my redtail boa, is acting wierd im a first time snake owner i dont know if its normal or not im scared shes gunna die! shes stoped moveing around like she use to, she wont eat, though i tried to feed her today when her normal feeding day is this tuesday, and when i pick her up she keeps moveing her head in swirls and twisting her head around! im freaking out plz tell me what to do!!!!
2007-02-08 15:12:41 · 9 answers · asked by Kenny Mccormick 2 in Pets ➔ Reptiles
thank you for your help, but she died last night.................
2007-02-08 23:54:46 · update #1
If this seems like very odd twisting of the head and she seems very disoriented I would take her to a vet quickly. There are a few parasitic infections (nasty protazoa) that can cause the neurological symptoms you describe. I lost a ball python to this because I didn't move quick enough. If it isn' treated quickly it will lead to a floppy back half of the snake and an inabilty to right itself when the snake is placed on its back. Can she still wrap around your arm if you pick her up? try putting her on her back, if she doesn't right herself in a few seconds there is something very wrong. If treatment doesn't help your snake, it could be Inclusion Body Disease (staring straight up in the air with the head tilted upwards is a sign of this, it is also called star gazers disease), and I would suggest you put it down and throw away the tank as it is tough to get rid of by disinfection. I saw IBD wipe out a breeders boa collection 10 years ago, ugly stuff. I don't want to panic you but repitle tend to not look sick until they are very sick. It is that whole cold-blooded/slow metabolism thing. Good luck and give an update if you can.
2007-02-08 17:03:52 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Is the humidity and temps right in her tank? Look up red tail boa care sheets- if they are not right- it can cause health problems.
Also- she may be close to a shed, which usually decreases activity. They also can twist their head around a lot to see- when shedding they don't have as good of vision. Are you supporting her body fully? Her head will flail around if she does not feel like you are creating a safe support. If you have a longer lights out period with colder weather- it can cause lethargy.
As for not eating- don't worry. If it is a larger snake, it can go 6 months without eating and be perfectly fine. If it is a smaller snake, a month or two longer than the normal time is ok.
If you are worried, bring her to a reptile vet.
2007-02-08 15:33:42 · answer #2 · answered by D 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i had 3 snakes the first one i got was a rosy boa a small friendly snake it stopped moving around as much to get it to feed i had to buy kitchen tongs and move the mouse around that sorted the eating then i started altering the temperature slightly from day to day it seemed to help a little. to make it a bit more lively i ran a bath not to hot and gently put the snake into it and it happily swam around. once it escaped and i pannicked after searching the room and couldnt find then i found it in the bath.
snakes can be "cant find the right word but i will try explain"
nsakes can have intercourse and not fall pregnant for even up to a year madness i know but i have heard of this happening.
try going to your local library and just read up on reptile books they gave me a lot of advice
2007-02-08 22:19:10 · answer #3 · answered by the stig 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had a teacher in fifth grade with snakes. What your boa is doing- he is not eating because he either doesn't feel good, needs a mate, or is pregent with rggs that are not going to hatch! SHE WON"T DIE! I promise you that! if you feel there is something really really bad going on - take her to the vet for a checkup! you may just need different feeding days! You never know because snakes are so much more different than other animals
2007-02-08 15:21:26 · answer #4 · answered by ♥Layna♥ 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
someone said she might not eat casue she needs a mate, ya sometimes snakes will not eat in breeding season but they dont need a mate, and there are no eggs in the snake since boas dont lay eggs, does the snake turn over on its back ? or look up for long periods of time. coudl be ibd inculsion body disease get to a vet your other snakes could get ibd, good luck
2007-02-08 16:55:33 · answer #5 · answered by joeparker67 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm sorry for your loss... Behavior like that is almost always a sign of neurological problems. They can be caused by many things, parasites, improper habitat (such as being kept too warm), genetic defects etc...
If you want to, vets can perform necropsies to determine cause of death. I just recently lost my baby spotted python, and a vet said the symptoms sounded like she may have had a lung deformity, but I plan on taking her to get necropsied just to be sure.
2007-02-09 03:42:50 · answer #6 · answered by snake_girl85 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
hi there go to this site
Clay English Red Tail Boas Care Giuide
Sick / Lethargic / Not Eating. My boa appears to be Sick. What should I do? Instant Solution ... Please let me know how I can make this care guide STAY the ...www.redtailboas.com/instant/instant.html
2007-02-08 15:21:14 · answer #7 · answered by sugarlove_one 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
maybe she isn't warm enough, snakes are cold blooded and need heat to give them the energy to move around and eat, try making her environment a little warmer (move her heat lamp closer to her height level) and see how she goes if she doesn't get better i'd take her to a vet
2007-02-08 15:23:50 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
My sympathy on your loss. I agree with above ans. sounds like Stargazing Syndrome. A neurological disease that is, unfortunately becoming more common amongst herps.
2007-02-09 08:25:56 · answer #9 · answered by preacher55 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋