Pooping, or defecating, is very important for ball pythons and represents its well-being. But how poop looks like is also important. Which consistency and color should ball python poop be like? What does normal and abnormal ball python poop look like? In this post, you will find information on how normal and abnormal ball python poop looks like, what does yellow, white, watery/runny or red (blood) poop mean and more.
What does normal ball python poop look like?
Normal ball python poop should consist of brown to dark brown part (feces) and urates – white to yellowish pasty urine in solid form, consisting of nitrogen waste (it might also pass some liquid urine).
Poop might be small to medium-large, similar to small to medium cat or dog poop. Size of ball python’s poop will depend on prey size and how many times it has eaten before pooping. Larger ball pythons will produce bigger poop. Also, you might notice some hair in stool as well, and it’s normal.
Does ball python poop smell?
Yes, ball python’s poop does smell, and it can vary from mild to strong (common poop smell). It will also depend where you ball python has pooped and poop size. Smaller poop will smell much less, and poop soaked in absorbing bedding will also smell less than if pooped water, for example.
But the thing is, ball pythons don’t poop often. Also, if you spot clean as soon as you see poop, there won’t be any problems. Make sure to use substrate that can absorb waste.
Avoid using reptile carpet or other bedding that will only harbor bacteria and cause bad smells. Diluted chlorhexidine like this is great for cleaning a cage and removing smells in reptile tanks.
If your ball python’s poop has a foul smell, then it could be suffering from internal parasites. In this case, please take a fresh poop sample to the vet for fecal testing.
You can find a list of best and worst substrates for your ball python here.
Ball python white poop
White waste that you see in your ball python’s poop are urates – white, yellowish colored soft chalky and round urine in solid form (kidney waste). Sometimes, your ball python might only produce urates, so you might think that it’s poop.
It is possible for your ball python to excrete urates only, poop only, or both at the same time. With soft urates, your ball python might also pass some liquid urine. If urates are very hard after passing, it could indicate dehydration and lack of humidity.
Ball python can poop around a week after eating, but might hold it for 1-3 months without a problem. Some hold it in and poop shorty after shedding. Noticing just urates between pooping is normal.
If your ball python’s urate is orange or very yellow, it can indicate dehydration (sometimes long-term dehydration). Make sure your ball python has access to fresh drinking water, and that humidity levels are ideal. Long-term dehydration will lead to kidney issues and gout within as little as few years.
Ball python watery or runny poop
If your ball python’s poop is watery, it could be caused by stress, internal parasites, food changes. It can also happen if a rodent was not thawed out properly or if you have fed a very wet rodent. Generally, watery or runny poop isn’t normal in ball pythons if it happens more than 2 times in a row.
If you have just got your ball python and its poop is runny, allow a bit longer to see if it becomes firmer. Stress after shipping/relocation can cause runny poop in some ball pythons.
Make sure temperatures in the cage are ideal. Low temperatures can lead to poor digestion. If your ball python is constantly on a hot side, it could mean that temperatures are low. And if it’s often moving to a cool side, make sure that hot spot temperatures are not too high. Drop them a little if they are. Read about ideal temperatures here (new tab).
However, it’s always important to take a fresh poop sample (refrigerate in a zip bag and take to a vet within 24 hours) to check for any parasites. Make sure to also quarantine your new ball python on paper towels/newspaper for 2-3 months in a separate room.
Digestive issues or incomplete digestion can also cause watery poop. Make sure to check temperatures and humidity levels are ideal in the cage. Also, make sure you are offering correct sized prey (can find a feeding chart here).
Ball python blood in poop
If you notice any blood n your ball python’s poop, make sure to check its vent and poop itself. Collect the sample so that you can take it to the vet if decided.
Sometimes, when ball pythons shed, it can cause few drops of blood (due to skin separating from the vent). However, if you see lots of blood, then it can be internal issues or even parasites. Blood around the vent can indicate internal parasitic infections.
Observe your ball python’s behavior to see if it’s acting differently. Also, make sure that you don’t feed rodents that are too large for the size of your ball python. Otherwise, your ball python might start straining and cause bleeding at the vent.
In any case where you see lots of blood, please take your ball python’s stool and then itself to a vet as soon as possible.
Thank you for reading this post on normal and abnormal ball python poop. If your ball python is not pooping, you can find more information on causes and tips in this post.