Disorientation and Lack of Appetite??

[LindseyVail]

Hi! This is my first post on the forum so bear with me.

My fire ball python is about a year old and has been with me for 7 or 8 months and is showing some signs that are a bit concerning. When I took him out today, he seemed very disoriented. Usually he's still for the first few minutes after taking him out of the tank and then after that he perks up. Today his body was very limp and his head was being held at an odd angle. He's also been pushing his nose up on things while slithering to almost try to push them (?) to the point where he is lifting his lips. He's never done this before either. He also now hasn't eaten or defecated for two weeks.

Husbandry Info:
When we first got him, he didn't eat for a few weeks (normal, no worries there) and has been a consistent eater ever since. He's been on F/T weaned up until two weeks ago when he took his first F/T small rat. The past two weeks he hasn't eaten, he seemed interested at first but just slithered away.
His temps are 93.5 F on the hot spot, 78 on the cool side, and 81 ambient. Humidity has been consistently at 55. He's in a glass tank with paper towel as substrate and multiple hides and a large water bowl.
We have two other snakes, a 1.5 year old rainbow boa and a 8-9 month old rainbow boa. They are all housed separately.

I know IBD as a diagnosis is thrown around a bunch and I'm wondering if that's possible or probable in this case. I have a vet appointment in a week.

[LindseyVail]

Hi! This is my first post on the forum so bear with me.

My fire ball python is about a year old and has been with me for 7 or 8 months and is showing some signs that are a bit concerning. When I took him out today, he seemed very disoriented. Usually he's still for the first few minutes after taking him out of the tank and then after that he perks up. Today his body was very limp and his head was being held at an odd angle. He's also been pushing his nose up on things while slithering to almost try to push them (?) to the point where he is lifting his lips. He's never done this before either. He also now hasn't eaten or defecated for two weeks.

Husbandry Info:
When we first got him, he didn't eat for a few weeks (normal, no worries there) and has been a consistent eater ever since. He's been on F/T weaned up until two weeks ago when he took his first F/T small rat. The past two weeks he hasn't eaten, he seemed interested at first but just slithered away.
His temps are 93.5 F on the hot spot, 78 on the cool side, and 81 ambient. Humidity has been consistently at 55. He's in a glass tank with paper towel as substrate and multiple hides and a large water bowl.
We have two other snakes, a 1.5 year old rainbow boa and a 8-9 month old rainbow boa. They are all housed separately.

I know IBD as a diagnosis is thrown around a bunch and I'm wondering if that's possible or probable in this case. I have a vet appointment in a week.

[bcr229]

I know IBD as a diagnosis is thrown around a bunch...

Usually by people who are clueless as a LOT of other conditions mimic it.

I would suggest lowering your hot side temp just a tad. Also how are you maintaining humidity?

[Phillydubs]

I agree w dropping the hot...

how is he usually when handled ?

does he move does he act totally different than this?

are you seeing these actions in his tank
as well?

[cchardwick]

Sorry to hear about your sick snake. When I hear of 'disorientation' the first thing I suspect is something toxic. Have you recently sprayed any ant killer / bug killer / plant spray in the house? Are there any toxic fumes, gasoline, strong cleaners, etc...? I used to try to keep pet tarantulas at work and they kept dying. I suspect it was the facility guy spraying bug killer around the building on a regular basis that did them in.

[Starscream]

When was the last time he shed?

[LindseyVail]

I have a large humidifier in the room that runs and helps with all the tanks.

[LindseyVail]

Here are some images. He is usually pretty active when I take him out of the tank and when he's in his tank he's usually curled up in a hide. Last night he was stretched out across the whole tank and didn't move at all throughout the night.

[LindseyVail]

No new disinfectants. And his last shed was about 3-4 weeks ago. I've attached some images of his behavior this morning.

[Skyrivers]

Not an expert but I would vet today if was me.