Reptile & Amphibian Forums

WC T. elegans vagrans, maintained in captivity for just over 10 years (caught as an adult).

Over the last few days I've noticed he's been acting strangely--he seems to be bending his head around almost to the point his head is touching the anterior half of his body, and also seems to move "neck first" at times rather than "head first." He also refused food Saturday (last feeding attempt), but then again it was a wild field mouse fuzzy (he's more accustomed to f/t adult white mice).

This is a cantankerous older snake, so is this a sign of old age, a nervous disorder, or some other illness?
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Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet

For what it's worth, I once had a similar experience.

I received a jungle carpet python a few years ago that behaved in a very similar fashion. The vet felt that the wild craning of the neck and (for lack of a better description) flopping back on itself could have been symptomatic of a neurological disorder.

It refused food and was, after some months, euthanised. Possibly worthy of mention, the jungle was a very, very large animal and likely quite old.

Good luck.

It sounds like a neurological disorder or a neurological symprom of something, maybe even old age. I have heard of snakes doing this after being exposed to certain pesticides or chemicals such as "strips" used to treat mites. I would thoroughly evaluate its cage and the room the cage is in. Clean everything and give fresh water. It could of course be something else causing a neurological problem.

Keep us posted.
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Randy Hallman

I have heard of snakes doing this after being exposed to certain pesticides or chemicals such as "strips" used to treat mites. I would thoroughly evaluate its cage and the room the cage is in.

I've heard that too, but nothing's changed in this animal's setup or other husbandry aspects in the past several years.

I'd say overall he's had a good run; when I found him he had healed from a previous run-in with something (I'm guessing lawn mower!)--back was broken in one spot but recovered, and posterior to that point is scarred and somewhat atrophied and just gets pulled along rather than being actively used for locomotion etc.
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Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet

I got him to eat 4 nightcrawlers yesterday (of 5 offered). His appetite seems a little less than normal, but I haven't noticed as much of the odd locomotion (still seems to move around kinda weird, though!).
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Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet