Why is my Spider Ball Python stargazing and hiding in his hot hide?

Thanks for reaching out about Diablo. As long as still eating, defecating and acting normal, there is minimal concerns. Is he hanging out in the water bowl? This could be an indication of a parasitic enteritis. If still worried, a veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic plan. Good luck.

Once he acclimates to his new home, he may become more active. Ball pythons are mostly nocturnal also, so if the room is bright he may seek dark spots and come out at dusk or overnight. Keep a large bowl of water in the tank. A deep layer of porous substrate may hold moisture longer. You can even add some moss. Use a hygrometer to monitor humidity. If it's too high, you can predispose your python to respiratory infection.

Periscoping is normal. Most snakes do it when hungry or if curious or I in an object. "Stargazing" (staring straight up, nose pointed upwards) is of concern and may indicate serious viral infection. The lost scales may have been due to low humidity during her latest shed. You can gently clean the spot with dilute Betadine solution or chlorhexidine. A thin film of triple antibiotic ointment can be used if indicated. She should heal up fine. If it does heal or begins to spread, have her examined by your herp veterinarian.

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.

Ball pythons are typical not very aggressive unless it is a female protecting her eggs. Also, juveniles can be a bit mouthy but they typically outgrow it with regular handling and as they mature. Reedus may be stressed. Survey the area in and around the enclosure for any negative stimuli. This may include loud noises, strong vibrations, bright lights or high traffic. Reduce or eliminate any if found. Provide a hide on each side of the enclosure. If Reedus will allow, handle him/her for ever increasing periods of time. You can place a small article of your clothing in the enclosure to get him/her used to your scent. If the behavior persists, consider an exam with your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles to diagnose illness or injury. Either can cause a sudden change in behavior.

Check her mouth for foreign bodies, injury or infection if she allows. Monitor for persistent or worsening symptoms and have her examined by your vet or a vet experienced in treating reptiles if necessary. If she is behaving and eating normally otherwise, it may be simply something unique she does.

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.