Reptile & Amphibian Forums

we have a young boa (about 8 months old) who was in perfect health up until a few days ago, he ate last week with gusto!! then a few days ago, we went to remove him from his cage to put him in his feeding tub, and when we picked him up he flipped his head upside down and started freaking out, waving his head like stevie wonder, and almost twitching his body,... he seems to be very sensitive to touch, and basically jumps even when misted with water,starts doing the head waving and contorting his body in an unusual way ...the other thing i noticed is that he has a small bulge in the middle side of his body like a few ribs out of place of something,....we are very concerned and would appreciate any input , until we can get him to a vet,...thank you

SOUNDS LIKE STARGAZERS ...IBD....A NEUROLOGICAL PROBLEM WHICH IS FATAL....AND CONTAGEOUS....MAKE SURE YOU WASH YOUR HANDS THOROUGHLY AFTER HANDLING IT....AND THROW THE CAGE AWAY IF IT DIES....THE BROKEN RIB THING COULD BE JUST THAT...HOW DID IT HAPPEN?....WAS IT FINE EARLIER?.....YOU ARE ABOUT TO SPEND A FORTUNE IN VET BILLS....SOMETIMES THE BEST BET IS TO EUTHANIZE IT ON YOUR OWN....SEE HOW IT REACTS OVER THE NEXT WEEK OR SO...BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE BAD NEWS ALL AROUND.....JC

appreciate the fast response, and the info,....I will confirm ibd with a vet and take the appropriate course of action in the animals best interest