Is this star gazing????

So I am a new (as in about two months) ball python mom. I have a normal female who I think is still a hatchling, she is just over a foot and a half long. I got her from craigslist off a girl who admitted to force feeding her each week although she takes food from me just fine. She came in a plastic tub that was large enough, was kept fairly clean. I upgraded her to a ten gallon tank with lots of sake plants, a little "pond", and more hiding places which she loves. She has been doing great. She is wonderful at being handled, she eats good (have not had her turn down a meal yet), no mites, seems to be at a good weight as I cannot see her ribs but can feel them if I try, she sheds in one piece, she is actually pretty active. Her humidity stays at the %50-65 range, and her temps range from upper 80s to upper 90s. I completely break down and sterilize her tank every other week (I know technically you only need to do it once a month but I am kind of OCD). This has all been since I got her. There have been no changes in appetite, behavior, or anything else. I did have a small mold outbreak, so I broke down the tank and soaked everything in a bleach solution, and have not had an issue since.

Before that though, I noticed she rests her head so it is elevated. I am not sure if she just likes to see what is going on or what. I looked at pictures of stargazing behavior that could mean an RI, but that doesn`t seem to be what she is doing. Like right now, she is curled up on her warm side with her head resting on a branch above her. She has no bubbles in her mouth, is not wheezing or making popping sounds, no mucus. Should I be worried or does she maybe just prefer to lay that way?

I really do not think her resting her head is anything you need to worry about. It is kind of like how you may like to sleep on your back while I prefer to sleep on my side... that is just how she is comfortable. Star gazing is far more dramatic then rest her head elevated on a branch.

It doesn't sound like anything to worry about, imo. :)

as BCS said, she just resting and that's how she's comfortable.

stargazing looks like the snake is in some sort of seizure. they will be twisting, corkscrewing and flopping around.

anyway good job on adopting/rescuing your snake. :gj:

It sounds like she is simply resting her head. There are videos on youtube of "star gazing" snakes if you search for them.

My only suggestion is to drop her temperatures a bit, as upper 80's to 90's F is too hot, low 80's to low 90's is ideal.

Thanks everyone! That makes me feel a lot better!

I will say the temperature in her tank has been creeping up because I am fostering a bearded dragon and her lights seem to heat my whole room up! So I put some more ventilation in the room.

Also yeah, someone told me to google what star gazing looks like and that is not what she is doing. The videos made me so sad :( Poor babies....

Yeah, stargazing just looks wrong when you see it. It's hard to explain, but you can just tell something is off right off the bat.

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Originally Posted by PsykotikLovbyrd

Thanks everyone! That makes me feel a lot better!

I will say the temperature in her tank has been creeping up because I am fostering a bearded dragon and her lights seem to heat my whole room up! So I put some more ventilation in the room.

Also yeah, someone told me to google what star gazing looks like and that is not what she is doing. The videos made me so sad :( Poor babies....

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i know, so sad. :( the vid of Aphrodite the boa and her subsequent tribute vid made me cry my eyes out. :tears: