Reptile & Amphibian Forums

well...it was pretty sad to see, but i don't think there was anything I could do for him. we've only had him a month and we had alot of problems with him from the beginning. He wouldn't eat, started to be less active, got mites and now this. I'm sure I got his mite problem taken care of and the tank all clean for one, but dunno about internal parasites. I noticed him acting very strange tonight by rolling his head and neck all around and in the air alot. I took him out of the cage and noticed that he felt really hard in some spots on his back and his throat was collapsed. I then opened his mouth and could see that his air way was completely closed off....what would cause such a thing. I dunno if he starved him self to death or if something else was wrong. His tank was within what i've researched to set it up as, kept handling to a minimum and tried to let him adapt to his new home. I just don't have a clue what killed him. I tried to do a search on some things, but it doesn't seem to be working right now. I'd like to learn from this because I plan on replacing him soon. I'm prolly gonna go with an adult now though...our other snake was bought as an adult and is wounderful. Any info would be greatly appriciated.

R.I.P damien.....

*I noticed him acting very strange tonight by rolling his head and neck all around and in the air alot.*

Since that is one of the signs of I.B.D.,Then there may not have been anything that would have saved him.

Inclusion Body Disorder
Do a search and see if you can find if any of the other symptoms that would apply to your animal.

The way i understand it...it's like aids to pythons,and hiv towards boas(they can harbor it longer without ill effects).

Sorry you lost him.
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Charles Glaspie

If it were such a disease as ibd..then you would need to precautions as to not let it spread to your other animal/s.
(Could possibly be transferred by mites/caging/not washing your hands between animals handled/etc)
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Charles Glaspie

It is possible but I don't think it would be IBD. The 'stargazing' symptom normally shows up sooner than a few hours before death. I have seen this in baby ball pythons that refuse to eat for long periods. whether they just don't have the strength to keep their head up or what it seems to be a final stage. I have been able to save a few after this has started by assist feeding. However the majority don't even have the energy at this stage to digest anything. Most I would get to eat by assist feeding just to find them dead the next morning.

George

im very sorry for your loss,so to help prevent you having another one,go to the place where you got the snake from and go look at their other ball pythons other pythons and boas if they are in fact acting the same way like their nerves are almost like short circuiting or just staring aimlessly at the sky (stargazing) they may have a very very serious problem i definitly would not recommend getting another snake until you know for sure what killed him/her if you are that much into your animals you should have a vet do an autopsy and rule out IBD b4 you bring ANY other boid into your home,and if IBD is ruled out get rid of the housing the ground medium EVERYTHING and start fresh and brand new if you have any other ?z you can email me at nyhellraiser@earthlink.net

just out of curiosity what were you using as ground medium

NOOOOOOO CEDAR or PINE EVVVVVVVVER