Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I noticed last week, my 3ft BCI started flipping the middle and lower half of its body over onto its back, squirming around and flipping back over onto its belly. It looks like what I might describe as a snake with stomach cramps. Thought it was really odd, so I started watching for it, and this morning I saw her do it for the 5th time.... I think its time I asked someone else... so here I am. She's feeding well on XXL Mice, or small rats. She's due for a shed, but hasn't hazed over yet. She has a big enough water dish for her to soak in, a sufficient hide (its a 'lil small for her right now, but she still uses it), and correct heat. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

There are a few things that can cause the behavior. Check the snake for mites, they rub in all directions to get rid of them which includes moving inverted. Another cause is simply during the process of shedding, but normally that begins with the head unless the snake has shed in patches. Another source of this is females developing ovum or ovulating, laying inverted (not moving either) under or on heat sources. If your snake doesn't match any of these you may want to seek vet advice, there could be a neurological problem with it.

good luck

no mites, just checked. and She's not shedding. I suppose that leaves ovulating. but hasn't been exposed to a male, and she's not of breeding size or age... I'm very worried about her... No one else has experienced this with their Red Tail?

I suppose that leaves ovulating. No one else has experienced this with their Red Tail?

I would quarantine her and assume it is IBD until you take her to a Vet.

I have a 8ft Argentine female that does that from time to time around breeding season. She rolls her mid section upside down over and over for about 5-10min

I agree with SRX, at her age it isn't likely that she is ovulating, of all my boas and pythons, I've never experienced anything like that. I have heard of animals exposed to IBD that did exhibit such symptoms and sicknesses, to which they are more vulnerable when they have it. The test to check for it is probably quite expensive, I would do a bit of research on IBD and have a vet check, or estimate to have samples taken. Keep her AWAY from your other snakes. Pythons are very vulnerable and die faster than boas when exposed... be careful to practice thurough sterile husbandry until you are sure this is not the case.
IBD is worst case scenario since it is fatal. Hopefully it is nothing, or a mere neuro issue that is just awkward for the snake and easily overlooked if she is a pet...
Good luck!
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Steph S.
Boas...
1.1 Albino boas (Loki & Hope)
1.4 07 Het. albino boas (Petty & Lady,Sierra,Madeline,Lola)
0.1 Reverse stripe poss. het albino (Cookie)
0.1 Salmon/hypo (Scarlet)
0.1 Anery poss. het snow (Missy)
1.0 Anery (Reno)
0.1 DH Sunglow (Bonnie)
1.0 Het. Anery (Guy)
0.3 Normals (Ophelia, Sasha, & Lulu)
1.1 Surinames (Solomon & Surreal)
1.2 Hogg Isles (Mr.Orange & Peaches, Apricot)
0.0.1 Central American (Sassy)
0.1 Emerald Tree boa (Jade)
1.0 ATB (Satan... seriously!)
Pythons...
2.1 GTPs (B., Monty & Jewel)
0.0.3 BPs (MJ, Precious, Houdini)
1.1 Carpet Pythons (Jackson & Charlotte)
0.1 Blood python (Akaia)
Misc.
1.1 Mandarin Ratsnakes (Jack & Jill)
1.0 Boxer/Pitt Mutt (Tyson)

Sounds neurological and serious. If not IBD, then exposure to excess heat and/or extreme dessication. Heat stroke looks very much like IBD.
jsc
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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

That the neuro issues can be caused by extreme temps of high and low. Even from exposure to chemicals... for example: as could happen if someone used a chemical mite spray, etc. without following the instructions and not removing the animal before spraying the cage. Thanks for reminding me jscrick! I knew I forgot something...
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Steph S.
Boas...
1.1 Albino boas (Loki & Hope)
1.4 07 Het. albino boas (Petty & Lady,Sierra,Madeline,Lola)
0.1 Reverse stripe poss. het albino (Cookie)
0.1 Salmon/hypo (Scarlet)
0.1 Anery poss. het snow (Missy)
1.0 Anery (Reno)
0.1 DH Sunglow (Bonnie)
1.0 Het. Anery (Guy)
0.3 Normals (Ophelia, Sasha, & Lulu)
1.1 Surinames (Solomon & Surreal)
1.2 Hogg Isles (Mr.Orange & Peaches, Apricot)
0.0.1 Central American (Sassy)
0.1 Emerald Tree boa (Jade)
1.0 ATB (Satan... seriously!)
Pythons...
2.1 GTPs (B., Monty & Jewel)
0.0.3 BPs (MJ, Precious, Houdini)
1.1 Carpet Pythons (Jackson & Charlotte)
0.1 Blood python (Akaia)
Misc.
1.1 Mandarin Ratsnakes (Jack & Jill)
1.0 Boxer/Pitt Mutt (Tyson)

Yes. I'll bet any snake sprayed with insecticide would flop around like a dying roach. And to think, when I was a kid I used to follow behind the mosquito fogging truck on my bicycle.
Boy, those were the days. What fun! Probably explains some of it, anyway. lol
jsc
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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer