were deflated in the center. I watched him throughout the day and noticed that this evening he was doing some open mouth breathing and has a small amount of clear mucus in his mouth. I tried to feed again tonight and he would have none of it. So this makes week three without eating

The temp in his enclosure is 85 degrees and about 55% humidity currently. I'm really upset as I have grown to love this snake in the short time that we have had him. Any suggestions? Where should I go from here this weekend? Thanks in advance!

up his hot spot to 90-92 degrees...85 is a tad bit low

I'd say he will need to see a vet ASAP....as mucus and open mouth breathing are usually Respiratory infection, which can be fatal, and will most likely need anti biotic injections to clear him up

the sunken eye is most likely dehydration....RI can take alot out in a snake

Originally Posted by Willow

up his hot spot to 90-92 degrees...85 is a tad bit low

I'd say he will need to see a vet ASAP....as mucus and open mouth breathing are usually Respiratory infection, which can be fatal, and will most likely need anti biotic injections to clear him up

the sunken eye is most likely dehydration....RI can take alot out in a snake

Yep, I'm taking him to the vet first thing in the A.M. They aren't open on the weekend and even though I talked to the after hours guy they want me to wait until tomorrow.

He seems to be doing better this morning. His eye has cleared up and looks great. I've also been watching and he hasn't been doing the open mouth breathing this A.M.

Keeping my fingers crossed that he keeps hanging on till I can get him to the vet in the morning.

Just wanted to update. He seems to be doing great. No more open mouth breathing, no signs of mucus today. His eyes look moist and great.

Still going in to the vet today to get him checked out.

Kudos to you Molly for taking him in and giving him a better life. I hope the vet visit turns out ok.

Originally Posted by TheFragginDragon

Kudos to you Molly for taking him in and giving him a better life. I hope the vet visit turns out ok.

Thanks John! Vet says he looks good today respiratory wise. Apparently turning up his temps and humidity helped.

He is still way way underweight though. I'm going to have to keep trying to convince him to eat.

poor baby. Is he still doing ok? He's so lucky to have you.

Originally Posted by liltanker

poor baby. Is he still doing ok? He's so lucky to have you.

He seems ok. Eyes look great. No more RI symptoms at all. Still cant get him to eat though.

That's great that he's feeling better. Maybe he just needs some time. Maybe you should buy him a nice gerbil