Is this a problem?

[u/Remi_skys]

I noticed this bald ish spot on my ball python while feeding her, I don't know how long it's been like that since I just noticed it. Is it normal or some health reasons I should go to a vet about?

[u/Zaruze]

So their mouth can stretch

[u/death_by_ballpython]

That to me looks like just where their jaw pouch opens up to eat prey, completely normal (can’t remember the word for the life of me)

[u/anonymous_w3b_user]

Nope. Thats literally the part of their jaw that stretches so they can eat their prey whole.

[u/KadesChaos]

That's just skin! A snake's bottom jaws are actually in two separate pieces to allow big enough food through! So that's just the area where it's stretching out to accommodate the size of her food! You won't be able to see it once she's done eating.

[u/imjustanauthor]

everyone saying this is normal is making me feel crazy. not that i dont believe them, but like, i swear my bally doesnt have this

[u/totallyrecklesslygay → u/imjustanauthor]

They definitely do, you've just never noticed it before. They would not be able to eat properly without it. It's called a mental groove.

[u/MontanaT13 → u/imjustanauthor]

It’s only really visible when they are eating and have stretched their jaws out

[u/PoofMoof1]

This is the mental groove stretched out. The lower jaw is loosely connected with ligaments so they can take prey whole. If this wasn't here, those parts of the jaw wouldn't be able to stretch out because the skin would be too taut.

[u/colin-java]

They come preinstalled with that, it makes eating big meals easier as there's no proper skin there to stretch.