Reptile & Amphibian Forums

To get right to the point. I read these forums all the time. I have multiple reptiles. The one that I am concerned about is a Central American Boa. I was told that they need to be put down to get into the breeding cycle. I put him with my colubrids and pits and the temps dropped to a steady 55-60. He was down for about 1 mo. I check them weekly and started to notice strange actions. I believe it would be called "stargazing". He keeps his head up and when touched he bends it almost backwards. from what i read this sounds familiar to IBD. I would like to know what you all think. Like I said I have about 33 snakes at my house right now. All colubrids except 5 BP's this guy and a tree boa. Please help me with this problem
Cody

Yes, it sounds like stargazing. How to connect it with IBD though... do you have any newer animals that could have brought it in? Obviously keep all your boids in check and quarantine the sick one.

I guess for starters, just return the snake to proper husbandry and observe for other clinical signs. For cooling boa constrictors, I havn't found it necessary at all. However, indeed some breeders do it. These are indeed equatorial animals though, and the cool temps they see are no where near what your temperate colubrids will come across. For this reason you might try normal daytime temps, but cooler nights. Or only keeping them at room temperature for that month. Check the boa forum to clarify this information as I don't cool my boas.

Let me know on any changes to your boa's condition and good luck

Ian

I havent had any new snakes in my collection except for 3 baby balls. They were quarantined then put into my collection. Those snakes cam from a reputable breeder and i have contacted him since. They eat like champs. I dont think it was from them. The boa though i bought at a show about a year ago. The seller approached me at a table and asked if I wanted a baby boa. He was tired of it cause he couldnt get it to eat and it was mean. The boa ate for me right away and never refused a meal. He ate great up till cooling. He is also now showing signs of what looks like mouth rot. He keeps his mouth partially open with the interior swollen white. Ill ask the boa forum as well and see what they think. He looks like he is very uncomfortable and maybe in pain. If he is then i dont want to put him down but at the same time i dont want him to suffer for my ignorance to boid care.
Thanks for responding
Cody

Snakes sometimes raise their heads to let fluids drain out of the trachea so they can breath (when they have bad RI's that is). Unfortunately this crud just ends up deeper in the lungs where it definately doesn't belong. Take this snake to the vet asap, and if you do what it takes, this can still be very treatable assuming it is an RI from an extra cold brumation. It was an innocent mistake, good luck!

Ian

I took him to the vet this morning. he agrees that that outlook is grimm. But we are now treating him with baytril (sp).
The doc said to give him one shot every day for 2 weeks. If he improves any then there is a good chance we can fix him. If there is no sign of getting beter than we can do a full blood test. The baytril was the first step other than the tests. When i took him to the vet we pulled him out of the bag and he was upside down. Thats a sign of bigger problems. Lets hope that this works. thanks for your help. Ill keep ya posted on his condition.
Cody

It sounds like your vet is being conservative. Maybe call him up and inquire about lung cultures, those blood tests again, and fluid therapy. If cost was/is an issue, then I'd recommend at least a bolus of fluids into the coleom; but I'm not the vet, so ask them. Also raise the temps in the tank 5F over normal for a little extra boost to the immune system. I'd say 85F cool side, and 95-100 on the hotside; basking spot. Just be carefull to make sure the snake has plenty access to the cool side; a hide should be at each end. The hot side can cool down at night, but keep the cage at 85F.

Again, good luck,

Ian