Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've been reading how the virus that causes IBD in Pythons and Boas has now been identified. There is a you tube video of a Corn snake that might have had it, so has anyone heard of this in kingsnakes? Here's a link to the story I found on FHF and a quick video.

Link

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Ross, I didn't see, anything on the video, or read anything about the Corn snake in the link. Maybe there is some confusion? There is a gene in Corn snakes that causes similar behavior as seen by the boas with IBD. However the star Gazer syndrome in corns is a gene which is an example of an unwanted result of genetic mutations. I actually have a pair of Star Gazers, that I am raising up to test my Sunkissed Corns so I can be sure mine are not carriers of the gene. It acts like a simple recessive just like Amel, or Anery. The Gene was first discovered in Kathy love's Sunkissed Corns which ultimately came from Okeetee stock. Many responsible breeders are testing their stock, with stargazing animals to make sure the gene is not spread to others. At this point it is mainly the Sunkissed Corns which are under suspicion, however by now the Sunkissed has been bred into many other varieties, so it can pop up anywhere. I personally haven't seen any yet in other varieties, but I'm sure it is there. You can have it in your collection and never see it, until two snakes that are het for the gene are paired up. And even then there is a chance you may not see it. I hope this is what is in the Cornsnake video you mentioned, and I bet it is.
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Disclaimer: I do keep several snakes in pairs, and some in groups. However I realize that things can go wrong, and I have to keep a close eye on those groups, to be sure they are not being adversely affected by these living conditions. Also if one happens to eat it's cagemate, it is 100% my fault, and I know the risks in advance!

What's wrong with using CAUTION?!?!?!
King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
~ Jorge Sierra www.SierraSnakes.com

Very interesting! No, I didn't intend to include the corn video. The corn wasn't acting that odd like the boa was in that video, but in the comments, the girl mentioned it died shortly after. Anyway, here's the video of the corn.

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OK that snake has something else wrong with it. The Star Gazer Corns can actually live somewhat normal lives. The can eat, and even breed. They seem to spaz out when excited. Here is a video I found of one.

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Disclaimer: I do keep several snakes in pairs, and some in groups. However I realize that things can go wrong, and I have to keep a close eye on those groups, to be sure they are not being adversely affected by these living conditions. Also if one happens to eat it's cagemate, it is 100% my fault, and I know the risks in advance!

What's wrong with using CAUTION?!?!?!
King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
~ Jorge Sierra www.SierraSnakes.com

Very strange how they can still lead normal lives.
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Yeah, everything Jorge mentioned about the Stargazing gene in cornsnakes is absolutely correct and proven. Charles Pritzel (author of several corn and genetic books) is the leading authority on this particular gene and how it works.

Who knows what the one corn in the video had though. No doubt it was some sort of neurological disorder. It wasn't the typical "stargazing" thing though. Of course a corn can be a "stargazer" and die from any number of other things too..*shrug*

~Doug
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

Yeah, probably not IBD. Yesterday was the first time I had heard about it. I guess its obvious I don't pay much attention to the boas and pythons.
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Yeah, they are there own little isolated sector just as every other type of snake seems to be..LOL!

I wish I could get 3k to 10k for any of my milks, kings, rats, or corns though..

~Doug
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

I have heard that IBD can occur in some colubrids (notably North American ones from Lampropeltini) but haven't seen any actual studies that really document it. Of course, prior to now, could we have positively shown it was the same virus? We didn't know what IBD looked like at a molecular level.
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