Great video! Definitely a good reminder even for experienced keepers. A couple of the extra things I do: -Gentle pressure at the cloaca to rule out discharge -make sure the snake is moving normally, when able. Balled up or very defensive snakes make this impossible sadly -when letting them slither back into enclosures, use gentle pressure around the body to feel for anything odd. Found a small mass on my eldest that way.
Boating AND snakes?! You got me... For future reference, there are no ropes on boats, they are lines... So Kent can't call it a "Nope rope"... Better go with "fine line" to sound more nautical.
I think the only thing I would add is that if you're buying a snake from someone who feeds live prey, check for rodent bite marks. I bought a ball python from Craigslist that had a bunch of half-centimeter straight scratches along the first third of his body, and it turned out they were bites from the previous owners leaving rats unsupervised in his enclosure. He completely healed them on his next shed and it was no big deal, but they are still breaks in the skin, so I imagine they could get infected like anything else.
Sad .! I guess I just Actually care about my animals, because I would never leave a rat like that with any of my snakes. I don't usually have to worry about it, for the most part, they have their meal in just seconds, but occasionally I have to put the prey up and try again later. But anyways thanks for sharing...
Last owner of my now oldest BP only fed live for 4yrs because he swore that frozen thaw was bad for them and that the BP would not touch a F/T, 2nd day having the snake it ate a F/T the next week it didnt strike it so i left it at the entrance of hide for 10 minutes came back and the BP was eating it. So now its time for my babes to heal up. She was tore up from rats
As a snake keeper of 10 years I think the strongest tool in the tool box is just to be vigilant. Pay close attention and know what you’re looking for. I recently took my ball python to the vet because I suspected something in the realm of a respiratory infection and after a bacteria culture and everything the vet said to just keep an eye on things (as the python is literally acting normally and has no visible symptoms… only a funny way of breathing after a little while of activity). Sometimes just being vigilant is just your very best friend. Btw the Ball Python is doing pretty good and is being closely monitored for anyone who’s concerned. I’m making sure to fallow advice from the vet and so far he’s looking good all in all!
Hey Bob, I've had a few Corn, Brown House (African), Ball Python and x1 Dumerils Ground Boa snakes. I've literally raised them and donated them to various Universities that specialise in Reptiles (I rescued them, so the goal was to rehabilitate). I bought my lifelong companion, Muffin (Male Desert Ghost BP), about 6 days ago and I needed to refresh my memory on the amazing creatures! You've been so excellent, to the point I've been binge-watching your videos one after the other! I love that you don't yank your snakes out of their enclosures, move excessively with them in your hand or simply make them uncomfortable - You're there to make them happy and that makes me happy! Thank you so much for all you do (Also, a thing I do always when checking my snakes is to sniff them - They're pretty much odourless, so if you pick an unpleasant odour, you know to check it out)
That is true. I once brought a snake to the vet and told her the snake needs to be treated for RI - and she found lungworms instead. That's why a good vet is important.
Great video. I feel like I'm always checking things when opportunities arise. If my snake is climbing the glass, I'm inspecting belly scales. If she yawns, I'm inspecting her mouth. When I have her out, I'm just generally looking her over. I'm still not very comfortable working with her head and neither is she. I'll need to get better at that.
Came back to this video to thank Bob for the mouth examination tip. My lil dude was very wiggly tonight for no reasons and I found a piece of substrate in between his left row of teeth and lip. The extraction took literally less than 2 minutes and my dude is not at all stressed
I always have a good look at the underside of their chin, the folds of skin on the mandibles are another popular hangout spot for mites, especially with ball pythons.
We live in an area without a good exotic animal vet, and my dog and my horse vet said, "Nope!" to the Rope. It will be up to me to make my best guess and go from there.
I did 14 years in the navy… after that bow to stern reference, I’ll be glad to say that I just got my first python off Amazon! Should be here tomorrow morning with overnight shipping❤
Now I gotta go practice. lol. I check all of my animals over. The dogs are so over me putting my hand in their mouths (but they are puppies and they do constantly eat things). I love this. It’s just good to know in case I do have to take Hecate and Demeter to the vet.
Seriously. Thanks Bob. I was worried about Demeter since she doesn’t eat often but she’s perfectly healthy. Just doesn’t like to eat every week even though she recently did take two frozen mice within about two weeks between each feeding. I feel a lot better.
Important point about mites- they can be really small, so much that you can't actually see them! I got my ball python Julias a little less than a year ago, and he didn't eat for a long time. I checked him over for mites the first day I got him, and he looked perfectly healthy to me, at least to my first time snake owner eyes. I was hoping he just needed more time to get used to the new space, until I heard him wheezing. I took him to the vet, and she couldn't even physically see the mites either. She had to put a scotch piece of tape on his head and look at it under a microscope until she was able to see a mite. Turns out he was wheezing because they got in his lungs, and he wasn't eating because they made is mouth swollen. We had to give him 14 shots throughout the next month! He took it like a champ though, didn't hiss or try to bite me once. This video was actually really helpful, because now I'm always scared he's dying and I can't tell 😅 Moral of the story, take your snake to the vet to get checked for mites as soon as you get it, because it might not be as healthy as it looks! In hindsight this is probably a really obvious thing to do, I just wanted make sure anyone reading this who is looking into getting a snake put this on their list
thank you! the example snake you showed for body example looks a lot like mine so that was reassuring :) she's doing good, flipped water bowls and all lol
There is one very good reason to get a vet check. Especially if you live in a rural area or have a bunch of animals. It sets you up as an established client which will give you priority access to appointments and emergency visits. In the case of living in a rural area the time to look for and find a vet is when everyone is healthy. If you have a bunch of animals just pick one. Maybe one you want sexed. It doesn't matter. The point is for you to meet the vet. Take your log books or apps with you so the vet knows you are not an idiot. Pictures of setups are helpful too. This also gives you a chance to make sure the vet is not an idiot. :) Many vets are willing to do telemed visits for established clients.
I'd like to add that picking a good vet is important because it will make you less hesitant to take your pet to them. recently the vet I have always used retired and the person who took over the clinic is different. they went from having saturday hours to being closed on the weekends and if your run out of meds for your dog on friday (why is it always friday you run out of meds for your dog) you think you can just order them the next day and you can't and then the staff yells at you. also the new exotics person is so scared of getting bit that often I do the inspection while they cower in the corner. it is time for a new vet but finding them is hard.
I think you are a real vet Bob... you have a medical hat on in the thumbnail! Awesome video and great information like always. Thankful to have people like you in the hobby!
Just found ur channel last night, love you’re sciencey approach to the hobby. Looking to get my first snake at the end of the summer either a ball python or something like a hog island Boa. Also got to say we’re of wildly different generations and have different humor being a college student in 2024, but I still find my self laughing at your vids. Preciate it!
Go with the Boa. Much more interactive. Being bias I recommend a Nicaraguan dwarf boa. My 3 yr old Nic is slightly large than my Ball Python. Length not girth.
@@2l84t see that’s the thing I love the looks of the Boas more, the sharp lines and aggressive face, but I like the idea of just being able to chill for a bit with a snake (to a safe extend) hence the idea of BP.
Great video, having to get in touch with my vet due to our snake threw up last night (never happened before) and just need to make sure she’s okay, just not messing with her until the vet says to bring her in
Well just got an update they had me bump her temperature up 2 degree and want me to feed her again on Wednesday if she throws up again then antibiotics because she has an extremely minor sinus infection
Another great video packed with information that will come in handy when I adopt my first snake. Thank you so much for sharing! Codiac is such a good and tolerant boy ☺
Another great video! Thanks so much for this! Have you ever did a video on ball pythons helping with anxiety and more? Or how they are used for snake therapy. My shakes help me so much with anxiety it’s hard to explain but they help me relax and clear my mind. I feel I need them more then they need me😊
This is so true they are so relaxing to be around ! Iv been keeping snakes for only about 4 years and there’s just nothing I enjoy more than being around them ! They truly are amazing! 💕❤️💕
I feel like a pretty good way of telling if you're snake has a problem is if it doesn't eat. This doesn't mean it necessarily has a problem - and an eating ball python doesn't mean it doesn't have a problem, but they're pretty good at showing their problems through their appetite.
It's pretty tough because a ball python will go off food if they don't like the new fake plant you put in their enclosure. 90% of the time when a ball python goes off food, there's nothing physically wrong with them, but it is a good reminder to keep an eye on them... For many other species though, going off food is a real sign of a medical problem.
Hi bob great video ! I just wondered if you’ve ever come across septicaemia in snakes ? My ballpython Mr Wilson had septicaemia and his underbelly was just pure red ! He went though a couple of months of antibiotics and Anti-inflammatories and thankfully he is all better now and has made a full recovery. I was just wondering as it seems to be extremely rare as there’s not much information available about this in snakes ! 💕❤️💕
Great informative video; I loved it! I might add that one should look every day for behavioral changes. Also, I’ve videos where female pet snakes formed follicles and hd problems with this. I saw a video where a female had infertile eggs inside and got bound up.
❤This was so great! lol kinda wish this information was available when I first started keeping cz I can’t tell you how many times I thought the dirt on my snakes belly was scale rot (it at no point was 😂😅)
I've caught Dominic in a couple few yawns after he wakes up, I try 2 get a quick look when it DOES happen, but he's so0 good with everything, feeding, doesn't mind being out & about, again, he has his own room 2 do that.. all b~cuz of watching Green room All it input I have learned from BOB, & KENT (Can't forget kent) Thank you so much 4 everything, Always watching Tami.. 🐍✌️😎🐍
Love all your videos. Your humor is great, and your ability to explain every topic with such clarity is very much appreciated. Hello from Tall Tree Pythons, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
I think you covered all the bases, outside of opening her mouth, I check all of this every time I take her out. I also recommend you check if the cloaca looks bulgy at the body end and tapered at the tail end because that usually means they are ready to pee or pop and my snake has peed on me before. Not fun.
My really experienced vet (python keeper for decades himself) told me to have him examine the feces of my snakes once a year for parasites as they can be infected through prey items - even if you feed frozen thawed mice.
Girlfriend gotta rescue snake and had to get so much substrate out of his mouth cause the tank he came with is like 14 gallons…. 4 year old ball python… anddd he likes to stick his head in the dirt most likely too hot cause the tank is too small im almost done with his new tank did it all nice but i had to get like a one inch stick out of his jaw and dirt in the gums… luckily he is the sweetest ever so i was able to just hold him and get some non sharp tweezers and lift his lip and just gently get it out. Hes also got some stuck shed on his forhead and like is so …. I dont mean to be rude but man hes so chunky holy shit. His past owners fed him a boiled med rat every single week? Idk hes funny! im looking after him right now my gf is out of town and he really wanted to meet my mom he wanted to just lay on her so bad lmao it was adorble shes so scared of snakes and now wants one!
One of my ball pythons LOVES scratching his face on everything. I swore he had scale rot, a huge black spot on his face, but nope. Scabs. It fell off with his shed and some silver sulfadiazine but. It's back again because he keeps cutting his face. My vet looked at him and just went '....huh. He's just a little stupid." Worst $125 I spent in my life lol but at least he's healthy otherwise!
Love your knowledge and how in depth you go in your videos I would love to know your thoughts on the spider gene in ball pythons everyone has so much judgement towards them and I think your opinion would be better than anyone else's
Thanks for the kind words, I'm glad you're enjoying the videos! I may talk about it in the next live stream but my general thought is that they make great pets. I don't keep any spider ball pythons and I wouldn't breed them myself but I also don't judge anybody who does
I have a bel female that has a cyst on her nose similar to yours she has had it for 5 years now and my vet said the same thing let's keep a eye on it looks terrible when she is in blue and still scares me but has never gotten bigger. I also one a month soak my snakes and treat the bedding for mites
I wish this video had come a few months sooner when I was listening to my hognose crinkle *chuckles* did figure out it was a bit of stuck shed that came off in the next, but I was really worried about a respiratory infection for a little bit there.
Most vets won't look at your snake (or reptiles in general) at all! I had to drive an hour to an exotic vet to get emergency surgery done on necropsy on my baby Blue Tongue Skink's tail after she pinched it badly. It's absolutely crazy how limited most vets' knowledge is and how many of them still have phobias of reptiles! If you don't have a dog or a cat or *maybe* a rabbit, you're pretty much on your own. Wild....
Yes, snakes definitely have to go to an exotic vet. Animals are so different that just the anatomy and health of dogs and cats requires a ton of schooling which is what most vets specialize in. Anything outside of mammals requires additional schooling and that's where exotic vets come in. A dog and cat vet is definitely not qualified to diagnose or work on a snake
Great informational video, it's really helpful. Does nose bump eventually go away if they stop rubbing. Bought a BP that has a bump, hasn't gotten bigger and she eats, sheds just fine. Curious if it eventually goes away. Thanks
This video is so reassuring! Thank you Bob! I know that you would not diagnose my python, but I just wanted your point of view (or from other owners here in this community) of a behavioural/breeding issue that he is having for almost 3 weeks and lots of opinions on the internet helped. However, I am not sure it's a vet thing. My python just "jumps" (sometimes every minute, other times more rarely) like he has hiccup (that we all know it's impossible for snakes to have it), and he seems restless. Some people confirmed that it's a breeding behaviour (he's basically looking for a mate), I am not intended to breed him and he's the only snake I have. My question is: if this is normal, how long does it last? As I am a bit concerned, as it's the first time is doing this. He's a 3 year old male BEL with no other signs of issues, no wobbly head, nothing else of concern and checked him and his enclosure several times, back and forth, every time I take him out (when apparently stops jumping). Thank you for your advice :)
I feel much better about giving my sanke a personal checkup. He is 8 months old and barring any medical condition popping up, I was going to make his first appointment for around his birthday and just make that an annual thing. I've never been to this vet before as they are the only exotic vet in my area. So, taking my baby for a check up and a little social time should be either very anxiety inducing or fun and educational! I feel now like I can check him out myself if I feel there might be a problem. Getting into that mouth intimidates me a bit, but he has never struck at me. I guuess I just think jacking with his cute little mouth might piss him off??? Thanks for this video...helps settle the anxiety a bit!
Ball python wheezing from outdoor time, moving a lot and periscoping now and then, it's normal outdoor time is 15 minutes unless it shows interest in blocked hiding spots. I kept my snake out of direct sun for most of the time but allowed for some natural uv light +- 4 minutes then moved to a shaded area still on "safe/ untreated" grass. I was ready to rush my sake to the reptile vet as soon as they open in a few hours, i suspected a respiratory infection. There were no other sounds no yawning. I'm always listening for those Waring sounds. A few minutes later all sounds were gone, I decided to wait it's been weeks with normal breathing and no outdoor time. Do some of us have unfit ball pythons? it's weight looks fine I make a point not to overfeed him. 4 foot cage and has outdoor time twice a month.
Three days ago, I moved my snake to a new enclosure. I kept the thermostat on the same setting because that was what worked in the old container, and she spent the first two nights circling the cage, glass surfacing, trying (and once succeeding) to find an exit she could get through and get out. Unusual behavior for her. I lowered the thermostat by a few degrees this afternoon and she has stopped all restless activity. She's parked on the basking spot now and hasn't moved in a while (maybe I should put the temp back up a degree or two so she doesn't feel the need to find the warmest place and never leave it). Was I correct in diagnosing "help, let me out of here, it's too hot"?
Interesting...maybe she was just reacting to having a new space 🤷And my temps drop at night because that's what night does. I don't have to turn it down manually for that to happen lol
@@GreenRoomPythons Just exploring then? I do use a temp gun, and the readings are good, typically within a degree or two of the thermometer in the cage. Thermostat is (currently) set at 87
I flip my snakse on there back to see if there flip back response is good, if its lagging there might be something up with other signs too of, i listen to m , check the cloaka, check mouth here and there, look at there stool if its a weard colar or concistency i send it to my vet, check there scales think thats most of the stuff i do , also just look and observe there behavior ❤ also if i do all these things regular then when there at the vet, this stuff isnt gonna bother m as much, my 5yo snake doesnt give any shits bc she got use to it with me snince after week 1 😂
man, i love my corn but that little sucker likes to poop on me every time i handle him. its not a fear thing, he has just decided that i make a great bathroom.
@@GreenRoomPythons That's fair. It also makes sense. My dog is vaccinated for Kennel Cough, the dog equivalent of influenza, every year. Makes sense that home kept snakes are less likely to deal with something like that; they don't usually interact with snakes outside of their household. Probably also why you need to quarantine when you get a new lil noodle. Thank you so much for answering my question!
Hello I know this is off subject but I trust your opinion. If the guy I am dating has the same age small male ball and I have a young female can they stay in the same enclosure like for sleepovers when he is over my place? Or is a night or two too stressfull?
Snakes are used to their own enclosures and it stresses them out to be brought somewhere else for a length of time like that it's best that they stay home if you're going for a sleepover somewhere
Ive been watching your videos over the past year and i have had ball pythons before but i have a question concerning my 1 and a half year old ball "Athena" she has taken every meal and has had great sheds but it seems she prefers her warm side to reach around 80 and her cool side to be 75, down to 70 at night to simulate nighttime temp drops. is this temp ok? if i have it any higher she only stays on her cool side and never visits the warm hide unless it's finally time to shed or take a dump. any commenters with insight would also be helpful
I am a relatively new snake keeper but i wanted to ask feom experienced keepers i have found some scale rot ons my ball bython and i have removed the wet sphagnam moss out of the enclosure while not in shed will it go away with the next shead or is there something i should do
Why are snake butt holes called a "vent"? I think Im going to start referring to my butt hole as a "vent". Whenever I fart, Im just "venting". But seriously, why do you call them a "vent"?
It's technically called a cloaca but we call it a vent as shorthand. It's not just a butt. It's literally where everything happens on both males and females
I occasionally see anything from one pink scale, to a cluster of pink scales, on my banana pied. I have noticed the same pinking around the neck after feeding, and it always quickly fades. Does this temporary pinking just mean that area got stretched or pressured recently? I keep worrying that it's the very beginning of scale rot. I'm guessing it's not, but I haven't seen anyone ever mention it. Can anybody in the comments section enlighten me please? Maybe even yourself, Bob? TIA! :)
That's pretty common to see in the white area of snakes. You would see it in colored snakes as well but the red doesn't show up. It's generally nothing to worry about
Still giving out the best BP advice on you tube in my humble opinion, scanned the comments and I think the only thing I could add would be that albino or white snakes can look pink when going into shed and also some substrate can temporarily dye light snakes a little red too 😂😂 both of those scenarios have panicked me thinking they may have burns in the early days
Exotics vet tech and human owned by a rescued ball python here. Thought I was going to hate this video but found myself happily dead wrong. Great job.
Aw thanks so much!
He IS good, isn’t he? Always informative and with a liberal sprinkling of humor. 👍🏻
Great video! Definitely a good reminder even for experienced keepers.
A couple of the extra things I do:
-Gentle pressure at the cloaca to rule out discharge
-make sure the snake is moving normally, when able. Balled up or very defensive snakes make this impossible sadly
-when letting them slither back into enclosures, use gentle pressure around the body to feel for anything odd. Found a small mass on my eldest that way.
Gotta love the dramatic reenactments 😂
Awwww look at the tiny quick chomps on the q tip 😭😭😭
Can you imagine Kent’s absolute fear as you opened Kodak’s mouth, displaying his fangs?!?!?! Good day to be off, huh Kent?!
😅😅
@@GreenRoomPythons *Kodiak My proofreading skills are poor today
Ball pythons are especially scary. Most snakes only have 2 fangs but these guys have ROWS of them
@@sweezog Right?!?! Five to six inches long! Poor Kent.
Boating AND snakes?! You got me... For future reference, there are no ropes on boats, they are lines... So Kent can't call it a "Nope rope"... Better go with "fine line" to sound more nautical.
I think the only thing I would add is that if you're buying a snake from someone who feeds live prey, check for rodent bite marks. I bought a ball python from Craigslist that had a bunch of half-centimeter straight scratches along the first third of his body, and it turned out they were bites from the previous owners leaving rats unsupervised in his enclosure. He completely healed them on his next shed and it was no big deal, but they are still breaks in the skin, so I imagine they could get infected like anything else.
Sad .! I guess I just Actually care about my animals, because I would never leave a rat like that with any of my snakes. I don't usually have to worry about it, for the most part, they have their meal in just seconds, but occasionally I have to put the prey up and try again later. But anyways thanks for sharing...
Last owner of my now oldest BP only fed live for 4yrs because he swore that frozen thaw was bad for them and that the BP would not touch a F/T, 2nd day having the snake it ate a F/T the next week it didnt strike it so i left it at the entrance of hide for 10 minutes came back and the BP was eating it. So now its time for my babes to heal up. She was tore up from rats
@@ThatOrange5.0 so sad!
As a snake keeper of 10 years I think the strongest tool in the tool box is just to be vigilant. Pay close attention and know what you’re looking for. I recently took my ball python to the vet because I suspected something in the realm of a respiratory infection and after a bacteria culture and everything the vet said to just keep an eye on things (as the python is literally acting normally and has no visible symptoms… only a funny way of breathing after a little while of activity). Sometimes just being vigilant is just your very best friend.
Btw the Ball Python is doing pretty good and is being closely monitored for anyone who’s concerned. I’m making sure to fallow advice from the vet and so far he’s looking good all in all!
Another tutorial video from bob Im watching even though I don’t own any snakes
Aw thanks!
Same here! I figure I’ll have no problem with husbandry or health care thanks to Bob’s channel.
Got it. I shouldn't be dramatic and always look at another mans snake 😂. Nice informative vid Bob.
Hey Bob,
I've had a few Corn, Brown House (African), Ball Python and x1 Dumerils Ground Boa snakes. I've literally raised them and donated them to various Universities that specialise in Reptiles (I rescued them, so the goal was to rehabilitate).
I bought my lifelong companion, Muffin (Male Desert Ghost BP), about 6 days ago and I needed to refresh my memory on the amazing creatures! You've been so excellent, to the point I've been binge-watching your videos one after the other! I love that you don't yank your snakes out of their enclosures, move excessively with them in your hand or simply make them uncomfortable - You're there to make them happy and that makes me happy! Thank you so much for all you do (Also, a thing I do always when checking my snakes is to sniff them - They're pretty much odourless, so if you pick an unpleasant odour, you know to check it out)
Lung worm can present like a RI. It can be dormant until the snake is stressed.
That is true. I once brought a snake to the vet and told her the snake needs to be treated for RI - and she found lungworms instead. That's why a good vet is important.
Definitely good advice I can’t help but check them over every time I’ve always done that myself love my snakes
Great video. I feel like I'm always checking things when opportunities arise. If my snake is climbing the glass, I'm inspecting belly scales. If she yawns, I'm inspecting her mouth. When I have her out, I'm just generally looking her over. I'm still not very comfortable working with her head and neither is she. I'll need to get better at that.
Came back to this video to thank Bob for the mouth examination tip. My lil dude was very wiggly tonight for no reasons and I found a piece of substrate in between his left row of teeth and lip. The extraction took literally less than 2 minutes and my dude is not at all stressed
WAKE UP EVERYONE, THE GOAT (greatest of all time) UPLOADED AGAIN!!! 🗣️🗣️‼️❗
😅😅
Good information Bob. How about a video on the anatomy/physiology of my snake?
Good idea mom!
Thanks to Bob and thanks to Kodiak & The Inspector for being reasonably willing demonstration/stunt snakes.
I always have a good look at the underside of their chin, the folds of skin on the mandibles are another popular hangout spot for mites, especially with ball pythons.
We live in an area without a good exotic animal vet, and my dog and my horse vet said, "Nope!" to the Rope.
It will be up to me to make my best guess and go from there.
It was cool charing with you yesterday!
Agreed, nice meeting you!
I did 14 years in the navy… after that bow to stern reference, I’ll be glad to say that I just got my first python off Amazon! Should be here tomorrow morning with overnight shipping❤
Super funny and super helpful video as I’m getting my first ball python in a week, thanks Bob!
Now I gotta go practice. lol. I check all of my animals over. The dogs are so over me putting my hand in their mouths (but they are puppies and they do constantly eat things). I love this. It’s just good to know in case I do have to take Hecate and Demeter to the vet.
Seriously. Thanks Bob. I was worried about Demeter since she doesn’t eat often but she’s perfectly healthy. Just doesn’t like to eat every week even though she recently did take two frozen mice within about two weeks between each feeding. I feel a lot better.
I came to your channel months ago for the bp knowledge and stayed for the entertainment. “Moist” 😂 I love that you don’t avoid that word
Aw thanks!
Important point about mites- they can be really small, so much that you can't actually see them! I got my ball python Julias a little less than a year ago, and he didn't eat for a long time. I checked him over for mites the first day I got him, and he looked perfectly healthy to me, at least to my first time snake owner eyes. I was hoping he just needed more time to get used to the new space, until I heard him wheezing. I took him to the vet, and she couldn't even physically see the mites either. She had to put a scotch piece of tape on his head and look at it under a microscope until she was able to see a mite. Turns out he was wheezing because they got in his lungs, and he wasn't eating because they made is mouth swollen. We had to give him 14 shots throughout the next month! He took it like a champ though, didn't hiss or try to bite me once. This video was actually really helpful, because now I'm always scared he's dying and I can't tell 😅
Moral of the story, take your snake to the vet to get checked for mites as soon as you get it, because it might not be as healthy as it looks! In hindsight this is probably a really obvious thing to do, I just wanted make sure anyone reading this who is looking into getting a snake put this on their list
Great video! Very informative and I love your humor. You beat me to it, I was gonna comment, however, you didn't say moist discharge.....lol!
thank you! the example snake you showed for body example looks a lot like mine so that was reassuring :) she's doing good, flipped water bowls and all lol
Cool Bro ,,,, love tha brim ,,,, those hats rule '
There is one very good reason to get a vet check. Especially if you live in a rural area or have a bunch of animals. It sets you up as an established client which will give you priority access to appointments and emergency visits. In the case of living in a rural area the time to look for and find a vet is when everyone is healthy. If you have a bunch of animals just pick one. Maybe one you want sexed. It doesn't matter. The point is for you to meet the vet. Take your log books or apps with you so the vet knows you are not an idiot. Pictures of setups are helpful too. This also gives you a chance to make sure the vet is not an idiot. :) Many vets are willing to do telemed visits for established clients.
I'd like to add that picking a good vet is important because it will make you less hesitant to take your pet to them. recently the vet I have always used retired and the person who took over the clinic is different. they went from having saturday hours to being closed on the weekends and if your run out of meds for your dog on friday (why is it always friday you run out of meds for your dog) you think you can just order them the next day and you can't and then the staff yells at you. also the new exotics person is so scared of getting bit that often I do the inspection while they cower in the corner. it is time for a new vet but finding them is hard.
Rotten luck! 🙁
I think you are a real vet Bob... you have a medical hat on in the thumbnail! Awesome video and great information like always. Thankful to have people like you in the hobby!
Thanks so much! 😉
Bob is da bomb
lol I love it, “At least I’m not saying moist” I hate that word!
Awesome refresher information especially as I just had my first ever clutch that hatched :)
Congrats!
@GreenRoomPythons cheers bud :)
I came for the luxurious talk of boats, I stayed for the snakes.
Nice! It's working!!
Maaan, you’re just my favorite. Thank you.
Aw, thanks!
I’ll have to watch it later. Must be on British time today lol!
Yep, it posted 10 hours early - probably my mistake
@@GreenRoomPythons got ya! I thought you were busy. You do travel all the time!
Just found ur channel last night, love you’re sciencey approach to the hobby. Looking to get my first snake at the end of the summer either a ball python or something like a hog island Boa. Also got to say we’re of wildly different generations and have different humor being a college student in 2024, but I still find my self laughing at your vids. Preciate it!
Go with the Boa. Much more interactive. Being bias I recommend a Nicaraguan dwarf boa. My 3 yr old Nic is slightly large than my Ball Python. Length not girth.
@@2l84t see that’s the thing I love the looks of the Boas more, the sharp lines and aggressive face, but I like the idea of just being able to chill for a bit with a snake (to a safe extend) hence the idea of BP.
Great video, having to get in touch with my vet due to our snake threw up last night (never happened before) and just need to make sure she’s okay, just not messing with her until the vet says to bring her in
Well just got an update they had me bump her temperature up 2 degree and want me to feed her again on Wednesday if she throws up again then antibiotics because she has an extremely minor sinus infection
Another great video packed with information that will come in handy when I adopt my first snake. Thank you so much for sharing! Codiac is such a good and tolerant boy ☺
Another great video! Thanks so much for this! Have you ever did a video on ball pythons helping with anxiety and more? Or how they are used for snake therapy. My shakes help me so much with anxiety it’s hard to explain but they help me relax and clear my mind. I feel I need them more then they need me😊
I haven't done a specific video on it but I have talked about that a lot in the past.
This is so true they are so relaxing to be around ! Iv been keeping snakes for only about 4 years and there’s just nothing I enjoy more than being around them ! They truly are amazing! 💕❤️💕
@@SamanthaHind-tr3of ❤️❤️
I feel like a pretty good way of telling if you're snake has a problem is if it doesn't eat.
This doesn't mean it necessarily has a problem - and an eating ball python doesn't mean it doesn't have a problem, but they're pretty good at showing their problems through their appetite.
It's pretty tough because a ball python will go off food if they don't like the new fake plant you put in their enclosure. 90% of the time when a ball python goes off food, there's nothing physically wrong with them, but it is a good reminder to keep an eye on them... For many other species though, going off food is a real sign of a medical problem.
I would have named Kodiak Buttons.
Great video and information. Kodiak is so awesome looking!
Great advice Bob!
Hi bob great video ! I just wondered if you’ve ever come across septicaemia in snakes ? My ballpython Mr Wilson had septicaemia and his underbelly was just pure red ! He went though a couple of months of antibiotics and Anti-inflammatories and thankfully he is all better now and has made a full recovery. I was just wondering as it seems to be extremely rare as there’s not much information available about this in snakes ! 💕❤️💕
I haven't run into that personally but I'm glad your snake made a full recovery
Good stuff, making it look easy! Ours isn’t quite as comfortable with hands/fingers around his face but getting better with time!
I had no idea that The Inspector is a banana! He's so pale!❤
Yep, he is banana with a bunch of other genes going on
Well Kent does work hard so.. he deserves a day off 😁
Wow, a 3 am upload
I set the upload time wrong, so it went up WAY early for everybody :-)
Thanks for this video! Very useful!
Great informative video; I loved it! I might add that one should look every day for behavioral changes. Also, I’ve videos where female pet snakes formed follicles and hd problems with this. I saw a video where a female had infertile eggs inside and got bound up.
I feel cheated by RUclips. Been watching lots of herp related vids for years and never got recommended this channel till now.
Glad you found it eventually! :-)
Thx for this!
❤This was so great! lol kinda wish this information was available when I first started keeping cz I can’t tell you how many times I thought the dirt on my snakes belly was scale rot (it at no point was 😂😅)
Thanks Bob..
✌️😎
Always love ur input..
😎👍
Thanks 👍
I've caught Dominic in a couple few yawns after he wakes up, I try 2 get a quick look when it DOES happen, but he's so0 good with everything, feeding, doesn't mind being out & about, again, he has his own room 2 do that.. all b~cuz of watching
Green room
All it input I have learned from
BOB, & KENT (Can't forget kent)
Thank you so much 4 everything,
Always watching
Tami..
🐍✌️😎🐍
Love all your videos. Your humor is great, and your ability to explain every topic with such clarity is very much appreciated. Hello from Tall Tree Pythons, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Thanks so much!
Great video!
Great tips. Thanks!
Well done ✅👍
I just love your content ❤
Thank you!
I have a piebald Ball Python and looks almost identical to this one in the video mine is named Silja thanks for the knowledge and advice
I think you covered all the bases, outside of opening her mouth, I check all of this every time I take her out. I also recommend you check if the cloaca looks bulgy at the body end and tapered at the tail end because that usually means they are ready to pee or pop and my snake has peed on me before. Not fun.
love from Buffalo
I thought once that my noodle was developing mouth rot, but it turned to be just some substrate in his mouth. Uff.. 😉
My really experienced vet (python keeper for decades himself) told me to have him examine the feces of my snakes once a year for parasites as they can be infected through prey items - even if you feed frozen thawed mice.
It's pretty rare, but it definitely can happen - more commonly with live rodents. An occasional stool check is totally reasonable.
Girlfriend gotta rescue snake and had to get so much substrate out of his mouth cause the tank he came with is like 14 gallons…. 4 year old ball python… anddd he likes to stick his head in the dirt most likely too hot cause the tank is too small im almost done with his new tank did it all nice but i had to get like a one inch stick out of his jaw and dirt in the gums… luckily he is the sweetest ever so i was able to just hold him and get some non sharp tweezers and lift his lip and just gently get it out. Hes also got some stuck shed on his forhead and like is so …. I dont mean to be rude but man hes so chunky holy shit. His past owners fed him a boiled med rat every single week? Idk hes funny! im looking after him right now my gf is out of town and he really wanted to meet my mom he wanted to just lay on her so bad lmao it was adorble shes so scared of snakes and now wants one!
One of my ball pythons LOVES scratching his face on everything. I swore he had scale rot, a huge black spot on his face, but nope. Scabs. It fell off with his shed and some silver sulfadiazine but. It's back again because he keeps cutting his face. My vet looked at him and just went '....huh. He's just a little stupid." Worst $125 I spent in my life lol but at least he's healthy otherwise!
Love your knowledge and how in depth you go in your videos I would love to know your thoughts on the spider gene in ball pythons everyone has so much judgement towards them and I think your opinion would be better than anyone else's
Thanks for the kind words, I'm glad you're enjoying the videos! I may talk about it in the next live stream but my general thought is that they make great pets. I don't keep any spider ball pythons and I wouldn't breed them myself but I also don't judge anybody who does
I have a bel female that has a cyst on her nose similar to yours she has had it for 5 years now and my vet said the same thing let's keep a eye on it looks terrible when she is in blue and still scares me but has never gotten bigger. I also one a month soak my snakes and treat the bedding for mites
This goes along with the Upper Respiratory Infection, I’ve seen snakes blow bubbles out of their nostrils.
I wish this video had come a few months sooner when I was listening to my hognose crinkle *chuckles* did figure out it was a bit of stuck shed that came off in the next, but I was really worried about a respiratory infection for a little bit there.
did future bob stay up late editing?🤣😅
Future Bob did not set the video release time correctly!
Most vets won't look at your snake (or reptiles in general) at all! I had to drive an hour to an exotic vet to get emergency surgery done on necropsy on my baby Blue Tongue Skink's tail after she pinched it badly. It's absolutely crazy how limited most vets' knowledge is and how many of them still have phobias of reptiles! If you don't have a dog or a cat or *maybe* a rabbit, you're pretty much on your own. Wild....
Yes, snakes definitely have to go to an exotic vet. Animals are so different that just the anatomy and health of dogs and cats requires a ton of schooling which is what most vets specialize in. Anything outside of mammals requires additional schooling and that's where exotic vets come in. A dog and cat vet is definitely not qualified to diagnose or work on a snake
Great informational video, it's really helpful. Does nose bump eventually go away if they stop rubbing. Bought a BP that has a bump, hasn't gotten bigger and she eats, sheds just fine. Curious if it eventually goes away. Thanks
Sometimes it does, depending on what causes the bump
My bp doing great I think I found out why he was striking at me he was about to start shedding
This video is so reassuring! Thank you Bob! I know that you would not diagnose my python, but I just wanted your point of view (or from other owners here in this community) of a behavioural/breeding issue that he is having for almost 3 weeks and lots of opinions on the internet helped. However, I am not sure it's a vet thing. My python just "jumps" (sometimes every minute, other times more rarely) like he has hiccup (that we all know it's impossible for snakes to have it), and he seems restless. Some people confirmed that it's a breeding behaviour (he's basically looking for a mate), I am not intended to breed him and he's the only snake I have. My question is: if this is normal, how long does it last? As I am a bit concerned, as it's the first time is doing this. He's a 3 year old male BEL with no other signs of issues, no wobbly head, nothing else of concern and checked him and his enclosure several times, back and forth, every time I take him out (when apparently stops jumping). Thank you for your advice :)
That does not sound normal, I don't have any snakes that jump as a sign of breeding behavior. I would see a vet
@@GreenRoomPythons Thank you so much, I will do!
I feel much better about giving my sanke a personal checkup. He is 8 months old and barring any medical condition popping up, I was going to make his first appointment for around his birthday and just make that an annual thing. I've never been to this vet before as they are the only exotic vet in my area. So, taking my baby for a check up and a little social time should be either very anxiety inducing or fun and educational! I feel now like I can check him out myself if I feel there might be a problem. Getting into that mouth intimidates me a bit, but he has never struck at me. I guuess I just think jacking with his cute little mouth might piss him off??? Thanks for this video...helps settle the anxiety a bit!
How would you clean your ball pythons nose if you notice anything inside?
If it's possible to get it with a tweezer, you can do that. Otherwise, they'll eventually get it out on their own
Ball python wheezing from outdoor time, moving a lot and periscoping now and then, it's normal outdoor time is 15 minutes unless it shows interest in blocked hiding spots.
I kept my snake out of direct sun for most of the time but allowed for some natural uv light +- 4 minutes then moved to a shaded area still on "safe/ untreated" grass.
I was ready to rush my sake to the reptile vet as soon as they open in a few hours, i suspected a respiratory infection. There were no other sounds no yawning.
I'm always listening for those Waring sounds. A few minutes later all sounds were gone, I decided to wait it's been weeks with normal breathing and no outdoor time. Do some of us have unfit ball pythons? it's weight looks fine I make a point not to overfeed him. 4 foot cage and has outdoor time twice a month.
Sometimes you can hear them breathing, which can be concerning
Three days ago, I moved my snake to a new enclosure. I kept the thermostat on the same setting because that was what worked in the old container, and she spent the first two nights circling the cage, glass surfacing, trying (and once succeeding) to find an exit she could get through and get out. Unusual behavior for her. I lowered the thermostat by a few degrees this afternoon and she has stopped all restless activity. She's parked on the basking spot now and hasn't moved in a while (maybe I should put the temp back up a degree or two so she doesn't feel the need to find the warmest place and never leave it). Was I correct in diagnosing "help, let me out of here, it's too hot"?
Interesting...maybe she was just reacting to having a new space 🤷And my temps drop at night because that's what night does. I don't have to turn it down manually for that to happen lol
Make sure you're using a temp gun, but that is normal behavior for a snake that's in a new enclosure. It's not usually heat related
@@GreenRoomPythons Just exploring then? I do use a temp gun, and the readings are good, typically within a degree or two of the thermometer in the cage. Thermostat is (currently) set at 87
I flip my snakse on there back to see if there flip back response is good, if its lagging there might be something up with other signs too of, i listen to m , check the cloaka, check mouth here and there, look at there stool if its a weard colar or concistency i send it to my vet, check there scales think thats most of the stuff i do , also just look and observe there behavior ❤ also if i do all these things regular then when there at the vet, this stuff isnt gonna bother m as much, my 5yo snake doesnt give any shits bc she got use to it with me snince after week 1 😂
man, i love my corn but that little sucker likes to poop on me every time i handle him.
its not a fear thing, he has just decided that i make a great bathroom.
Would Kent enjoy a snake that ears other snakes? If so I have some colubrid propaganda to share him
I have a western hognose and he has keeled scales. Will parasites be visible still as lumps on the body scales?
Yep, but those type of parasites aren't super common
I usually check to make sure they are not stopped up with poo by running my fingers along their belly
What should a yearling weigh roughly
You used a number of anatomically correct terms so definitions?
Are there vaccines for snakes?
Like how dogs need yearly or bi yearly ones
Not that I know of
@@GreenRoomPythons That's fair. It also makes sense.
My dog is vaccinated for Kennel Cough, the dog equivalent of influenza, every year. Makes sense that home kept snakes are less likely to deal with something like that; they don't usually interact with snakes outside of their household. Probably also why you need to quarantine when you get a new lil noodle.
Thank you so much for answering my question!
Bob, my snake is showing symptoms of being too cute.. what should I do?
😅😉
Hello I know this is off subject but I trust your opinion. If the guy I am dating has the same age small male ball and I have a young female can they stay in the same enclosure like for sleepovers when he is over my place? Or is a night or two too stressfull?
Snakes are used to their own enclosures and it stresses them out to be brought somewhere else for a length of time like that it's best that they stay home if you're going for a sleepover somewhere
Ive been watching your videos over the past year and i have had ball pythons before but i have a question concerning my 1 and a half year old ball "Athena" she has taken every meal and has had great sheds but it seems she prefers her warm side to reach around 80 and her cool side to be 75, down to 70 at night to simulate nighttime temp drops. is this temp ok? if i have it any higher she only stays on her cool side and never visits the warm hide unless it's finally time to shed or take a dump. any commenters with insight would also be helpful
I would keep her warm side hide around 87° at a minimum. She may not use it very often but if she needs the warmer climate, she has it available
what morph is the inspector exactly?
Hes Banana orange dream super enchi Firefly
I am a relatively new snake keeper but i wanted to ask feom experienced keepers i have found some scale rot ons my ball bython and i have removed the wet sphagnam moss out of the enclosure while not in shed will it go away with the next shead or is there something i should do
If it looks significant a vet will give you some stuff to put on it
@@GreenRoomPythons thanks bob it very little was just hoping it goes away
Why are snake butt holes called a "vent"? I think Im going to start referring to my butt hole as a "vent". Whenever I fart, Im just "venting".
But seriously, why do you call them a "vent"?
It's technically called a cloaca but we call it a vent as shorthand. It's not just a butt. It's literally where everything happens on both males and females
I occasionally see anything from one pink scale, to a cluster of pink scales, on my banana pied. I have noticed the same pinking around the neck after feeding, and it always quickly fades. Does this temporary pinking just mean that area got stretched or pressured recently? I keep worrying that it's the very beginning of scale rot. I'm guessing it's not, but I haven't seen anyone ever mention it. Can anybody in the comments section enlighten me please? Maybe even yourself, Bob? TIA! :)
That's pretty common to see in the white area of snakes. You would see it in colored snakes as well but the red doesn't show up. It's generally nothing to worry about
And then you did…😂
Help! Lol pretty sure my BP just asexually reproduced
Still giving out the best BP advice on you tube in my humble opinion,
scanned the comments and I think the only thing I could add would be that albino or white snakes can look pink when going into shed and also some substrate can temporarily dye light snakes a little red too 😂😂
both of those scenarios have panicked me thinking they may have burns in the early days
That's a good point!