Hi: I'm new to the sight and new to Ball Pythons. My snake is still young, only eats fuzzies, and is about 1 1/2 ft. long. When it is holding still with it's head held slightly above the substrate it shakes a little. Is this normal? I have had it 2 weeks and fed it twice. I have not found any scat in its tank and am also wondering if it could be constipated. It has had fresh water 24-7 since I've gotten it. Change or fill the water every other night. I tried a search query to see if this has been asked already but did not find any previous post.

Thanks in advance

dwebb64

I've never seen any of my snakes shake. How are your temps ?

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Ken
"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don't have that problem." -- Ronald Reagan

The temp on the side with the heat lamp is right close to 90 degrees and the cave is on the opposite side.

Is it a slow side to side sort of swaying or is it a rapid shaking like we would do when cold?
Snakes don't go everyday like mammals and birds do. They only deficate according to how much they are eating.
How often are you feeding? A fuzzy is a bit small for a snake of that size and the underfeeding is why it is taking so long to need to "go".

You should be feeding a prey about the size of the snakes body at its widest part. Don't worry that the head is so small. They can do it. Your snake can probably be taking a small adult mouse.

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

The shake is kind of like some people get thats a shaking disorder except it's not severe and not all the time. I purchased it (named it "Cocoa" by the way) on the 19th with a 15 day return policy.

I was trying to follow the feeding advice of the store where I got it but perhaps I mis-understood the size of mouse.

The scat issue seems to have taken care of itself. I noticed it had finally gone just after I asked the question. It looked like part of the dark brown synthetic climbing limb in the tank so it blended in.

Cocoa is still acting quite shy peeking it's head out of the dome shaped cave and withdrawing it's head whenever anyone approaches. Maybe it has something to do with the shaking. I noticed the shaking once while holding it and another time while it was holding it's head outside the cave while I watched from a distance.

I've been handling it most every day since I bought it until a few days ago when I read that too much handling could result in refusing food. It took a lot of coaxing to get Cocoa to eat this last Sunday and the previous feeding was the previous Sunday. I had no problems feeding it the first time a week ago. As soon as Cocoa noticed the fuzzy on the first Sunday she lunged at it. This last Sunday I kept dangling it in front of her for what seemed half and hour. It wasn't until I held the mouse in my hand and brought it up to body temp that she (I'm guessing it's a she) finally attacked it. I'm feeding frozen mice just starting to grow hair. I'll probably take your advice and move on to larger mice.

Anyway probably too much info but if it turns out that there is something seriously wrong because of the shaking I should take her back to the pet store before my 15 days are up.

dwebb64

So its not a shake like its getting ready to strike? If not, then I think he needs a vet visit. Shaking like what you described is not normal.

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MARSHA
A man without a woman is a bachelor, A woman without a man is a genius!.

We have enough youth, how about a fountain of smart!

You should always give a new snake a week to settle in. No handling, and only disturbing the tank if necessary to refill water or remove scat.

Also holding the mouse in your hand to warm it up is not the best idea. Unless you are using really long tongs to feed with the snake may sense the heat of your hand, combined with the smell of the rodent and hit your hand in a feeding strike. Meaning it will bite an not let go!

Ball pythons are shy snakes anyway, so the peeking out and withdrawing back into hiding is normal. However, the shaking you describe is not. This could be the sign of some sort of neurological disorder. You can either take it to the vet and have a battery of tests done which, depending on what the problem is, may or may not bring about a cure.
Or you can return it to the petshop.

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

Thank you for all of your help.

I think I'll make a trip back to the pet store with it and explain what I've been noticing. I really like Cocoa but I'll probably end up exchanging her for another Ball Python rather than take the risk of having to deal with potentially serious health problems over time. That's not an experience I'm looking for in my first snake.

dwebb64

Keep us posted...

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MARSHA
A man without a woman is a bachelor, A woman without a man is a genius!.

We have enough youth, how about a fountain of smart!

Can't say that I blame you!
Many first time keepers get soured to the reptile keeping experience just because the animals that they got were not healthy in the first place!

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!