Health — Illness, Parasites, and the Vet

Reptiles hide illness. By the time a problem is visible from across the room, it has often been developing for a while. Learn the early signs.

Signs of a healthy ball python

• Clear eyes, no swelling around the head, no retained eye caps after a shed.
• Clean nostrils, no bubbling, no mucus, no whistling sound when breathing.
• Good muscle tone. The animal should feel firm and substantial, not soft or hollow.
• Body shape is rounded and slightly oval in cross-section. Triangular cross-section (visible spine, flat sides) means underweight.
• Tongue flicking and head movement when alert.
• Clean vent (no smearing, no swelling).
• Smooth, complete sheds in one or two pieces.
• Stable weight in adults, steady gain in juveniles.
• Reasonable feeding response when not in seasonal fast or shed.

Common illnesses — early signs and prevention

Respiratory infection (RI)

• Early signs: faint clicking or whistling on exhale, occasional bubbles at the nostrils, slightly open mouth at rest, increased time spent at the warm hide.
• Late signs: visible mucus, wheezing, mouth held open, head held elevated, lethargy.
• Prevention: correct temperatures (the single biggest factor — cool side too cool is the most common cause), clean enclosure, low stress, full quarantine on new animals.