I think my stimsons python is sick!!!!

[bundy07]

Hey guys thought i'd put a post on here coz im goin mental with the thought that me mates sick, I've had me stimi for bout 3 yrs now and just recently hes just been hiding in his hide not coming out at all, I put it down to him shedding as he hasnt shed in awhile but i looked at him yesterday and he just seems off, like he is very slow and his movements arent fluid there sometimes jerky just dont know if im being over worried for nothing or maybe he is sick!!

 

[syeph8]

when was the last time he shed? is he eating? how often? what temps are you keeping him at? are you using a thermometer to measure temps?

sounds to me like he might be going through a long shed. but hard to tell without more precise information

 

[bundy07]

he hasnt been eating latley but I just thought he was going through his normal winter mood, as far as i know the temp where his light is is around 30 degrees but dont have a thermometer near his hide, I have been told today that i should have a heat mat under his hide as he might just be cold, but ive never had a problem. as for his last shed i couldnt give u an exact date i know its been awhile and he is prob due thats my bad i should keep track but like i said ive never had any probs with him till now, but i could be over reacting.

 

[syeph8]

i think you probably are at this point, might want to turn the temp up very slightly to 32 degrees at the hottest point, it sounds like he is just going into shed. spray his enclosure once a day. you may have missed the cloudy eye stage if you havnt been looking at him everyday. i would not be suprised if he sheds very soon by the sound of it. you dont need a heat mat under his hide. i suggest getting a thermometer and checking the temps properly and putting the hide under the heat lamp if you are worried, put another hide at the cool end if you want as well. i personally set up my enclosures with just one hide at the hot end and water bowl at the cool end and they have never had any troubles figuring out where they want to be. the change in behavior sounds very much like pre-shed jitters and you should leave him alone until he sheds. is there any way you can get a photo of him up here?

 

[bundy07]

Thanx for the info mate i will try to get a pic of him when i get home from work

 

[FAY]

bundy, best to get him checked out by a vet. Just to be on the safe side.

 

[bundy07]

heres the pic its not the best but hope it helps and yes im thinking of taking him to vet in couple of days just to be safe

 

[syeph8]

id never recommend not taking an animal to the vet if you are worried. This does sound exactly like one of my jungles who takes forever to shed, his eyes only occasionally go cloudy and i dont see him out sometimes for weeks because he's hiding all day and night. make sure you are spraying the enclosure too.
send me a message and let me know how it went at the vets (if you end up going) Id be interested to know the outcome.

 

[The_Dreaded_Pets]

instead of spraying i like to keep a water bowl on the hot side near the heatlamp to help with humidity all round and havn't had any shed problems tust something else to think about

 

[pythons73]

heres the pic its not the best but hope it helps and yes im thinking of taking him to vet in couple of days just to be safe

In a few days it may be too late....Generally by the time you realise there sick,its usually too late...

 

[bundy07]

Hey guys thanx for all your imput, bundy shed yesterday what a relief !I think I was looking into it too much and prolly should have listened to me wife as she was not worried at all! His shed is complete so i think all is well although he is still just sitting in his hide coiled up tight, is this normal after a shed and once again thanx for the info!

 

[pythons73]

Perfectly normal Bundy,you could also try feeding it now...I feed mine the same day or next day...which they cant wait..

 

[bundy07]

awsome will have to keep track of these things, should have from the start as this prolly would never ave happened thanx.

 

[CML88]

Hi

My Stimson doing EXACTLY the same thing, and im going nuts in trying to figure out whats wrong. I put it down to maybe the start of summer? but hes still doing it. Its been going on for about 2months now, he use to come out at night and explore and hide by day. now..he just hides 24 hours and doesint come out, i put it down to maybe a shed? but he shed Saturday just gone and straight away went into his other hide and didint come out. He fed alright Sunday night but then went straight back in and i havent seen him out since. Temps are about high 28ish in th ewarm end and about 25/26ish in the cold end. His Shed was perfect it was a one peice all in tact

 

[bundy07]

maybe its a perth thing mate!

 

[syeph8]

Hi

My Stimson doing EXACTLY the same thing, and im going nuts in trying to figure out whats wrong. I put it down to maybe the start of summer? but hes still doing it. Its been going on for about 2months now, he use to come out at night and explore and hide by day. now..he just hides 24 hours and doesint come out, i put it down to maybe a shed? but he shed Saturday just gone and straight away went into his other hide and didint come out. He fed alright Sunday night but then went straight back in and i havent seen him out since. Temps are about high 28ish in th ewarm end and about 25/26ish in the cold end. His Shed was perfect it was a one peice all in tact

temps should be a bit higher in your warm end, its not uncommon for a snake to hide to digest its food. if you raise the temps a little more in the hot end (id say to around 32) then you may notice him out and about a bit more between feeds.

you could even increase the temp to 35 on the warm side so long as you still have a cool side and this way he can thermoregulate at any temp he feels inclined to.

 

[MissVampz]

My Stimsons hides nearly all the time and I've never worried about it because he's healthy, eats well, has only shed once with me and it was complete. He's just shy I think.