Some years ago I took my snake to the vet with a few health concerns. One of them being a small 3mm raised bump beneath darkened scales. At the time the vet concluded that this wasn’t too concerning but to keep an eye out and to come back if I saw rapid or sudden growth.

From then to now the bump has grown very slowly, but I noticed that the bump sometimes got in the way of his exploration around my living room but didn’t bother him at all in any other way. Not only that I could now feel new raised scales in other spots along his body. So I worried that it had gone from being a tumour to being cancer.

I had the lump removed by a vet and examined by a lab, and the results came back as a tumour/cancer called melanophoroma. Unfortunately, there’s not much in terms of treatment available other than to remove it before it spreads, though if anyone else does know about treatment do let me know.

So I hope this post convinces you to seek out that vet earlier than I did, and that the pics help more people recognise what to look for.

He’s a carpet python (Morelia Spilota ssp) estimated to be around 3m from the year 2011 and a jaguar morph. (This morph comes with neurological issues also similar/the same as the wobble in spider ball pythons. I do not encourage anyone to buy/breed this morph.)

CB 2011 Carpet python

2020. Darkened scales with a small white lump underneath. Felt it, before I spotted it.

2024. The lump to be removed & tested.

https://preview.redd.it/hxcr79hjwgyd1.jpg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a5aeadb4f08cac62e014ae42d9e938bb7844c721

Lab results from the lab.

I have a 6x3x6 enclosure that I am finishing up. It was prebuilt needing quite a bit of work when I got it so the light holes were already there and I’m trying to work with them before deciding to redo the entire top of the enclosure… There are two light holes (so there’s an option for what side is hot or cool) but I just need one light cage. The holes are approximately 10 1/2 inches in diameter. I am planning on using two mini halogen bulbs for heat but I can not find a light cage big enough to fit that hole. I want one that can open from the bottom for easy bulb changes as that’s sorts the entire reason I want the cages vs just getting metal screen for the top and having the lights sit on that. I’m willing diy it too but have no idea how to do that rn. Any ideas would be helpful! Thanks.

He's at work every night waiting for something to pass by.

https://preview.redd.it/or5vvpnlxuvd1.jpg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8964fafba1dc621d242c5fee4848a1e7c683fc27

I just got this baby and wanted to know if their is anything special you think I should know. This also includes any advice you may have on getting them to calm down about handling. (I know most of that will be taking time to slowly handle her until she gets used to it)

My poor boy has gone over a year without eating a meal on his own. Been to the vet many times and spent more than I want to admit online. We’ve found that he’s got a kink in his spine near his cloaca. Vet said it most likely is going to get worse with age and we can’t do much about it. He also has a tiny bit of neurological issues. Vet said they go on a scale of 0-4, 0 being no issues and 4 being extremely bad and almost no quality of life. She said she would put him at a 1.

Unfortunately I have tried everything to get him to eat. He had lost over 30% of his body weight and we had to turn to force feeding even though my vet really didn’t want to. He barely had the energy to get the meal down and it was a tiny meal for him. We finally decided that tube feeding to put some weight back on him would be the best way to go before trying to introduce solid food again.

After trying a few different things we recently landed on carnivore care. It’s a powder to mix with water and then tube feed it. He’s kept it down unlike everything else we tried and I added an egg yolk to the mix to give a little boost. I know it’s a weird situation but if anyone has any tips or tricks to help us on his journey that would be greatly appreciated! He drinks perfectly fine and has started to gain some of his energy back! He is regulating his temperature again as well! Just looking for tips on how to possibly help him recover from whatever happened. Also, any theories on what happened that would cause him to not eat and waste away like this would be appreciated as well!

I am working very closely with my vet so please don’t be someone that says “take him to the vet” because at this point, that’s his second home unfortunately.

I am reducing my overall... Well everything in life .. and that includes my collection.... And I keep going back and forth on this guy cause he's so sweet and so gorgeous and a bit of a problem feeder at times and I'm just not sure if I really want to part with him.... But I definitely need to reduce.... for everyone's benefit...

I have a 5 year old carpet python, he’s the friendliest. I love him so much but for some reason after I feed him (I’ve only had for 3 feeds) I get really scared to hold him, he’s bit me once and struck at me a few times(all my fault I didn’t listen to his cues) but I’m just so scared every time. Is there a way to fix this or to get used to holding him a few days after he eats? (I normally leave him for 2-4 days after feeding so he can relax and digest) anything will help.

Hey y’all!

I just have a question regarding brumation. So, my Darwin Albino (Snek) is 7ish years old, she has never brumated until this year, my other snake (who’s her brother - just a year younger) also brumated for the first time this year. He is eating again but my girl is not. I know brumation is normal - I guess I just want to seek some advice? or maybe assurance that things are okay based on the information I give.

She stopped eating in May, and despite being offered is still not eating. She last used the restroom - if you will - in August. She has always been a pretty cruisey snake, she’s never moved around heaps. She is currently moving to change positions, stretch out etc. She also hasn’t shed in this time

Worst part of this all is that I live 5 hours away to study and my student living - as most don’t, allow pets. My parents look after both of the snakes so well, and frequently update me especially regarding Snek, (as our other Darwin python is my brothers) because moving away from her was the hardest thing of all, I have her tattooed on my shoulder her picture on my wall, so I guess distance exasperates my stress about her brumation

Any help or alarm bells from you guys is so greatly appreciated

Hey guys! So I currently have a Jungle X Diamond python that I want to go fully bioactive with. Gonna start in a 36x24x18 birch enclosure while it’s small and eventually move into something larger. What do you all recommend plant wise that would do well and be hardy?

I figured a pothos and maybe a snake plant or 2 but not sure what else.

Hey guys I just got my first snake and it is a carpet python. I have done a lot of research but this snake has been abused in the past, so any advice would be appreciated. Also, what things you wish you would know when you first got a snake?

UPDATE: Thank you everyone for the advice and the kind words, Kaa went to sleep for good today and I’m thankful that he’s no longer in pain. I appreciate each and every one that left a comment🫶

Has anybody ever had a snake that ended up getting cancer? I have a carpet python that had surgery to remove a tumour in his jaw as well as his sides earlier this year. They ended up coming back shortly after the surgery and it ended up being cancer. If anyone has any similar experiences or advice anything is appreciated. The vet has discussed the obvious route that nobody wants to take but I also don’t want to be selfish if he is suffering🤷‍♂️

Is granite a color morph of Irian Jaya or the result of hybrid breeding of different locals? Also, what's the difference between West Papuan, Papuan, and Irian Jaya? Thanks in advance

His favorite place to sit is on my head

Whenever I first got her she was relatively sweet but after I got her home she turned into a bit of a cunt 😂 we’re both working on building each others confidence and trust so today I just worked on desensitizing her some to the hook. Never taking her out of her enclosure but subtly tapping her, lightly rubbing her with it and picking her up and just holding her (sorry the picture looks like it was taken on a potato)

Where did you guys get your carpets from? I’m mainly looking for jungle carpets, but all feedback Is appreciated. Thank you

Hi everyone! My gal (10 year old coastal) shed a week or so ago and I noticed she has a couple spots on her upper back where her scales are pale/discoloured?

Has anyone seen this before? I’m concerned she may have burnt or damaged them but I don’t know how? She will occasionally wrap up and around the cage of her heat lamp but it’s never caused any problems before and wouldn’t be hot enough to burn her?

Thanks in advance!

I've been using Aspen but I've realised it moulds easily and doesn't hold humidity well. I've swapped to coarse grade critter's comfort but I can't see any reviews about how it is with snakes. It was already damp out of the bag and I don't know if that's normal. I also don't know how I'm meant to see where he's gone to the bathroom because everything is just dark brown.

I guess my question is what would be the best substrate to use? Can I put a light layer of Aspen on top so I can still see where his waste is? I also can't do bioactive because I'm horrible with bugs and every plant dies in my care🥲

Recently had his second shed since I've had him, definitely growing.