Something very wrong or my BP is just crazy?

[whenheavencomesdown]

I fed my ball a medium rat the other day and while i thought it was appropriately sized at the time (based on girth of the snake), the snake swelled to a huge size in the days afterwards. That was tuesday night about 6 pm, it is now Saturday 3 am. This may be unrelated but I somehow doubt it, sometimes it will move around normally, but right now it either lays on its side or on its back and will drag itself around while the back half is upside down. It is also trying to rub its head on everything and some of the scales look blue on its head but the eyes are clear. Does anyone have a clue what is going on. Oh, and no, it hasn't been with any other pythons, at least in the time i have had it, which is about 3 or 4 months.

[sn8kluvr]

The rubbing is more than likely from the blue scales on his head. They are left over from his last shed, right? There is really nothing you can do except wait till his next shed and make sure it is a good one. Also my bp had a bad shed because we were in the middle of a big move, it was as bad the his first ever. Anyway he still has a few of those blue colored scales on his head and is always rubing his nose trying to get it off. My bp is too head shy to try and soak him and then rub it off. I guess if your snkae will let you, you can saok him and try rubing it off, or put him in a warm wet pillow case. Hi will move around and rub it off. I fed my bp some pretty big rats and him does fine. I don't see a meal causing him to move like that. I would be concerned though. Could he have been injured, or maybe he is just bloated? Go to a vet.

	Ball Python The Ball Python (Python regius), also known as the Royal Python, is a ground dwelling snake native to the savannahs and rain forests in western Africa, predominatly the countries of Ghana, Togo, and Benin.

[whenheavencomesdown]

Thanks for the help, I appreciate you taking the time to give me your insights. The way it lays on its side or back sometimes is driving me crazy just because its weird and sometimes the BP acts normal. The bloating went down considerably though so I'm glad about that. Anyways, thanks again.

Wyatt

	Ball Python The Ball Python (Python regius), also known as the Royal Python, is a ground dwelling snake native to the savannahs and rain forests in western Africa, predominatly the countries of Ghana, Togo, and Benin.

[sn8kluvr]

Thats cool, but I don't know that much. There are some people in here that know way way more, but I am glad if it helped. Next time don't be worried about feeding something too big. That rat should leave a good sized lump in his/her belly. Pythons are eating machines and can handle large items. This just could have been from bloating. I would also wait a little while before feeding again, just to make sure that nothing is wrong.

[Schwartz]

When you fed him the rat was it prekilled, live, or frozen thawed? The Bloating Could Have Been From Bacteria Obtained Through Eating The Rat If It Was Live Or Prekilled. Sometimes This Bloating Can Cause The Snake To Act In Ways It Would Otherwise Not, Because Of The Discomfort. This Would Be Similar To If You Got A Bad Stomache Cramp You May Ball Up In A Fetal Position. If At All Possible Get Your Python To Eat F\T And If Nothing Else DONT FEED LIVE.

Hope This Helps.
Dane

[whenheavencomesdown]

He seems back to normal now and it was prekilled I fed him. After this I'm going to try and convert all of my snakes to F/T, I guess I had to learn the hard way. Thanks for the help guys.

	Frozen/Thawed A rodent or other prey item that is frozen and then thawed to be fed to a reptile or other animal.