Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello, two days ago I noticed that my 03 ball python was acting weird. I've had him since 03. He lifts his head, but it kind of sways back and forth....he lifts it up, but it's kind of limp....and he tilts his head to one side as he moves around....when i take him out of his cage he moves around alot more than usual....he tilts his head when he moves....it is kind of like he lost his sense of balance or something....any help would be great.

Do you keep any other snakes -- especially new boas?

Chris
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My favorite Ball Python morphs: Albino, Piebald, Ivory, Pearl, and Blue-Eyed Leucistic

I HAVE A BOA THAT I'VE HAD SINCE 03 .......HE IS ACTUALLY HIS ROOMMATE AND HAS BEEN SINCE I'VE HAD THEM...THEY ARE BOTH MALES... I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY OF YOUR HELP. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND INPUT

Does your Ball Python have trouble righting himself if turned over on his back...or seem to stare straight up to the top of the cage sometimes?

Chris
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My favorite Ball Python morphs: Albino, Piebald, Ivory, Pearl, and Blue-Eyed Leucistic

If you feed your python in the tank...he may be looking for food. Otherwise, he may be looking to escape...I read that if his head is tilted when he looks up, he may be sick.

YES, IF I TURN HIM ON HIS BACK, HE DOES SEEM TO HAVE TROUBLE STRAIGHTENING HIM SELF OUT (HE TWISTS HIS BODY, AND IT TAKES HIM A WHILE TO RIGHT HIMSELF. HE LIFTS HIS HEAD UP AND IT WOBBLES FROM SIDE TO SIDE. I KEEP MY HIM IN A TUPPERWARE, BUT WHEN I CLEAN HIM, I PUT HIM IN A SMALL PLASTIC TRASHCAN (THE LAST TIME HE WAS INSIDE THE TRASHCAN HE CONSTANTLY TRIED TO MAKE HIS WAY UP WHILE HIS HEAD WOULD BE WOBBLING BACK AND FORTH. HE DOES LIFT HIS HEAD OFF OF THE GROUND ALOT. TODAY I MOVED HIM TO A SMALLER TUPPERWARE WITH A HEAT PAD COVERING HALF OF THE BOTTOM. I APPRECIATE YOUR HELP. THANK YOU.

Isolate him from any other animals immediately...just in case.

Take your BP to a good reptile vet. Explain all the symptoms carefully. And have your Boa checked as well.

Good luck.

Chris
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My favorite Ball Python morphs: Albino, Piebald, Ivory, Pearl, and Blue-Eyed Leucistic

If a snake holds his head up sideways and stares at the sky, it may be a neurological sympton linked to an incurable disease...I hope this is not what your snake has...get him to a vet!!!

It could be stargazing disease. Only way to find out for sure what is going on is to take it to a Herp Vet. Which is what I suggest. Check out this web site too. It may not offer a lot of help but has a lot of good info. http://www.veterinarypartner.com

Just found this site also, may be of help. Check it out.http://www.anapsid.org/stargaze.html