Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've read that star-gazing is a habit developed by infected boids, whether it's IBD or some other neurological disease. My question is this: Is it normal for healthy boas to exhibit a behavior similar to star-gazing? Within the past 2 days or so, I have caught my BCI staring off into space on a number of occasions. I'm not really worried, because I've read that star-gazing is related to a loss of balance and coordination, and her balance is just fine when she's moving around. Do I just have a space cadet for a boa? Is she day dreaming? Thanks!
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0.1 BCI- Pheobe

I find Pheobe to be the most agreeable female I have ever come across. Dinner is cheap, she never wants to eat out, she can't talk, she's deaf and she doesn't care if I see other women.

Does your boa hold her head straight up when "star gazing"?
How old is your boa? Baby boas will hold their head straight up in a defensive posture, imitating a baby pit viper.
jsc
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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

she does it in a variety of postures. she's a year and a half old. sometimes it'll be at about a 45 degree angle, sometimes straight up and down against the wall of her cage. she hasn't exhibited any other signs of illness. She keeps food down, moves around deliberately, breathing seems normal. I'm not really sure. I did change things around in her cage a bit, whereas she used to spend a lot of time in her hide, now she's out and about. I'm wondering if she just feels more comfortable the way things are now? No clue.
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0.1 BCI- Pheobe

I find Pheobe to be the most agreeable female I have ever come across. Dinner is cheap, she never wants to eat out, she can't talk, she's deaf and she doesn't care if I see other women.

According to Russo, when they lay their head vertically on the cage wall, it's because there is phlegm in their airway obstructing breathing. They sleep that way. Holding the head at a 45 degree elevation would accomplish the same thing, while the animal is awake. This may be a precursor to a Respiratory Infection (RI), but is is not a respiratory infection -- yet. Simply by improving the snake's environment at this stage should be adequate.
The temperature gradient (thermalcline) should be about 82F on the cool side to 90F on the warm side. Possibly as hot as 98F on the warm side if the snake has an RI.
It's been my experience, when I see very very active boas (I mean climbing the walls active), it's for one of two reasons: 1) they are maintained at too hot a temperature, 2) they are trying to escape a serious mite infestation. The two in combination can seriously dehydrate and kill a boa in short order.
Just the stress of being subjected to both those two conditions can easily weaken the immune system and leave the boa vulnerable to a serious respiratory infection.
jsc

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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

Have a picture of this "star gazing"? Just because a Boa looks into the sky, so to speak, does not mean they are star gazing. I have a few that raise up and stare at the air vents of their cages all the time. Sometimes I'm preparing their food in the other room, and they scent the rat in the air coming from the vent. Other times, they are just scenting the air coming from the vent for what ever reason crossed their minds. I can GUARANTEE, there is no RI present in my collection.

Star gazing alone, does not IBD make. If they are eating fine, and keeping it down, no signs of neurodysfunction, hydrating like normal, equilibrium OK, there probably ain't a problem. If you set the Boa upside down, does it right itself quickly, or take a while? Is there noticeable wheezing?

Just because a Boa chooses to raise it's body, or rest it on the cage wall, does not mean it has an RI. Though this may be true in some cases, I think it falls short of an actual sign of RI diagnosis.

A favorite pose for a couple of mine...

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Richard Carew
Sunset BCI
You laugh at me cuz I'm different! I laugh at you cuz you're all the same.
Stop Inhumane and Illegal Practices

That is a good picture.
jsc
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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer