ball python bloating?

herpetoculturist14 · #1 (**permalink**) 05-05-2006, 01:48 AM

ok ... one of my ball pythons is really bloated... at first glance i just thought it was from the gerbils he ate on tuesday and it wasnt.....he is just bloated in a little over half of his body ...... i have never had this happen before is there any home remedies i could do to get rid of it...??

amercnwmn · #2 (**permalink**) 05-05-2006, 01:49 AM

I probably wouldnt handle it just yet if it just ate Tuesday...But perhaps this weekend you could give it a nice soak in lukewarm water..sounds like hes about to poop maybe. Mine always look fatter and fuller a couple of days after they eat

Adrya · #3 (**permalink**) 05-05-2006, 02:11 AM

Hmm.... this could be any number of things.

What are the temps on the hot and cool side and does the snake have belly heat? Humidity?

The snake may also be a bit dehydrated and otherwise is a bit constipated, or has to poop as stated before.

I also agree that you may have to soak the snake for a few hours in luke-warm water... to keep the water semi-warm you may put half the container you're using to soak the snake in on top of a heating pad.. but like I said, only half to 1/4 of the container.

But I also would give the snake some time if it's just eaten.

Adrya · #4 (**permalink**) 05-05-2006, 02:16 AM

Here is an old thread of someone else's snake that had a bloating problem.... there's lots of info here for you to read.

Pics of my snake bloating?

Adrya · #5 (**permalink**) 05-05-2006, 02:21 AM

Okay, now when you said "gerbils", how many did you mean?

How big is this ball python?
How often is it fed?
How much each feeding?

herpetoculturist14 · #6 (**permalink**) 05-05-2006, 02:30 AM

he had two gerbils... the humidity is up at 75% and the heat is 85-89... an under tank heater and a basking lamp..... its never done this before..... and it is squishy to the touch not firm like after they eat. he has a large soaking bowl on one side of the tank also..... soo i just dont know

jpaulson · #7 (**permalink**) 05-05-2006, 02:44 AM

What type of feeding schedule do you have him on?

herpetoculturist14 · #8 (**permalink**) 05-05-2006, 02:49 AM

once a week.... its the first time he has had a gerbil.. they are smaller than the rats i give him but they have more fur i dont know if that makes a difference

CruiserMaiden · #9 (**permalink**) 05-05-2006, 02:58 AM

My ball Pudge ate a rather large meal (it was a frozen med. rat but it was nearly a large) he didnt poo for over a month and a half and he showed some of the same symptoms you are describing. In particular the lower part of his body was bloated especially around his vent area. (He has a broken back and we were afraid that somehow the meal was too big and had caused blockage) Anyhow, after a month and a half he took a small rat and two days later he poo'd a pretty big one, and was back to normal.

ball python chick · #10 (**permalink**) 05-05-2006, 04:35 AM

are you sure its male and not an ovulating female

Razaiel · #11 (**permalink**) 05-05-2006, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by herpetoculturist14

he had two gerbils... the humidity is up at 75% and the heat is 85-89... an under tank heater and a basking lamp..... its never done this before..... and it is squishy to the touch not firm like after they eat. he has a large soaking bowl on one side of the tank also..... soo i just dont know

I think the warmer side could be a bit hotter - I normally keep my warm side at 94-95 ... it will aid faster/better digestion too

herpetoculturist14 · #12 (**permalink**) 05-05-2006, 12:32 PM

well...... i dont think thats what it is it feels like Air ... not eggs...

nomadbean · #13 (**permalink**) 05-05-2006, 01:39 PM

Gerbils cause more gestational gases, according to my feeding supplier. So next time use Bean-O and there will be no gas. J/K about the beano, but he is just gassy and it will go away when he poops or regurges, depending on how much gas there is. No more than 1 gerbil at a feeding, mix & match if need be with a rat. Hope he slims down soon for you, he should be just fine.
Trina
OMNIherp, LLC

Adrya · #14 (**permalink**) 05-05-2006, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Razaiel

I think the warmer side could be a bit hotter - I normally keep my warm side at 94-95 ... it will aid faster/better digestion too

Dude, that is WAY too hot for a ball python.

Ball pythons spend the hot days in Africa in cool burrows to get away from the heat, then come out at night when it's cool.....

The optimum heat gradient for a ball python is 82-86 hot side, and mid 70s for the cool side. If it's too hot, they never leave the cool side and can't properly thermoregulate.

All of my ball pythons, including JuliusSqueezer's, are kept at these temps and they eat great and everything else.

amercnwmn · #15 (**permalink**) 05-05-2006, 04:23 PM

maybe she has PMS?? LOL
Sorry all back to seriousness, the temps are too hot.. mid 80s is prime

Razaiel · #16 (**permalink**) 05-05-2006, 08:24 PM

Hmmm ... I really don't want to seem to argue about temps here - but all the caresheets (I read them all - believe me

) and from what I learned on a certain well-known forum devoted to BP's (upon which there is also at least one BP breeder) - all suggest that low end temps should be 82-84 and hot end 92-94 - never falling below 75 at any time at all even overnight. Like I said, I really don't want to cause any friction or whatever on the forum, (I hate arguments and disagreeing with people - it just isn't me) I just want what is best for my snake. Having said that, when I first bought Emily, our BP, our local "reptile guy" said it wouldn't hurt for them to go as low as 65 overnight - but I've never dared do that.

I understand that Boas require less high a temperature, I intend to learn as much as I can about them here on this forum as I'm getting a salmon hypo in a couple of months

nomadbean · #17 (**permalink**) 05-05-2006, 08:38 PM

Well, we all tweak care and husbandry to our unique animals. My ball pythons are on Tracy Barker's reccomended temperatures of 80 cool-85 warm end, no day/night changes. My guys are on a 7 day feed cycle of food, and all of them do just fine(I have 50 or so Ball Pythons at any given time) During winter my snakes get into the 70's on a regular basis. I would think the temps you are saying would be too warm, but of your guys are thriving then they must be alright with it. The warmer you get the more often you need to feed(to an extent) because the warmer your snakes are the faster their systems work. Same rules as for cooking, yes you can heat up the oven to cook faster but if you stretch it too far you burn it. We all want what is best for our animals, and we are passionate which is why we fight..and some of us just like to bicker *points* you know who you are....lol
Trina
OMNIherp, LLC

Razaiel · #18 (**permalink**) 05-06-2006, 04:07 AM

I have turned my temps down a couple of degrees now - it was reading 82/94 so now it's down to 80/92. She does seem to be doing fine on it - and has never missed her 7-day feed. So I'm going to opt for the safe option and keep my temps in the mid-way zone between what others do (I wish she could talk!!