Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a Boa that I got in a trade about 9 months ago. He has been doing great, eating and shedding and seemed totally normal. He shed 2 weeks ago just fine and then would not eat 3 days later. Not a big deal, waited and 7 days and tried to feed again yesterday and he had some odd head movement. I took him to his own room and gave him a fresh cage and heat to keep an eye on him.

I checked on him today and he is still not right. When I pick him up he moves his head around like he has lost his balance. He moves it from side to side like he does not have all head control. If I put him back in the cage, he will sit normal, but if moved, his head will once again stagger back and forth.

I do not use pest strips or any harsh chemicals and always feed F/T. There has not been any trauma of any kind that I am aware of, and I am the only one who cares for him. Just seems he went from healthy and eating to this. I have used Black Knight and Provent a Mite but I always follow the directions. Neither have been used in a long time. Heat was checked and all is in order there as well. Clean cages and fresh water as needed are supplied daily. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Shawn Morelan
morelans@adelphia.net

Hey Shawn. I am not writing this message to scare you but to tell you my experience.My 25% suriname .1 albino boa died today{1-5-03}You might have seen me post a week ago with the title IBD?I do not know what caused it but I have a few theries.My albino was the cornerstone of my collection,I purchased him from Mike at Basicaly Boas about 7 months ago and he's done great since.Until 8 days ago.I took him from his cage and instantly noticed something wrong,his body was almost limp and his head was moving in very strange s shapes, almost tying him in nots.He had just eaten 2 weeks prior and shed a perfect shed 3 weeks before.Well to make a short story even shorter,I watched him very closely until I came in today to see him with his mouth agape and very still.My vet said 4 days ago that Possibly it was IBD.I think so. Let us know on the forum what happens. p.s. All of my other collection is doing fine and ate wonderfully tonight.

>>Hey Shawn. I am not writing this message to scare you but to tell you my experience.My 25% suriname .1 albino boa died today{1-5-03}You might have seen me post a week ago with the title IBD?I do not know what caused it but I have a few theries.My albino was the cornerstone of my collection,I purchased him from Mike at Basicaly Boas about 7 months ago and he's done great since.Until 8 days ago.I took him from his cage and instantly noticed something wrong,his body was almost limp and his head was moving in very strange s shapes, almost tying him in nots.He had just eaten 2 weeks prior and shed a perfect shed 3 weeks before.Well to make a short story even shorter,I watched him very closely until I came in today to see him with his mouth agape and very still.My vet said 4 days ago that Possibly it was IBD.I think so. Let us know on the forum what happens. p.s. All of my other collection is doing fine and ate wonderfully tonight.

I'm having the same problem with my male Crawl Cay Boa! I've only had him since September and he's been fine until yesterday.

He hasn't been eating for the past 3 weeks, and I went to try to feed him again tonight, left the mouse in with him a few moments (have only gotten him to eat live lately) and then I noticed he was upside down! I immediately took the mouse out as well as his water dish and put him in my quarantine room. When he's not moving, he looks perfectly normal, but when he goes to move, his head cranes off to one side and he spins it around upside down. His tail waves around in the air like he's trying to grab something. His tongue doesn't seem to be working well, sometimes it flicks out, other times it just sits out. He doesn't seem aware of much when that happens. He has not been regurgitating, has been shedding fine, no weight loss, and when placed on his back, he rights himself immediately. There are no pest strips in my room, or other chemicals-and all the other babies on the same rack as this one are fine. He made it through last night, but still does the twisting thing with his head. I last tried to feed him about 3 days ago, and he killed his mouse, but didn't eat it.

Unfortunately I can't make it to my vet today-we got 10 inches of snow dumped on us last night and they closed the roads.

Every other snake I own seems to be ok so far. This really sucks, as he's one of my more expensive snakes.

-cat
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http://chaoscat.lowerground.net/herps/
My collection and herp photography

www.lowergroundreptiles.net

I had a boa that i bought as a young man,this animal seemed fine but when but with my other snakes ,in the same room,,,two of my pythons became sick with the rotating head like they were lost as to what was flat ground,,i think they called it Inseffalites of the brain,back then,"but it;s callled IBD today..i hope you trhe best of luck with this,,