I just got a baby Gila that I'm pretty worried about. The day after he arrived, he ate two pink mice, so I was pretty happy about that. He hasn't eaten since then though. It's about ten days now. He's a pretty clumsy little guy compared to my other Gilas, and he has a bit of a problem with 'star gazing', where he looks straight up, (often even further than 90 degrees) and kind of twists his little neck around for a while until he gets his bearings. If he accidentally flips over, it takes him quite a while to turn back right side up. I've seen similar symptoms in Boas, and it usually means neurological problems, and often is the beginning of the end.

On the other hand, when he's not showing any signs of problems, he's great. He's quick to hiss and turn at my finger, ready to bite, looking like a normal, feisty little Gila.

I bought him from a dealer, rather than a breeder, so I don't think he'll be any help. Besides, he ate for me and looked fine for a couple of days, so I really don't have any reason to think he showed problems before I got him.

If anyone has had any experience like this with a Gila, please let me know what you did and how everything turned out.

By the way, He's in a four foot cage with aspen bedding. There are six hides in the cage with him, three humid, and three dry.

The temps range from 92 on the hot side to 70 on the cool side, and the temp change from one side to the other is gradual, not abrupt. I've tried dipping pinkies in egg, but it didn't convince him to try one. My other GIlas loved the leftover egg, though.



Thanks,

Vinny

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