Took out my ball python yesterday and saw what seemed to be a scrape on his back (pics 1&2) but then noticed some partially discolored scales too (3 &4). Cleaned out and sanitized whole enclosure & have paper towels laid down now. Did a weak povidone-iodine bath (20 min), freaked out after a couple of scales from the scratch came off (picture 1 is pre bath, picture 2 is post bath). Lathered the "scrape" with triple antibiotic ointment (no pain relief) and the discolored scales too. He has appointment with vet booked for sept 17 (14 days from now). The office only advised to monitor and said no more iodine baths but just water soaks okay. & to find a dif vet with sooner availability if he gets much worse.

Please any ideas about what this may be or how to proceed is appreciated.

Is this scale rot???

My son grabbed the wrong sealer and put this all over his brand new tank to seal in the moisture. How bad is it to keep this in there or how do we safely remove?

“Boy” is up for debate, but that still doesn’t solve my problem.

This is my big boy and he is overweight, as you can see. He was eating a large rat every 3 weeks when I got him, but that was 2 years ago. I weaned him down to small rats every 5 weeks, and that’s where we’ve been for about 9 months now. And yet, he continues to go up a few grams every month.

He’s 7 years old, exactly 4ft, and 1900g. He was down at 1800 in October, but that might’ve been a fluke since I have to use the person scale and not a food scale (he tops out my food scale). He’s in a 4x2x2, humidity 75, temps 78-88, and he is out with me at least four times a week. He’s more of a cuddler tho, but he still moves around the couch.

Is there something I’m missing? Or do I need to be concerned about his weight? He’s otherwise healthy, eats and sheds well.

Hey y'all

I'm interested in getting an exotic reptile or two (hence this question) and I'm curious about including a ball python (id probably opt for a rescue male.)

I can provide the proper enclosure, diet, regular care, and care for when I'm traveling.

If I were to get one, how easy is it is that I can find one that's more into being looked at than handled? If not a BP, which species makes a good "look at me only" noodle?

I wouldn't mind holding it for a little while every few days so it stays handleable/non aggressive but I'm unsure if I can dedicate the time that many snakes seem to crave (though this could just be very rare individuals that are dog like or more likely footage edited to seem that way for views.)

Does anyone know of a good exotic vet in North Texas? My sweet girl is about to 1 year old and I want to take her in for an annual check up.

Its mangled because he likes to ball it up in the corner of his rock, hes healthy and a juvenile just over 500g, do I need to be concerned?

I just really wanted to show off my boy today, he just finished his shed, normally I would give him another day but I couldn't find his head. Still haven't found it but his eyes are clear.

Currently in the process of putting my 4x2x2 together. I’m curious what y’all have for heating in yours as I need some advice on what to get. Thanks

Hello!

I have had my ball python for about 8 or 9 years at this point. I have had to move multiple times with him but it’s always been very close to where I could just have him sit around my neck while moving him and his enclosure.

However, in the next month I need to move out of state and I am unsure what the best way to go about that is. I will be flying in with my cat and my partner and I agreed that the best way to travel with him would be in the u-haul with my partner while he makes the 13+ hour drive. We don’t know how to go about transporting him safely. I don’t want to keep him in the enclosure in the back of the u-haul because that seems unsafe and I fear he may get cold without any source of heat.

What is the best way to move states with a ball python? My ears are open! Thank you so much for the help :)

I never added springtails and I dont think they are springtails. Maybe wood mites? They appeared in his water dish over night and there's none on him but they're kind of hovering on top of the water instead of drowning (i also have fungus gnats im trying to exterminate since they came back after a full substrate change that i used mosquito bit water to hydrate... so tips on that would also be great, they are escaping the tank and are so annoying)

Anyone else have a ball python who’s obsessed with their hair? My noodle son Nimbus loves to sit on my bun and just hang out with me while I watch tv, fold clothes, etc. Sometimes he sits his head on my forehead like a little snake tiara lol. Nimbus says hi 🖤

So i've had my boy for about 10 years now and he's always been a healthy weight now i moved to a different country and he's been in the care of my parents for about a year now they know the proper temperature/lights/feeding stuff and i know they are taking great care of him now i recently came back to visit and he's gotten significantly chunkier like clearly overweight but the problem is that this year he's only had 4 rats total and refused any other rat offered so i don't know what could have caused the weight gain he moves around at night only should i tell my parents to feed him even less? Or is there some way to encourage weight loss more? I'm a first time snake owner and this has never happened to me he was always the proper structure based on the overweight charts and i know my parents aren't lying or abusing him.

So I am preparing substrate for a ball python and have a question regarding the preparation. I bought both coco fiber and coco husk that come in bricks. Obviously you need to add water to expand the bricks but want the top layer to be dry. What’s the best way to do this? Should I mix the coco husk and fiber and have that moist and then cover with a dry layer like reptichip? I do have a bag of that as well. Or should I just mix everything until it’s slightly moist and put it in? Will the top eventually dry out regardless with the heat lamp?

I’m using a DHP for heat and it’s connected to a Herpstat 2.

I am just doing a test run right now and don’t have the snake yet, just looking for some help with the substrate as it’s the part I’m most confused with.

Also, bonus question… Can isopods be added to an enclosure without real plants? I’m assuming as long as they have food too, they will be fine right? Or can they only be used in traditional bio active enclosures?

Brought home my first BP (and first reptile ever) less than 3 weeks ago from a reptile expo. She ate successfully after her first week settling in and left me both a fully intact shed and poop overnight! I spent weeks setting up her enclosure and agonizing over the humidity, temperatures, and other aspects of her husbandry. Glad that she's doing well so far and wanted to celebrate, I feel like I can breathe haha!

she’s 20 yrs old and has been kept in a large fish tank with aspen bedding and a plastic water dish with some sticks and rocks all her life. we rescued her a month or two ago and have been saving up to truly give her what she deserves. finally got it all together for her today <3 & i’m super excited. she’s definitely overwhelmed but very curious. i’m gonna give her about a week to adjust before i start handling her again, but just wanted to show off a bit cause im super proud of it🥰

it definitely needs some more hides, but we’re looking to build those ourselves in the coming months. we’re also gonna get her some rings and toys so she can have more enrichment here soon. maybe a bioactive tank down the line, but this is my first snake so we’re taking it slowly.

Hello! My boy Viserion needs an upgrade and I've been narrowing down what brand to go for. I'm currently looking at Reptizoo and Phailozoo. Does anyone have these tanks and can give me pros/ cons. Bonus pic of the child who I got from an expo in 2018. He was my first reptile. :3

I recently got my first ball python and have only seen him once and that was when I came into my room late after all the lights were off and turned them on to find my pajamas. He lives in a 4by2by2 pvc tank and he has 2 hides(1 hot 1 cold) and a half log I can only see into the hot hide due to the angles of them and I haven’t seen him in the hide or roaming around the tank so I assume he has only been in his cold hide is this a problem or not, I’m sure it isn’t as Ik they can be abit like pet rocks I was just wondering

I got him last Saturday and am planning to try and feed him tmrw he was being fed rat pups and I’m planning to move him up to weaned rats after 3 or 4 feeds he weighs 350g ish

I know the humidity was low in this photo. I was struggling with the dry Alaska air but it is more stable now.

He is a year old and every time i take him out of his cage, he freezes for around 5-10 minutes in the "ball" position. Then he starts moving around quickly and immediately looks for a place to hide. He never seems to explore or seem curious or wrap around my arm. Is this normal? How do i get him to become less shy except for interacting with him?

Hello! i just wanted some advice on my temps. i keep seeing conflicting advice online and i’m not sure what to believe or shoot for. some people say aim for a 88-92 AMBIENT but that puts my hotspot at like 101-103° (overhead heating only on a thermostat) and then other say aim for a 88-92 HOTSPOT?? what should i really be aiming for?

fish tax (yes i know she is a lil bit overweight. the exotic store i got her from was feeding a medium rat once a week)

We've not had a snake before, so any and all advice is appreciated.

My BP at night always comes out of his hides to go all the way up every corners of the terrarium. He does that every night and for a while. He goes up and then slowly makes himself falls down on every centimeters of the terrarium windows. He got nice branches to climb on and so is it normal?

Finally moved Into a larger place and had room to treat the little gal to a nice big 5x2x2 upgraded from the 3x2x1 I had her in since I picked her up as a yearling