Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi- I didn't get a response to my question, and now I have more info, so I thought I'd repost. Here's the thing- the other day before feeding, when my roommate took my BP out of his cage, he wound around his hand really tight and his head was bobbing a little, kind of like a little seizure. He shows no other symptoms of IBD, so I don't think that's it. Also, he's suddenly less active, he usually explores all night, especially after he eats or urinates, both things he did over the weekend. Now- here's my question. He is in my bedroom, which is the basement. East coast summers have made it very humid, and have made ventilation a little less desirable, could that be causing the change in his behavior? Also, could it be excessive heat? Sometimes ambient temp makes the spotlite unnecessary, and I try to catch it before it goes over 92F or so, but sometimes it'll go around 97F for a bit. Could cigarette smoke be affecting him?
I haven't noticed any respiratory probs, but the head bobbing is weird, and so is the lethargy. Even when he's laying in his hide, his head kind of leans over. But the rest of his body is normal.
Sorry for the long post, but I love him too much not to worry. I'd appreciate any feedback. Thank you!

Here's the solution...take him to an exotic vet. I don't think anybody on here is a vet, and only the vet can give it proper treatments. By the way, spot light is not very effcicient in heating the cage...it has a reflective material around the low wattage light that focus the beam...thus, making it seem brighter. If you do that with an incandescant bulb...it would be very bright. Incandescant bulb give of more heat than the spotlight.

Funny you should be asking about that coz one of my friends noticed his boas acting suspiciously shortly after a heatwave, altho he has since had them blood tested and is awaiting the results, not just for IBD but for other diseases that produce similar symptoms. So don't be scared to contact your vet and get their opinion as it may be something treatable, and in any case if you only have the one snake it may be possible for you to keep it even with IBD as you aren't going to be passing it onto any others. That said you should always discuss whats best and kindest for your pet with a professional.

Thanks for that info, Netti-
I find that so interesting, because I've never heard of anything in terms of a heatwave creating a problem with a snake's health. I'll definitely get him to a vet, though I'm having trouble finding one. I always thought that they could adapt to most any heat, aside from excessive heat. I mean, in the wild, how do they completely hide from natural ambient heat? I hate to sound naive, but could it be that CBs don't have that capacity?

From what I've heard they go underground to avoid heat and other life experiences. Rodent holes and the like. I doubt that snakes in the wild have any greater tolerences over cb, but this was an argument a few months ago.
TomChambers

Yeah they will be able to escape it some how in the wild but if the ambient air temps are too high overall then there's no where for them to go to escape it and it might stress them out, just like we get cranky when it's too warm or too cold! Good luck with the vet, even a good regular vet worth their salt should be able to take blood from a snake and have it tested, with guidance from a specialist vet. It would only take a phone call for them to get some help and advice, and any vet is better than no vet if you're dealing with something as serious as this.