My ball python soaks in its water bowl a lot. Is this normal?

Thanks for reaching out about Diablo. As long as still eating, defecating and acting normal, there is minimal concerns. Is he hanging out in the water bowl? This could be an indication of a parasitic enteritis. If still worried, a veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic plan. Good luck.

I am sorry for the loss of your snakes. Ideally, Ivory should be physically examined by your veterinarian or an experienced herp vet, especially in light of your recent losses. The spots could indicate infection (bacterial, fungal or even a viral condition). It is difficult to make a detrmination by looking at an image. In the meantime, clean and sanitize all the enclosures, bowls, hides and tank furniture. Discard anything that cannot be sanitized. Wash your hands thoroughly between handling each snake. Confirm, again if necessary, proper environmental parameters. Low temps can lead to stress which may predispose a snake to infection or illness. High humidity can foster bacterial or fungal overgrowth. Consider using paper towels as substrate until the issue is resolved. Change them daily to maintain clean conditions.

A month is a pretty long time for a snake to go without eating, although not unheard of . I would make sure that the temperature and the humidity in the cage is appropriate, and I would consider soaking him in warm water once or twice a day for about 10 minutes. Hopefully this will help him have a fast and uncomplicated shed. If he does not eat after the shed, then I would encourage you to have him evaluated by your veterinarian. Monitor for signs of respiratory problems such as open mouth breathing, loud breathing, discharge from the mouth or nostrils, or red/inflammed oral tissue. If you should notice any of these clinical signs then he should be seen immediately. Best of luck and Thank you for using Pet Coach.

Once he acclimates to his new home, he may become more active. Ball pythons are mostly nocturnal also, so if the room is bright he may seek dark spots and come out at dusk or overnight. Keep a large bowl of water in the tank. A deep layer of porous substrate may hold moisture longer. You can even add some moss. Use a hygrometer to monitor humidity. If it's too high, you can predispose your python to respiratory infection.

Periscoping is normal. Most snakes do it when hungry or if curious or I in an object. "Stargazing" (staring straight up, nose pointed upwards) is of concern and may indicate serious viral infection. The lost scales may have been due to low humidity during her latest shed. You can gently clean the spot with dilute Betadine solution or chlorhexidine. A thin film of triple antibiotic ointment can be used if indicated. She should heal up fine. If it does heal or begins to spread, have her examined by your herp veterinarian.

Thanks for reaching out about Natas and including photos. This could be something as simple as dry skin, so application of an olive oil once every few days might help return the skin integrity to normal. Remove any substrate that could adhere the lesion. A veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. A fungal or bacterial dermatitis, nutritional deficiencies, and other problems are still possible. Good luck.

This is not normal behavior for a snake and may be neurological in nature. Have Checkers examined by your veterinarian or an experienced herp veterinarian. Bathing or soaking would not be recommended until the condition is diagnosed and/or treated as turning over in the water increases the risk of drowning or aspirating water.

Snakes will regurgitate or vomit when handled roughly too soo after eating or drinking, when stressed, ill or if ambient temperature is low. Just one episode is no cause for concern. If it continues, have her examined by your veterinarian or an experienced herp vet. In the meantime, confirm proper temperatures and survey the area in and around the enclosure for negative stimuli. Reduce or eliminate any negative stimuli.

He's very handsome! Some pythons will have an iridescence which is normal and no cause for concern. The gray/blue hue may simply be a color morph expressing itself and also no cause for concern. As long as he is behaving normally otherwise, just enjoy him.

Any new pet should be examined by a veterinarian within 72 hours of arriving home to confirm good health or to treat any preexisting conditions. If she is having difficulty breathing, she should be seen sooner rather than later in case she has or is developing a respiratory infection. Monitor for lethargy or discharge from the nose or mouth. Increase humidity or soak in warm water to facilitate shedding. You can also use commercial shed sprays that can be purchased online or in most pet stores. Follow this link for more information regarding care of ball pythons: http://www.anapsid.org/ball.html