I have a 2 year old male ball python who has not eaten since November 14 I’ve taken him to the vet twice now he’s been on antibiotics this is the second time he’s had liquid/mucus with what looks like blood in his stool I was finally able to get it in a bag for a stool sample I’m taking to the vet tomorrow is there anything I need to ask them specifically to test for I’m so worried about him I see him drinking his set up is great but he has lost 200 grams I’m so sorry if I sound totally ignorant. But my boy needs help I’m in trying to figure out what’s completely wrong with him. I’m wondering if I need to bring him to the vet with me with his sample and maybe leave him for observation I’ve attached a picture below
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Have you had him tested for known python diseases? Research Associates Laboratory is a great resource for doing such. Ask your vet if they can test for nidovirus, arenavirus, and cryptosporidium. If not, you’ll need to order the collection supplies from vetdna.com (swabs for both saliva and fecal). You’ll have to overnight them to ensure the samples are fresh for the lab. Odds are your vet does not do these tests, but I’d definitely get the reptile ‘boid’ panel and the cryptosporidium panel run to rule out those diseases.
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If you have any other snakes/reptiles in your home you also need to monitor them. If you get any positive results back from tests you will need to test the rest of your reptiles if you have any. Illnesses like Cryptosporidium can be asymptomatic in some cases and are always lethal in those who aren’t.
A lot of the diseases @sugarhillballpythons has mentioned are extremely contagious, so please excersize caution.
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Is this a current photo? Can you show us a photo of his whole body stretched out not coiled in a ball?
I agree with the testing above. Always good to know for sure with abnormal looking stools.
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I’ll ask the vet to run those
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Poor little dude. He’s definitely on the thin side. Ask about those tests for sure and let us know what the vet says.
As far as a couple other questions…
Has he ever eaten for you? How long have you had him?
What are the temps in his enclosure?
Just hoping to possibly help troubleshoot a bit
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And you can’t use any swabs, you have to use the swabs specifically designed for their tests.
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I got him middle of September of 25 he ate every 2 weeks until November last meal was the 14th he has his hot side around 86-88 cool side is 78 70 percent humidity
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I surely hope your vet figures out what’s going on with that sweet boy! 
You must terribly worried!
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Very much so they kept him for observation he lost about 200 grams since last visit they’re going to test for crypto and do a broad panel as well going to try and assist feed him
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I’m glad they kept him. They will probably tube feed him a high caloric meal replacement such as Critical Care or a slightly diluted wet dog food such as Royal Canin Recovery that is also rich in nutrients. Medication like Metronidazole can help with appetite. I’m not saying this is exactly what your vet will do. I’m just saying there are options such as these to help him while the testing is in progress. Let’s be positive that the outcome will also be positive. 
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He did say he was going to tube feed him to hopefully soon get a good stool sample to send off what I had wasn’t nearly enough he wants to get him some strength as well so maybe he’ll be back to himself but the vet was leaning towards crypto which I’m hoping so badly it’s not! I’ll update when we know something! Thank everyone for their help
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We are waiting on his results to come back they have been “manual feeding” him so hopefully in a few days we have some answers
Update I did not want to post but he passed away about a hour ago he was negative for crypto but positive for some bacteria vet started antibiotics he passed a huge blood clot they picked him up to clean him up and he went limp and passed in the vets hands he’s sending him off for a necropsy
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Oh I’m so sorry for your loss! I hope your vet can identify the cause of his demise! Please update us and again I’m very sorry this happened! 
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I’m so sorry for your loss.
I lost one of my BP boys the same way. They found traces of an overgrowth of general intestinal bacteria and necrotizing flesh. They think that he may have had an immune deficiency of some kind, but nothing concrete.
It’s not easy to loose a pet that way. Sending positive vibes your way
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Oh no that’s terrible I’m so sorry 
I hope you find answers once necropsy results come back… I know it doesn’t help but at least Crypto came back negative so you don’t have to worry about any other animals you might have 
The blood clot and bacteria situation definitely sounds like it may have had something to do with your boy’s passing…
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Thank you and I will
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Never ever thought I’d cry this hard over my snake but it’s ridiculous 
I’m hoping I get definite answers from the necropsy
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