Snake is acting weird

[defuze]

I have had him 2 weeks, he is a 6/08 baby. I posted before about how skinny he looks, and had some questions. But not its beginning to bother me. I called my breeder and he said not to worry to much about it. First of all, when he bends, he had folds of skin, very noticeable, and to the touch he is sort of soft, not like he was a week ago. When I had him in his small sterlite for a few days, he was fine, I put him in a feeding box, and he ate within just a few seconds on Friday, since Friday, after his feeding, I moved him to a 10 gallon, 2 hides, water, correct temps and humidity. He always lays on the cool say around his water bowl, and he is not wanting to eat either, I put him in his feeding box, drop the hopper in, and he acts scared of it, when last time it was the total opposite. I'm pretty sure he is not sick. One more thing that bothers me is, last week, when I would run my hand under his belly, forward, it was smooth, now I can feel his scales turning up, getting ready to shed?

[wilomn]

Check the temperature on your hot spot.

If he's got bumps on his belly it could be blisters from sitting on a too hot hot spot.

He may also be going into a shed.

Since you got him from a breeder I am guessing that he was captive bred. If he was an import, you may want to get a fecal checked.

Any chance for pics of the belly and cage?

[defuze]

Well, he does not have bumps, it more less, raised scales in some spots when I go up his body. I could get some pictures once I get home, I am currently at work, my last topic I posted pictures if you want to check that out. My main concern is the folds of skin when he bends, and he is not latching onto me as tight like he used to. And yes, he is captive bred, I get him from the same place I got my Boas, good guy, never had any problems, but this is my first BP

[Viper 1]

this is exactly what happened when i got my baby bp! all i could do was make sure the cage was clean and at the right temp. gave him two places to hide and a water bowl, just like you're doing. he ate the first time i feed him then didn't eat for a month! he went through one shed cycle and still didn't eat. he even had the wrinkles you talked about. what i did was every friday i put in a mouse, left it for half an hour and when he didn't just re-froze the mouse and tried again the next friday. eventually he ate and was a consistant eater from then on. i think it just might be the little guy getting use to everything. it's a big scary world out there especially for a baby ball. he'll eat just do what you can. don't give up, iknow exactly how you feel.

[defuze]

Well, the folds worry me. People have asked about being dehydrated, and I have seen him drink a few times within the past week. Humidity stays around 60% , I live in NC, and its naturally humid anyways. I guess it could be his new home, like I said, he was fine in the small sterlite. Ive tried feeding him in the dark, when I black sheet over the box, no luck there either.

[Viper 1]

keep at it. he'll eat.

[defuze]

Oh I will, its just worrisome

[Viper 1]

you also mentioned that he only hags out in his cool spot. my new little female(Dahila) does that too. so i'll take her out of her cage and let her crawel around a bit and get use to me then when i put her back in her enclosre i'll put her in her warm spot and she usually stays there for awhile. you could try that.

[defuze]

ya, he slept there all night, just in cool corner of the tank. But yes, whenever I take him out, he usually goes to the warm side

[dr del]

Hi,

One handy tip is that normally the wrinkles they talk about with dehydration run parallel to the length of the snake whereas the wrinkles that show up with shedding tend to run in the direction of top to bottom at the "bends".

If he is still feeling nervous then the move to another tank might have unsettled him a bit for sure. Maybe give him another week to settle in with minimal handling and disturbance?

I would try and have a look at the colour of his belly (i.e. does it have a pink tinge?) and if it looks like he may be shedding even bump the humidity up to around 70%. Also have a look at his eyes to see if they are going cloudy.

But if it has any strange discolouration ( red or brown ) or damage to the scales try and get a picture to show just to rule out any problems.

Most of mine do not eat when in shed and seem a little more "scared" so I tend to just let them be till the shed is finished. But then others have snakes who continue to eat fine so it's all down to the individual wriggler.

Hopefully some of those ideas help.


dr del