Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi All,
We have a carpet who turns his/her head upside down as if losing equilibrium. The tongue flicking and movement seems normal otherwise. Could this be due to a tick or mite, virus, etc.? There has been a shedding problem lately.
Please advise possible causes and solutions because we'd like to do whatever we can to insure his healthy survival.
Regards,
Rearfang
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"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."

Sounds exactly like IBD, and if it is, the snake is already dead, sorry to say.
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1.1 Blackheaded pythons
1.1 Woma (Juvie female)
2.1 Aussie Olives
1.1 Timors
1.0 Angolan Juvie
1.1 Savu
1.1 Juvie Bloods
1.1 Juvie Balls
1.1 IJ Carpets
1.1 Coastal Carpets
1.2 Macklotts
1.1 Papuan Olives
1.0 Jungle Carpet
2.2 Scrubs (on breeding loan)
0.1 Jungle/Diamond cross
0.1 child, CB
0.1 wife, WC

Thanks,

Pretty much what I assumed but my wife wanted to confirm. We had it checked out and that is also what the doc said. So we put it down yesterday.

Frank
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"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."

That can go through a collection like wildfire, and you don't know until it's too late
-----
1.1 Blackheaded pythons
1.1 Woma (Juvie female)
2.1 Aussie Olives
1.1 Timors
1.0 Angolan Juvie
1.1 Savu
1.1 Juvie Bloods
1.1 Juvie Balls
1.1 IJ Carpets
1.1 Coastal Carpets
1.2 Macklotts
1.1 Papuan Olives
1.0 Jungle Carpet
2.2 Scrubs (on breeding loan)
0.1 Jungle/Diamond cross
0.1 child, CB
0.1 wife, WC

Over the years I have seen several pythons act like this after exposure to exceedingly high temps due to transit or cages overheating. It is often permanent (they still continue to thrive however) although some gain better control over time.

In Pythons, IBD generally kills them quickly.

It may not be what you want to hear now but you may have acted too quickly by putting the snake down.
Sorry to hear of your loss.

-Yasser
Spitfire Reptiles

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Yassar....I saw a similar thing happen to a boa that was found outside in October in Md. It recovered a bit of useage of it's front 1' over a 6mo period, but in this case of the carpet, I think the vet was more qualified than me to diagnose, since he actually saw the animal. Plus, if it were IBD (and my personal experiences with it over 20 years ago) it does not kill very quickly, but does infect very quickly, and by the time you see the effects, you're too late. I just figured it was better to be safe than sorry.
-----
1.1 Blackheaded pythons
1.1 Woma (Juvie female)
2.1 Aussie Olives
1.1 Timors
1.0 Angolan Juvie
1.1 Savu
1.1 Juvie Bloods
1.1 Juvie Balls
1.1 IJ Carpets
1.1 Coastal Carpets
1.2 Macklotts
1.1 Papuan Olives
1.0 Jungle Carpet
2.2 Scrubs (on breeding loan)
0.1 Jungle/Diamond cross
0.1 child, CB
0.1 wife, WC

Can someone enlighten me on what "IBD" is?

Used to be called the "python disease", or "stargazing". Someone correct me, but I believe the translation is Inclusion Body Disease. Deadly. Google that and you'll see why it strikes fear into any boid keeper. No cure.
-----
1.1 Blackheaded pythons
1.1 Woma (Juvie female)
2.1 Aussie Olives
1.1 Timors
1.0 Angolan Juvie
1.1 Savu
1.1 Juvie Bloods
1.1 Juvie Balls
1.1 IJ Carpets
1.1 Coastal Carpets
1.2 Macklotts
1.1 Papuan Olives
1.0 Jungle Carpet
2.2 Scrubs (on breeding loan)
0.1 Jungle/Diamond cross
0.1 child, CB
0.1 wife, WC

Wow! I went to Google. That's scarey stuff. Makes me want to just stick with what I have & not add anything new!