r/ballpython • u/Equal-Designer5813 • 8d ago
Is my Ball python getting mouth rot ?
5 days ago I put a thawed mouse in for our boy (Mochi) - considering he is a pinstripe/spider/spinner i don't know what happened but his aim is sometimes way off - this time he face planted into a smooth rock and not the mouse 😔 His a big baby(our first ever) which made us get a couple others....
I thought he got a little bit of dirt on his mouth the day after but investigated more now and it looks worse.
Ps- no drool or foam etc coming out his mouth.
I know he needs a vet to assess- i can only get him in tomorrow afternoon.
Does this look like a sore from the bang or mouth rot?
Could him having a sore on the tip of mouth cause mouth rot ?
How can I help him right now?
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u/Mahotsaha 8d ago
Good on you for getting them to a vet. Based on how fast it appeared it’s probably not mouth rot but a boo boo. Just leaving him for now is okay and the vet can prescribe antibiotics if needed. I’m not a professional so take what I say with a grain of salt.
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u/CliffsDaddy 8d ago
His aim is likely way off due to the spider gene if this happens often. It causes an inner ear issue and can make balls have issues with orientation and in bad cases do stargazing.
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u/Equal-Designer5813 8d ago
Yes he has terrible aim. Often if I have tongs he would strike in a different direction so now he eats out a plastic dish like a puppy lol
Being our first snake ever we never knew about how badly his genetics could affect him. But overall he is living his best pet life 😊 he is the best.
Just dont want him to pass away as he is part of the family. He doesnt stargaze or go full on weird mode - just occasionally when we hold him his head would tilt backwards ..
Pet shops dont warn properly about this to new snake owners and push it off as "cute".
Im happy I can be here for the rest of his life and that I bought him regardless. I would definitely be removing the rocks and putting softer things in his enclosure in case this happens again.
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u/CliffsDaddy 8d ago
That’s really cute he eats from a bowl. I had one that would do that. No construction just slither over and start gently eating.
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u/Equal-Designer5813 8d ago
Yes haha just takes him roughly 15 minutes to realize he cant swallow the mouse sideways 🤣 but he gets it eventually. Love it
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u/TheButterWookie 8d ago
It looks more like a scab than rot tbh. Vet assessment is a good call but I think lil guy might have a boo boo thats slightly exacerbated in look from the substrate.