What Does Ball Python Poop Look Like? A Complete Poop Guide

As a ball python owner, keeping an eye on your snake’s poop can give you great insight into its health. Understanding what normal and abnormal poop looks like will help you identify any potential issues early. In this complete guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about ball python poop.

What Does Healthy Ball Python Poop Look Like?

Normal, healthy ball python poop consists of two main parts – the brown or black feces and the white chalky urates

The fecal portion is typically dark brown to black in color. It may contain undigested fur bones or teeth from the snake’s prey. The urates appear white and paste-like. Their color can range from bright white to yellowish-white.

Healthy poop will have a mild odor. You may also notice a small amount of clear liquid All of this is normal

The size of the poop corresponds to the size of the meal and the snake itself. After eating large prey, the poop will be larger. Older, bigger snakes will also pass bigger poop than younger snakes.

After digesting a meal completely, a ball python will poop once. It may only poop once every few weeks or even months. This irregular schedule is normal.

What Does Unhealthy Ball Python Poop Look Like?

While a healthy poop is dark brown and contains white urates, unhealthy poop may exhibit the following traits:

• Green coloration – Green poop indicates some sort of infection or parasite. This abnormal color warrants an immediate vet visit.

• Yellow poop – Yellow poop can stem from urates mixing into the fecal portion. But if you notice an abrupt change to all yellow, get your snake checked out.

• Red or bloody poop – Bright red blood in the poop requires emergency veterinary care. Old blood from digested prey may appear almost black.

• White poop – Pure white poop may indicate a heavy bone meal. But it can also signal impaction. Monitor your snake’s behaviors closely.

• Foul odor – A putrid smell from the poop could mean parasites. Have your vet analyze a fresh sample.

• Runny poop – Diarrhea or watery poop can result from many issues like parasites, low temperatures, stress, etc. Take your snake to the vet.

• Constipation – Constipation or inability to poop needs immediate veterinary attention. It can lead to dangerous impaction. Watch for signs of discomfort.

What Causes Abnormal Poop?

Several factors can cause unhealthy and abnormal poop in ball pythons:

• Parasitic infections – Internal parasites like worms, protozoa, etc. can lead to poop changes.

• Bacterial infections – Bacterial issues in the gut may result in diarrhea or bloody stools.

• Impaction – Impaction occurs when an object blocks the digestive tract, causing constipation.

• Prey too large – Over sized prey can injure your snake’s body when passing or lead to impaction.

• Husbandry issues – Incorrect temperatures, humidity, etc. affect digestion and poop quality.

• Stress – High stress levels disrupt gut function and health.

• Shedding – Some snakes may not poop for longer when going into a shed cycle.

What To Do If Your Ball Python Has Abnormal Poop

If you notice any deviation from your ball python’s normal, healthy poop, take action right away:

• Take the abnormal poop sample and your snake to an exotic vet for tests.

• Review your husbandry and make any corrections needed to temperatures, humidity, enclosure size, etc.

• Thoroughly clean and disinfect your snake’s entire enclosure to prevent reinfection.

• For impaction risk, give your snake a warm bath or gently massage the back half of its body.

• Try smaller prey items – better to feed 2 smaller meals than 1 too large meal.

• Quarantine new snakes for 90+ days before introducing them.

• Continue vet visits until stool returns to normal.

How To Encourage Pooping

Sometimes you may need to stimulate your ball python to pass stool normally. Here are a few tricks:

• Soak frozen prey before feeding – adds moisture to aid digestion.

• Raise temperatures slightly – within acceptable range for a few days.

• Add humidity up to 65% – use a humid hide box.

• Gently massage your snake’s body from head to tail.

• Exercise your snake by letting it slither around outside enclosure.

• Give a 15 minute warm bath – ensures hydration.

• Use a fecal loop to gently remove stuck feces – vet supervised.

How Often Do Ball Pythons Poop?

There is no normal poop schedule for ball pythons. It varies widely based on many factors:

• Prey size – Larger meals take longer to digest before pooping.

• Temperature – Warmer snakes digest faster. Cool snakes may not poop for months.

• Age – Younger snakes poop more often than older, larger snakes.

• Health status – Sick snakes will poop less; healthy snakes can poop more regularly.

• Humidity – Well hydrated snakes digest meals quicker.

• Individual – Each ball python has own natural pooping habits.

So don’t panic if your ball python doesn’t poop for weeks or even months at a time. As long as it is acting normal and healthy otherwise, the irregular poop schedule is no cause for alarm.

Key Takeaways on Ball Python Poop

• Normal poop contains dark brown feces and white urates.

• Abnormal poop may be yellow, green, bloody, runny, or foul smelling.

• Issues like parasites, impaction, and husbandry problems can cause unhealthy poop.

• Seek immediate vet care for any abnormal poop.

• Encourage pooping by soaking prey, adding heat and humidity, exercising snake, etc.

• Poop frequency varies widely based on prey, temperature, age, and the individual snake.

Understanding your ball python’s unique pooping habits will help you keep it healthy for years to come! Let its poop be your guide to identifying problems early and take action if needed. With proper husbandry and vet care, your snake can continue passing normal, healthy poop.