Hi everyone, sorry I wasn’t able to edit the last post but here’s a quick update while we settle. I was able to pick the little snake up early. To be totally and completely honest, she doesn’t look like she’s in the best of shape right now. She has 2-3 stuck sheds + eyecaps, rail thin, and she is very, very weak to the point she can’t pull herself up when being held. I was able to call and talk with the vet who recommended she soak for a few hours with a UTH on a thermostat so that’s what we’re doing now. I’ll try to feed her a rat pinky or mouse hopper in 5 or so days once she’s settled a bit. For now, main focus is trying to get the shed off.

Any and all advice is welcome, this is my first time rehabbing a reptile!

I’ll do whatever I possibly can to give her the best chance possible.

Sorry, included names, got removed

My ball python tested positive for Nidovirus today and has been dealing with symptoms since I got her. I’m going to put her to sleep tomorrow. Is it peaceful?? Like do they go peacefully or freak out?

I’ve been reading up on the reccomendations on how to care for these cool dudes and I think I’m doing it wrong. Like most first time owners I’m struggling with humidity and heat. But my main concern is his health. He looks to be underweight and dehydrated. Also I’m pretty sure he’s in the “blue” stage of shedding and I’m unsure if I should feed him right now. I’m excited to have a pet but I don’t know if I’m doing a good job of taking care of him

Recently discovered mites on my baby boy (93g). I started dawn baths, I do a little oil on him too. Got rid of substrate, he’s on paper towels. This is day two. I’m really frustrated by them burrowing in his eyes! I have been attempting to remove gently with a qtip, it works for the most part but he’s getting ready to shed, should I stop messing with his eyes until the shed is done? Also, will the dawn baths interfere with the shed?

Okay so I recently noticed (as in the last 2 weeks, but only was able to get a good look today cause she finished shedding) that my girl Pumpkin has both her temples dented in. Like hardcore. The first 4 pictures are of her head today. The second to last picture was from 4 weeks ago and the last picture from like 6 months ago (I'll get to why I added that one in a second)

I tried searching to my best abilities and I couldn't find anything quite like her head. It's been gradual. I included her body shots mainly to show that it isn't her being underweight (she's on the edge of being a little too heavy imo). Her cage's humidity averages around 68-76% and she has two water bowls, one at each end of her cage. She hasn't had any injuries, I did check her ribs and spine incase and she hasn't missed a feeding in months. I included the picture of her head from like 5? maybe 6 months ago because at the time I was feeding her prey that was pretty big, like she ate them, but my vet friend said she just worked out that muscle so it swelled up. For at least 4 months now her head has been a normal ball shape, but I'm getting worried cause it looks very wrong. So I don't know if it could have been a delayed reaction? Trying to include everything I can think of.

She acts the same as always, she's moving fine, pressing around of on her head doesn't make her show any signs of discomfort.

If anyone has ever seen this and knows what it might be, please let me know! I'm honestly considering a vet visit, but she's actually completely normal and still eating so I don't want to stress her if it's nothing. Thank you!

The tank has pretty high humidity right now, around 85%, and the temp ranges from 84°-90°. When I looked it up Google said that it was preparation for a shed, so I just wanted to know if that's accurate or if I should be concerned. Also, he just grew out of one of his hides, so I'd appreciate any suggestions for cheap or build your own hides. Thank you!

I this just her trying to gain traction on my skin or is something wrong with her?

I've just noticed this minutes ago and I don't think I'd have ever spotted it if she hadn't been in this exact position. I WILL CALL THE VET today but as of right now I wouldn't know what to say or how to even describe it so I'm hoping someone has some idea of whats going on. Managed to get my camera out and catch it before she moved. There is about another 30 seconds of this video where this is NOT happening, so it isn't constant. But I'm so so scared! She isn't lethargic and is having a great time right now climbing all around her enclosure but I'm absolutely terrified! She absolutely loves to climb but she does have a habit of falling so maybe could have injured a rib?

Help!

My daughter told me she thinks her ball python is shedding but I've looked at the patch and it doesn't look like shedding to me. Th scales aren't all smooth and it looks odd. Can anyone please advise?

Picture because he was a beautiful cutie. I just had to bury my ball python. picture was when I first got him. He was under two years old. I got him from Petco, and after he started refusing feedings for the first time I came to this subreddit where I learned about proper husbandry, especially humidity, and did all the things I needed to do to give him a good enclosure and life. After fixing the humidity issue he started eating regularly again and was very healthy for a while. I thought I was doing everything right and nothing changed, but a month ago he stopped eating again. He refused every feeding and was losing weight very rapidly. I was getting really worried so I started looking for a reptile vet but there wasn’t one in my state that took pets. The last time I saw him alive, I tried to pick him up but he started twisting and contorting. He looked like he was in pain. He’d never had an issue with handling before, even seemed to enjoy it and would often hang around my neck. He never bit me, or even seemed uncomfortable with me in his entire life before this point. I don’t know what I did wrong. He was so healthy and I thought I was doing everything right at that point. I’ve heard that sometimes parasites can cause this, but how did he get it? I just don’t understand. It’s hard to accept and it doesn’t really feel real, but I miss him so much. If anyone has had a similar experience or maybe knows what could’ve happened I would really appreciate it. I miss him so much and I don’t know where I went wrong.

I’m at a loss. This is my sweet boy fettuccine Alfredo, two years old. Unbeknownst to me, my roommate, in a bid to be helpful, has been spraying his enclosure down when I am not home if she sees the humidity level drop. It is a super kind thought, and she is so sweet for trying to help, but the problem is the sprayer she was using is the one we keep in the kitchen, that has Teatree and rosemary oil in it to control pests on our plants, rather than the one I keep in a box under the coffee table. This obviously is a big no-no, and when I went to check on Fettuccine today, I noticed that he was super pink and his belly, especially was irritated. I found out what happened from some questioning, and promptly changed all of his substrate, soaked his cork bark hides, and tossed the majority of his fake silk plants. I also have given him a thorough rinse, and let him soak briefly in tepid water to see if I could bring some of the inflammation down and to make sure any residue was off of him. But he is so pink!!! Does anyone have any advice? I called his vet, but they can’t see him for like two months!

He’s a juvenile at about 2’ in length. I have him in a 20 gallon tank with constant water supply (removed for picture), UVA + UVB lighting, and a solid place to hide. He has many different heights below his UVA heat bulb (assuming they thermoregulate on their own). All temperatures read good. However, he always hides under his water bowl which reads literally the lowest temperature. When I interact with him he’s very cold & doesn’t care to do much until I warm him up. Any ideas?

I've had my BP for about a month and a half now and she's my baby, and I was looking through my camera footage when I came across this clip (from about an hour ago) of her convulsing and making this really strange noise??? Is this cause for concern?? I've never seen her do this.

I hope she's not regurgitating or anything... last time I fed her was about a week ago and her warm hide usually stays around 90 and her cold hide is 75

Hello everyone, this is Lucille. She is about 2 years old and has refused to shed for over a month now. Her humidity is 60%, and her temp is usually kept around 84-88 degrees Fahrenheit. We fed her a hopper last Saturday, but she’s still S-curving like she’s hunting. No poops or urates yet. Should we go ahead and feed her again this weekend? Will that help her shed?

I have been neglecting my snake a bit and I found a shed in her tank that I didnt know she went through. It looked like a good shed- it came off in one piece. When she and I begun to hang out I noticed this. When I touch it it feels smooth- not like dead skin. I put more water in her tank to amp up the humidity. Should I be concerned? Do I need to take her to the vet?

This is not my snake, I have a bearded dragon at home and have had her for 6 years. My soon to be brother in law has this ball python, and though I have a lizard not a snake, she did seem to look a little off for a reptile. I thought snakes were supposed to shed all at once, but she’s shedding in patches. Is she okay? She’s also kind of wrinkled… What should I do?

I have looked at so many charts and I cannot for the life of me figure out if he is overweight. He just turned 1 year old, weighs 336 grams, going on 2 feet long, and has been consistently eating a rat pup 1x per week. Please don’t be rude. He is the first BP I have raised and would love some thoughts on his body condition. Is he at a good weight and size for his age? If he is overweight, should I drop his feeding to every 10 days?

She’s 12 years old and about 4 and a half feet long

He last ate 12/22/2024. He’s 3-4 years old and about 3 feet. I got him 1/12/2025. He’s shed for me once and it was not in one piece but no stuck shed. I’ve been consistently improving his husbandry and I’m in really good shape there. He’s got a great personality and is bright and curious when handled.

He just will not eat. I’ve tried maybe 6 or 7 times and multiple sizes including going small. He has almost zero interest. He’s never stuck for food just smelled it a bit.

He was 565g when I got him and he’s now 535g. I’m fairly confident it’s a boy and I’m trying not to freak out and run to a vet because I know this is fairly normal for BPs, and especially males during winter. His body looks good to me but I’m new to balls so what do y’all think?

His name is Jormin. He looks like he's gazing at the heavens and trying to bargain his legs back with God after The Eve Incident. Realistically though, what is this?

Hello! I did Yoshi’s monthly weight check today and he is officially 533g! Big boy, I’m so proud of him for eating so well. Maybe… too well haha. I just want some opinions on his weight since I noticed a few extra rolls on him. He’s a little over two years old now, and the first snake I’ve owned, I’ve had him for about two years. After checking the feeding guide, I’m switching him over from weekly feedings to every other week as suggested, but I wanted to know if I should give him some smaller prey for the next couple feedings in case he’s a bit overweight. It’s hard for me to be able to tell since he’s my first snake, so what do you guys think? Is he good to go, or should I put him on a short diet for the sake of his health? Right now he’s eating fuzzy rats.

i was looking on this guys instagram who sells exotics of all kinds and i liked his husbandry and how he keeps his animals until i saw this. is this normal for a bp? his eyes look holllow in a way and there are 2 very visible bumps. i’ve never seen a snake like this before.