Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a ball python that is about seven months old (I have had her for a little over a month and I am a first time snake owner).

I am currently using prevent-a-mite to treat her for mites which I noticed she had one week ago. Last night I picked her up to check to see if she had any more mites on her. I put her back in the tank and left the room. When I came back, she was jerking her head around uncontrollably and kept opening her mouth. It was almost like she was having a seizure or something. This behavior lasted about ten minutes and then she calmed down.

Other than the mites, and this odd behavior which happened for the first time she seems fine.

I am having a hard time finding a vet that specializes in reptiles in my area, and I was wondering if anyone else has experienced this odd behavior in their snake, because I am really scared!

Is this an import or WC?

This is not common behavior. Isolate this animal from the rest if you have others. Ensure all environmental needs are met (i.e., temp, humidity, security, etc.). And keep looking for a good vet. Perhaps SerpentCity can help with a partial diagnosis.

Watch the animal, if it does not have anymore "episodes", this may have been an isolated incident.

Good luck!
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Jay A. Martin

she was bred at the reptile store where i got her. i finally found a vet and i am going to call and make an appointment on monday.

I know you dont want to hear this but this does not sound good. It sounds like a death throes, there is a underlying problem that you dont see most likly inside the snake. When snakes (not just ball pythons) go through pre death spasms they have these mini seizures, with there mouth open twisting and violently jerking around. So there owner will find them dead and see some sort of hemorage around there mouth, or where they bit themselves, and think thats why they died. But there is usally internal problems. So you should see a vet cause it sounds like a death throes.

This could be any number of things. It's impossible to determine with the amount of information we have.

It may have been a piece of substrate stuck in his mouth. (They have a hard time spitting)

On the othrt hand, the symptoms you describe sound very serious. I'd have to agree that you need to separate this snake as far from any other herps you have that you can. A separate room. And, please, do keep trying to find a decent herp vet. Even if the snake is OK this time, you will need it in the future. It's best to have an established relationship with a good vet BEFORE you need it.

In any case, please keep us posted. And best of luck to you and your snake.

GratefulFred
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GratefulFred

...."it's not a tumour!!!"....(lol)...

Before you go freaking out, I seriously doubt this was a death throws, etc. If this was an isolated episode, it might have been due to toxicity from the Provent-a-mite. Getting something in its mouth is an equal or greater possibility. If it's toxicity there's not much you can do except wait and see. There are drugs that can reverse toxicity of some pesticides but their use in animals is still mostly experimental.
Let this be a reminder to people using the various mite treatments to follow directions carefully. Keep us posted.
Scott J. Michaels DVM

i am happy to report that as of right now, my snake is being treated for a respiratory infection which she contracted from the mites. today she got a shot for the mites and a shot for the infection, so hopefully she will be back to her playful self in no time!

Thanks for the update. I'm glad to hear she went to the vet, and it sounds as if she'll be alright.

Good luck,
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GratefulFred