My ball python died. What caused the black spot on its belly?

If there is discharge, this may mean infection. Have Butters examined by an experienced herp veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment. It may indeed be advanced scale rot or a burn. You can request a consultation to share images. It may also be a bad shed if Butters has shed recently. Until he sees the vet, keep him on paper towels or other substrate that is easily cleaned and won't contaminate or stick to his abdomen. If you have a heat rock or UTH, check the rheostat to make sure it is still functioning.

So sorry to hear this happened. I hate to say it but often times snakes just die for no reason at all. Sometimes these animals are weak genetically or they had pneumonia and that caused them to be weak. It is not always outwardly obvious when they are sick. If you want to know what happened get a necropsy (autopsy) done and request that the vet send tissue samples off to a pathologist. This might be costly, but if you want results that's the way to do it. Otherwise we are only speculating. Here are some common differentials for why a snake would die suddenly: 1. Parasites (internal) 2. Dehydration/kidney failure 3. Heat disease 4. Vitamin/mineral deficiency 5. Stress 6. Viral disease With the head wobble he may have had Stargazing syndrome which is not a disease in and of itself, but is a symptom of other disorders, the most important of which is a viral infection of boa constrictors and pythons called inclusion body disease. If I had to venture a guess I would say that he likely had inclusion body disease. Again, without some testing we likely won't know for sure. Hope this helps. Again, so sorry this happened.

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.

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.

Thanks for reaching out about your ball python. Seems like your husbandry is good. Intestinal parasites are common in snakes, more prominent in recent acquisitions. A fecal examination by a veterinarian is probably the first idea. Metabolic disorders or systemic infections are other possibilities. Good luck.

Possibilities include infection, parasites, burns or trauma (from a fall or bedding). Changing out the bedding was a smart move. Take it a step further and remove all cage furniture in case Erebus is climbing then falling. Confirm proper temperature and if you have a heat rock, remove it immediately. An exam with your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles would be recommended to diagnose illness or injury.

Unfortunately, not eating is a very non-specific clinical sign. While one snake passed away, this does not necessarily suggest that the other two are ill or not ill. If you have any other reasons to think they are ill, I would suggest you have them examined by a veterinarian in person who is experienced with reptiles, snakes in particular. They will be able to assess them for any evidence of metabolic disease, skin issues, digestive problems, and any thing else that is obviously wrong. For a more in depth analysis, they would have to obtain some blood work to assess the organ function. Hope this helps.