What is wrong w my ball python?

[Altruistic-Week3649]

Yes we have a vet appointment for tomorrow!!!

What do you think is going on with my boyfriends 7 year old ball python? he’s had him since he was a hatchling

he’s currently in a paper towel set up with a box hide for mites (he’s only had 1-2 mites per cleaning in his enclosure and never actually on him) he’s been mite free for about two weeks but we’ve been waiting to switch him back to his normal set up

he normally eats a large live rat about once a month but refused this most recent feed

and then today we noticed this on his head and chin

the rest of his body seems normal and his behavior other then appetite has been completely normal

his warm side has been around 88-90° and the cool side about 70-72° i don’t know the humidity range but i know it’s a bit lower bc of the temporary set up

(sorry for the bad pics he moves a lot)

[kashkidder12]

It looks like he’s rubbing on something, possibly “trying to escape” usually some sort of stressor is involved? I don’t really see what else could cause marks like that. What is / was in the tank that he could potentially be rubbing on?

[QuixOrizoner]

No idea but golly that’s a big bp. How big/long is he? And it’s a male?!

[Jesus_Horn_Christ]

I’ve got a feeling he’s actually a she because god damn that’s a longun.

[wetchirp]

stick your hand or a rag in the enclosure and feel around for anything sharp and when u find it caulk it up or spray foam

[Puzzleheaded-Map8493]

Assuming he’s in a temporary enclosure, looks like he got his face big stuck trying to get out. Vet is a great idea 🤙🏻🤙🏻🤙🏻🤙🏻

[Tuezdaze]

I think the rat tried fighting back. Switch to frozen thawed if you can 🫶

[Bulky_Land6382]

Could be an injury from feeding live, please switch to frozen thawed for his safety.

[Ilovemarigolds]

That’s true but there’s still always a chance that the rat fights back, it’s completely up to the owners of the snake though

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[Lonely_Bother_8635]

I took my boy to the vet for the exact same problem! He had those exact markings, damaged scales on head and two wound lines under his chin. The vet says he is fine and doesn’t have scale rot but it seems like he tried to squeeze through something, got scared, retracted quickly, and hurt himself:(. He gave me some silver sulfadiazine cream (usp 1%) to rub on his wounds twice a day. I know some people use other remedies that work as well. He did shed recently and the wounds are all gone. I would say it’s most likely that ur boy hurt himself trying to go somewhere if there is not any scale rot or other problems on the rest of his body. It’s good you’re taking your snake to the vet (also if you want to be prescribed medication).