I am very concerned about this hatchling?!

[Bruce Whitehead]

Last pic for this thread... the only other pic would be of a dead hatchling and I am not sure that would contribute much...

This is what was removed from her stomach, it has the consistency of hard wax. The large piece was above the hole in her abdomen, and the smaller piece below...

Keep in in perspective, this was a 36 g snake... the b-cap gives a reference point. Looking at her belly it was quite distended. The same look as all my other snakes that have absorbed and had their first meal.

Figured I would show it to give the complete example of what went on.

Bruce

PS: I guess my last question for anyone that has experienced this... when I intervened... if I had emptied her stomach contents, could I have avoided this? Now that I think about it, it does seem like it would have made a difference.

Just a thot?

[littleindiangirl]

Excuse my ignorance, but exactly what is hard belly? I have never seen that term before...

[Bruce Whitehead]

After I heard it I googled and came up with nothing.

But apparently, removing a snake too early from its egg can result in the stomach contents hardening and the snake cannot metabolize it.

Usually this leads to death.

Feeling the snakes belly... it is just that, the entire belly is hard.

Bruce

If anyone can elaborate that is a good thing.

[rabernet]

Connie,

My understanding it's when the yolk doesn't absorb correctly and hardens in the belly. Here's some past threads that discuss hard belly:

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ght=hard+belly

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ght=hard+belly

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ght=hard+belly

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ght=hard+belly

[littleindiangirl]

Ahh thanks Robin. It does shed more light on the subject.

[Bruce Whitehead]

Thanks Robin... I did not even think of searching in here.

Bruce

Who apparently needs to spread some reputation around...

[Bruce Whitehead]

One thing I will add... is when palpating it out of her belly... it was quite easy to do.

Not that it made the stress or trauma for her any less.

Bruce

[Bruce Whitehead]

I do not have the book... but I was told that Kevin has a reference to it in his book... I am assuming the larger version (not the $10.0 version).

Bruce

[Stewart_Reptiles]

I do not have the book... but I was told that Kevin has a reference to it in his book... I am assuming the larger version (not the $10.0 version).

Bruce

Yes the Complete Ball Python book page 111

[broadude]

I am sorry for your loss. Thank you for taking the time to update the rest of us and educate us.

Thank all of you that contributed.