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I bought a Suriname last April. Well since I had got her, she had shown some unusual signs. She will cling to anything and doesn't slither like a normal snake. If you set her down on a flat surface she will just lay there. She also has very erratic body movements. I hadn't really gave it much thought, I thought it was just her own personality.

Well I took her to the vet yesterday and he said it was definatly abnormal. He thinks it could either be a birth defect or a neurogical disease. I had a white blood test done and she had a normal blood cell count. This is good becuase he said it is a good chance it is not IBD. But the thing that really scares me is that my colombian is starting to show the same symptoms, which I know he hadn't shown previously.

I really don't know what to do. The vet really didn't tell me much that I could do. He said to quarantine her, but the fact that my colombian has it, has me scared. All of my boas have been in the same room for the past 8 months. I'm afraid this is fatal. Has anybody heard of neurological problems that still let a boa live a long life?
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1.0 Columbian (BCI)
0.1 Suriname (BCC)
0.1 Longicauda (BCL)
0.1 Bolivian (BCA)
0.1 Leucistic Texas Rat Snake

I'm suprised no one could offer some suggestions with this. Repost, and hopefully someone could give some more info. I am not even close to educated enough about those symptoms to offer any kind of help. Have you contacted the breeder or person whom you bought the snake from?

- Damian

Yeah I emailed him 2 days ago. Still no response but I know hes busy. I probably cant say a name but lets just say he's a major Suriname breeder.
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1.0 Columbian (BCI)
0.1 Suriname (BCC)
0.1 Longicauda (BCL)
0.1 Bolivian (BCA)
0.1 Leucistic Texas Rat Snake

I agree that you need to contact the breeder. You need to find out if anyone else has complained about the behavior of their snake and if the parents of the snake are doing fine.
I am not a vet but I have a question. When the snake crawls around it's cage does it show the the same behavior? Or does it show this behavior only when it is outside of it's cage? The reason I ask is some snakes are just nervous and will want to cling onto something when they are outside their cage. This boa may just be a little high strung. I hope this is the case.
Chuck

I got him a year and a half ago and he started doing the same thing. I didn't have the heart to put him down but I kept him in isolation for a good 9 months or so and he is still alive and doing well today. His problem has improved a bit and doesn't twitch nearly as much as he used to but will try and "grab" you still. He eats, sheds, defecates all normal but he is just special....I hope this helps and at least you know of someone with the same issue. The breedeer I talked to wasn't much help other than refunding my money but he did say he had 3 other's like that and I guess he ended up putting them down....

Take care

Do you see this in your other boas? Or just the one? Becuase I'm not positive but I've been seeing the same things in my colombian. And yeah she eats sheds, and deficates like normal too its just that weird movement thing. And what is weird, is when I put her in the cage and touch her she will slither away like a normal snake. Its very strange.
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1.0 Columbian (BCI)
0.1 Suriname (BCC)
0.1 Longicauda (BCL)
0.1 Bolivian (BCA)
0.1 Leucistic Texas Rat Snake

No nothing in anything else. It came on 2 weeks after I got it and I called the breeder up and he said a few of his siblings were doing the same thing. It's pretty weird and there really isn't any explanation other than it be some type of neurological disorder....I struggled with whether or not I should keep him alive and I have.

Ok you answered my question. "SHE SLITHERS AWAY LIKE A NORMAL SNAKE." This should give you some comfort that it is not a disorder,
since in her cage she is not as nervous. I hope she is ok and she calms down and will make you a great pet. Good luck with her.
Chuck

I should think 2 days is plenty of time to reply to an email relating to business. The person I bought my snake from replies same day if I have any questions.

In regards to not mentioning his name. You're probably right about that at this point. But if he ignores you or doesn't offer some type of refund, it would benefit everyone to know who is doing bad business. If he's a responsible good guy breeder he should take care of things for you. All IMO.

- Damian