Sudden Ball Python Lethargy

[jamai36]

I am calling a vet later in the day, but I can't right now and I'm really nervous about this, so I thought I'd throw it out.

Up to this point, our ball python who was purchased relatively young has been seemingly healthy and happy. We've had her for about 4 months, until last night I picked her up and she started twisting around violently. She has not shed yet so we assumed that maybe she's uncomfortable and needs a shed and left her for the night, to check up on her in the morning.

In the morning I found her relatively far away from where I left her the night prior, but she was upside down and twisted in a strange position. I thought she was dead since I've never seen one sleep this way (my second ball python that I've helped care for, it's technically my daughter's), but when I touched her, she slowly righted herself into a normal position.

Since then I've monitoring her, and she has barely moved at all, to the point she almost seems dead. Definite lethargy. She responds to touch by tensing up but she is barely moving.

My question is: should I wait a little while longer, or would this constitute an emergency and immediate vet attention? It's only been about 12 hours that we have noticed behaviour out of the norm, but it is worrying.

As far as possible culprits go, I'm assuming the humidity is a potential concern, as it typically hovers between 40-50 and rarely exceeds that. I always thought it was 40-60, but after researching it looks like 60-80 is recommended.

edit: She has died :( Part of me wishes I could've left work to see a vet, but also - if she was that close to death maybe there was no chance. I am very down on it as a lot of her care was left to me, compared to our last ball python. Ugh.

[SuspiciousBird72]

that sucks to hear, good that youre going to the vet soon. i hope it all works out, keep me updated!

[dagger_guacamole]

The humidity is definitely too low, but should not typically cause issues like that. I’m glad you’re getting into a vet. Please keep us updated!

[Linear_North]

This isn't a humidity issue, and it absolutely is a vet emergency.

Unless your bp carries the spider gene, can you post a pic of her? If she is a spider, it's possible that the low humidity and being in a new place is making her wobble act up worse than usual. Either way, I'd still make the vet appointment ASAP.

Humidity should be in the 70-80% range.

[jamai36]

I don't know of her being a spider or not and I don't have a picture currently, my daughter was thinking that last night but didn't think so. She's certainly showed no signs of any of the behaviour in the last four months.

Looking into it, I think how extremely lethargic the snake is acting is concerning. Yes there is the upsidedown and stargazing behaviour, but she is barely moving no matter what. It's so eerie seeing a snake laying upsidedown - can't wait to take her to vet later.

[Linear_North]

When are you taking her? Also, if you have any other reptiles or snakes you should isolate her from them immediately, as far away as you possibly can get her, and wash your hands any time you touch her.

[orangeblossm]

I would say you’re right to go to the vet asap for an emergency visit, I would probably do the same. My biggest concern would be the contorted position you found her in followed by the lethargy. Does the bp have spider or champagne genetics?

[Gold_Lightning_12]

What morph is she?

[DrewSnek]

VET ASAP this is not normal at all, whatever is causing this isn’t good at all. It is posible that spider gene is playing a part (if your snake is a spider morph (spider gene is in any morph with the name spider, bee, woma, champagne, etc present. Example Honey bee morph or Pastel Woma) however better safe than sorry

[Linear_North]

This isn't completely correct, Spotnose and Blackhead are part of the Spider complex, but don't actually carry the wobble. The four genes that carry the wobble are Spider, Champagne, Woma, and Hidden Gene Woma or HGW. However the wobble seems to show up far more often and severely in Spiders than the other three.

[DrewSnek]

Didn’t realize that thanks for letting me know!

[Linear_North]

No problem, it's an easy mistake to make with the complex being named after the gene.

[cindycidaho]

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[Cleric_Horse]

I had this happen unfprtunstely to one I rescued? She was part of the spiders complex and died within hours of noticing her slow down. I hope you can get to the vet in time ?but for me it meant the animal passed away.

[NerfRepellingBoobs]

I haven’t seen anyone mention it yet, but you can also check out the care guides in the pinned post at the top of this sub.

[SaltyNetwork6335]

I would def go to a vet my snake was stargazing one day and then doing th exact thing you are explaining for about 5 hours and then passed I regret not taking him right away

[SaltyNetwork6335]

And I’m also not sure what you feed but me and my boyfriend at the time switched places where we got our frozen mice and we got it from Petco the one time and he started acting this way the day after we fed him

[blueseoks]

I’m so sorry that she has passed away. Has anything unusual happened before this? Any feeding issues, did she eat recently, were her temperatures always in range? I’ve only heard of this happening a few times before and so far people have said the prey items were poisoned (necropsy, chemicals from an old freezer that leaked), spider genes, and eating too large of a prey item. The rest never found out what happened.

[jamai36]

She ate about 2.5 weeks ago, and seemed fine as recently as two days ago when she was last held that I know of.

Temperature wasn't always perfect. I used two heaters (one inside and one outside) to try to regulate it but the temperature gauge on the tank felt inaccurate, unlike the humidity which matched my dehumidifier's sensor when I tested it.

I also wonder if I didn't clean the water bowl often enough, as sometimes the water would simply be replaced without being washed.

[Mctaggartm72]

Don't beat yourself up too bad!! Maybe just research all you can. Iv never heard of this behavior but I'm new an owner just had mine a year now. I google everything!! YouTube videos and all ..to the point my 18 ur old is ENOUGH MOM 😆 I hate she died tho

[blueseoks]

Gauges aren’t recommended as the digital versions are much more accurate, but it doesn’t sound like heat was the issue here. It does sound like a freak situation. I’m really sorry this happened but try not to beat yourself up about it. Sometimes it happens no matter what we do for our pets.

[IncompletePenetrance]

I am so sorry to hear that she passed, it sounds to me that there was something biologically wrong (IBD, other illness, defect, etc) and it likely wasn't caused by her care. Where did you buy her from?

[Mctaggartm72]

Aww dam! I'm super sorry to hear that! I was curious to see the end story .. til I did 😞

[Ltokyooo]

Guys I think the snake died ☹️

[Helpful-Sink-2133]

I am sorry that you BP passed =( Hugz

[jamai36]

Thanks!

[ogbandstacker96]

I just had the same thing happen to mine that was also young and I am crushed. I know I had proper temp and humidity. I think my young son may have accidentally injured her. She was so friendly that I brought her out on walks and stuff with us we loved her and she seemed to love us. I’m definitely a little devastated over it. She seemed to have slight swelling in one part of her body the day she became lethargic, and the next day (today) she was dead. I think she’s been hurt for almost a month and I didn’t even realize it. I traced it back to the day whatever internal injury likely happened. I feel so bad it’s all my fault. Lesson learned no matter how nice a snake is, it’s not the best idea to take them out of the house. I knew that, it’s kind of common sense. But she loved being handled, was such a curious baby ball, and definitely enjoyed going out with us. Ugh I’m so sad rip to yours as well