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Help as soon as possible is my snake sick??

neocatlove

neocatlove

neocatlove
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okay so i have had my ball python since early September so almost two months
she was fine when i first got her she ate about a week after getting her and it took maybe around a hour because i tried she was un interested and then i left it for about an hour tried again and then she ate within about five mins
she hasn't eaten since...
i have tried countless times during this time and waiting a proper amount of time before trying again
me and her are pretty well bonded she loves faces of nice people so she loves mine :) no i don't let her get near my face or neck
i don't hold her everyday there are times i do but it isn't often
the reason i am posting is A. she isn't eating B. she started making weird breathing noises? (it sounds like she is shooting air out of her nose not really like a sneeze) C. she only today flipped was looked like she was sleeping then went crazy and started rubbing half of her face on the bedding and then a little on the glass wall D. I picked her up (I let her get out a little to make sure she wants to come out if she doesn't try to escape i won't force her or wake her up unless my dad forces me to :hot: he doesn't listen to me so i don't have a choice only happened once) and she has some flaky bits on her nose area which i am wondering is she okay? I don't want to pry open her mouth if i don't absolutely have to i don't want her hating me.
I think it could be shed but the only thing I see that is "shedish' about her is the top of her head is kind of grey but that might be from lack of humidity which i need help with i know this is probably bad but i pour 'rain' into her tank (safe water i promise) and then let the heating lamp make humanity from that
but the top of the tank is just wire nothing to hold humanity so if anyone had nay recommendations on ANYTHING PLEASE POST IT!!!! I am so worried for her :( I know them not eating is normal but this is worrying me
i am getting new bedding tomorrow and doing a full deep clean (tips would be greatly appreciated) and i try to pour water into her tank and change her water once everyday again PLEASE help if you have ANY clue whats wrong with her
 
It definitely sounds like she is popping a shed.

Since you are having problems maintaining humidity in a tank with a heat lamp, which is not unusual, I would suggest switching over to a tub with an under-tank heater that is regulated by a thermostat, or to a proper PVC reptile enclosure. Fish tanks are great for fish or species that don't need to have high humidity, not so much for snakes that need to stay warm and humid.
 
If you have any doubts whatsoever about the health of an animal entrusted in your care, I would strongly suggest that you consider taking it to a veterinarian to have it looked at ASAP. Better to be safe than sorry and inadvertently let things get bad in a hurry if you have a real problem developing.
 
bcr229 said:
It definitely sounds like she is popping a shed.

Since you are having problems maintaining humidity in a tank with a heat lamp, which is not unusual, I would suggest switching over to a tub with an under-tank heater that is regulated by a thermostat, or to a proper PVC reptile enclosure. Fish tanks are great for fish or species that don't need to have high humidity, not so much for snakes that need to stay warm and humid.
Click to expand...

I have a undertake heating pad and she hates it
she never goes into her hide when i turn it on so i turned it off and she started using it again and this tank is a tank i bought that is a part of a snake kit
 
WebSlave said:
If you have any doubts whatsoever about the health of an animal entrusted in your care, I would strongly suggest that you consider taking it to a veterinarian to have it looked at ASAP. Better to be safe than sorry and inadvertently let things get bad in a hurry if you have a real problem developing.
Click to expand...

my parents will only help me with that is they think she is going to die
 
neocatlove said:
okay so i have had my ball python since early September so almost two months
she was fine when i first got her she ate about a week after getting her and it took maybe around a hour because i tried she was un interested and then i left it for about an hour tried again and then she ate within about five mins
she hasn't eaten since...
i have tried countless times during this time and waiting a proper amount of time before trying again
Click to expand...

Where did you get the BP from? Do you know what it was eating before you got it? If it was eating mice, have you tried rats/vice versa? What are you/have you tried feeding it?

me and her are pretty well bonded she loves faces of nice people so she loves mine :)
Click to expand...

I'm really sorry, but it's a snake. She's at most curious. They don't have the capacity to "love".

the reason i am posting is A. she isn't eating B. she started making weird breathing noises? (it sounds like she is shooting air out of her nose not really like a sneeze) C. she only today flipped was looked like she was sleeping then went crazy and started rubbing half of her face on the bedding and then a little on the glass wall D. I picked her up (I let her get out a little to make sure she wants to come out if she doesn't try to escape i won't force her or wake her up unless my dad forces me to :hot: he doesn't listen to me so i don't have a choice only happened once) and she has some flaky bits on her nose area which i am wondering is she okay?
Click to expand...

A. Snakes for the most part, won't eat in shed. It's about 50/50 on them eating in shed or not.

B. When in shed, they'll sound weird while breathing.

C. Sounds like She's trying to shed. Are you using a thermostat? Are your temps alright? correct humidity and temp are required for them to shed.

D. That might be from the wire top on your fish tank. If she's rubbing on it, it could possibly be messed up from the wire.

I don't want to pry open her mouth if i don't absolutely have to i don't want her hating me.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't recommend this.

I think it could be shed but the only thing I see that is "shedish' about her is the top of her head is kind of grey but that might be from lack of humidity which i need help with i know this is probably bad but i pour 'rain' into her tank (safe water i promise) and then let the heating lamp make humanity from that
but the top of the tank is just wire nothing to hold humanity so if anyone had nay recommendations on ANYTHING PLEASE POST IT!!!!
Click to expand...

The best thing, is to honestly get rid of your glass tank. "standard" is to put them in shoe box tubs(sterilite 1753, and the like), in a rack, but you can still put her in a shoe box on top of a heat strip(flexwatt, etc) and make sure temps/humidity are still ok.

I am so worried for her :( I know them not eating is normal but this is worrying me
i am getting new bedding tomorrow and doing a full deep clean (tips would be greatly appreciated) and i try to pour water into her tank and change her water once everyday again PLEASE help if you have ANY clue whats wrong with her
Click to expand...

Pics would actually be super helpful.
 
neocatlove said:
I have a undertake heating pad and she hates it
she never goes into her hide when i turn it on so i turned it off and she started using it again and this tank is a tank i bought that is a part of a snake kit
Click to expand...
I am 99.9999% certain that those snake kits do not come with a thermostat to regulate the heat pad and prevent it from getting hot enough to burn your snake.

Get a thermostat so your heat pad doesn't overheat. A vet bill for a burned snake is 2-3 times the cost of a thermostat.
 
Reply to all y'all

So her humidity is bad and I know that and she did shed and it was a really bad shed she did it and it looked like shredded cheese
but i have cypress bedding and two bowls of water and used to have 2 hides but they of course got moldy from me putting water in her tank to up humidity but nothing i do works except for turning off the lamp but when i do that she gets too cold
 
she doesn't use the heating pad for reasons unknown but it doesn't get very warm at all
i put my hand up to it and it is about as warm as when you sit down on a chair for a while and then get up and it did come with a thermostat
 
Shannon, to be honest it does not sounds as though you have her in the best conditions for her. If you are going to keep her you are going to have to find her a better set up, or she's not going to do well.

Obviously you realise she is not doing OK, and it's good that you are asking for help, but from what I'm hearing, there's no way she's going to be OK with the tank and heating you have. Are you able to get something else?
 
wow thanks for saying that is such a caring way
but yes i am possibly able to get something new for her and i found the heating i have for her is ruining her humidity i have no clue what i can use to heat but also not destroy humidity
 
Well, I am no expert on Ball Pythons in particular, but it sounds as though the biggest problem is that you have an open wire top, which means that the heat lamp will dry out the moisture, making it difficult for you to keep the humidity stable.

Utta made a good suggestion:
"The best thing, is to honestly get rid of your glass tank. "standard" is to put them in shoe box tubs(sterilite 1753, and the like), in a rack, but you can still put her in a shoe box on top of a heat strip(flexwatt, etc) and make sure temps/humidity are still ok."

I know that I prefer to be able to see my snakes, so I like glass sided tanks better than tubs, but maybe you could put her into a tub for a while and get her healthy and eating, while you look for a better glass sided set up that will not let the humidity out?

All of us here care about the snake's health, but we've also all been new keepers, and I think all the advice given to you so far has been in that spirit. :)
 
well this tank was really expensive and my parents would kill me if i got another one but i am planning on getting her a tub for when she is shedding so she can be very wet to better shed but what i really need is a heating bulb that doesn't destroy humidity and i am going to try tinfoil on top because i have heard that apparently it doesn't heat up as much as i thought it did but i am having a hard time finding such a bulb because they keep labeling them as bulbs for desert environments
 
Maybe it's possible to just get a new top for the tank? (The Ball Python people can probably be of more help on that than I can).

Also, in future if you think she is having problems shedding because of low humidity, (or now if you think she still has bits of skin stuck to her) you can try bathing her a few days after she has gone cloudy and then clear again - just put an inch or so of luke warm water in a small tub and let her sit in it for a bit, with a rock or a branch to rub against.
 
One thing that can help screen lids with keeping in humidity would be to put some plastic wrap over all or most of it. I have seen people cover the whole thing, but I usually only do about 80% myself. It will also help to get a hygrometer if you don't have one already.

Another option at your disposal is to make a humid hide with a tupperware to put in the enclosure. Cut a hole in the side she can enter through, toss in some sphagnum moss (available at most pet stores), and mist it every few days. Other mosses would work, too. That way, she will have the option to enter her humid spot when she is in shed or feels she needs some moisture.

Another thing that helped my girl out when I had her in a tank was to use a nice big water bowl she can submerge in. I use a ceramic dog bowl, usually filled about halfway.
 
thanks! this was actually quite helpful i do have a hygrometer! and yeah it works just great but i don't know if i can do plastic wrap it might melt? or heat up plastic and then release toxins because my lamp is sitting on top of my tank
 
neocatlove said:
she doesn't use the heating pad for reasons unknown but it doesn't get very warm at all
i put my hand up to it and it is about as warm as when you sit down on a chair for a while and then get up and it did come with a thermostat
Click to expand...
Usually those starter kits from the big box pet stores come with a thermometer to measure temperature. A thermostat plugs into the wall, your heating pad plugs into the thermostat, and the thermostat probe gets sandwiched between the heating pad and the bottom of the tank. Double-check which you have.

For a single ball python this tub is great and your snake won't outgrow it. It's also under $20.
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Hefty-100-Quart-Clear-Tote-with-Latching-Lid/50150118
Add a large under-tank heat pad on a thermostat, substrate, hides, and a water bowl, and you're done. No need to purchase new lights because the old bulbs burned out, or misters to increase humidity.

Then you can either sell the tank you have, or put a different snake in it that doesn't require a lot of humidity.
 
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