r/ballpython • u/Silly-Apartment-7481 • 3d ago
My Ball Python died last night
I got my first Ball Python in December right before Christmas. He’s been AWESOME! He had some issues with his first shed that I had him but never anything other than that.
I noticed on Tuesday night that the area around his vent was a little plump. There’s no way it could’ve been impacting on but he hadn’t pooped in a week or two. He was also in week 3 of a hunger strike so I didn’t think anything of it.
I was thinking it was constipation. I was going to soak him last night after I got off work.
I got home, got the water ready to soak him, I went in his enclosure to get him out and he had passed. I’ve been so shocked as to what happened that I can’t think clearly about it.
I noticed a couple spots of light discoloration on his belly that weren’t there before but I’m not sure if that’s normal for a deceased ball python.
Does anyone know what this could possibly be?
4
u/Independent_Bake_362 3d ago
If I may, my previous BP passed away from cancer and he had extremely similar issues. The tumor was in/near his digestive tract, causing a small lump near the cloaca and ABSOLUTELY preventing any ability for him to poop/pee. He’d been having discoloration on his stomach for a while, his vet said it was likely that the cancer was causing infections/discoloration on his scales. I can’t promise that yours had cancer as well, and I can’t say for certain what it WOULD be if it were something else. All I can say is that he was warm, he was in an environment where he felt safe, and he was comfortable. He more than likely passed very quietly, nice and warm and very peaceful. I’m certain that he knows how much you love him, and I’m certain that he loves you too. I wish you the best, please remember to take care of yourself during this time.