Stargazing?

i just had a question about stargazing. i guess i should start at the beginning to make this as clear as possible.

earlier today i went to petco to pick up a rat, as it is feeding day. well i come home and put the rat in the box on top of her cage to pre-scent. after a minute or two she comes right out and starts to inspect the box. everything is going fine. i dumped the rat out of the box and it took her several minutes to locate the rat. this has never been an issue before, but i just shrug it off. well she finally eats, and i head off to work. the last time i saw her before work, she was just relaxing in her water dish soaking it up.

well i came home from work and she was is still in her water dish just staring up at the top of her cage, in what seemed like the exact same position. i thought this was odd, and opened the cage to see if she was ok. she made a b-line straight for her hide. ok, that's not that unusual. well, after a couple minutes or two she poked her head out and starts staring up again, at about a 45 degree angle. she has been staring up now at the same angle completely still for 2-3 hours now.

she has never displayed this type of behavior before, especially after eating. she is usually fairly active and likes to cruise her cage stretching up to try and find an escape. this is pretty weird to me. anytime i walk up to her cage while she out, she usually looks over at me to see whats up. but tonight she doesn't even notice me when i walk up. even when i tap on the glass, she is just transfixed in this daze. the only time she notices me is if i make a quick motion right in front of her face.

here is a pic...
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3004/...01b2c2.jpg?v=0

she has been in this position for 3+ hours now. could this possibly be stargazing? i figure im pretty much over-reacting and being paranoid, but better safe than sorry.

edit: i searched the forums for old threads, but none of them really helped out for this situation. pretty much looking for other, more knowledgeable opinions.

Hi,


Just a few questions to help people get a better idea of how to help.

Does his throat look a little "pouchy" or swollen?

Can you hear any sounds when he is breathing in a clam manner - i.e. not being held/ holding himself in an odd position or breathing really fast?

Where is he in the shed cycle?

Can you give us a quick run down of the temps and humidity in his cage lately?


dr del

It could just be the left-over smell from the rat on the top of the cage that is getting her attention.

But it could be something else, dr del hit it right on the spot.

Does she seem disoriented in any way other than this?

ya know... my snake pokes out like that lot. and shes a healthy eater and temps and all that are perfect. But who knows... maybe i have problems and dont know it

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Originally Posted by rarzi11a

i just had a question about stargazing. i guess i should start at the beginning to make this as clear as possible.

earlier today i went to petco to pick up a rat, as it is feeding day. well i come home and put the rat in the box on top of her cage to pre-scent. after a minute or two she comes right out and starts to inspect the box. everything is going fine. i dumped the rat out of the box and it took her several minutes to locate the rat. this has never been an issue before, but i just shrug it off. well she finally eats, and i head off to work. the last time i saw her before work, she was just relaxing in her water dish soaking it up.

well i came home from work and she was is still in her water dish just staring up at the top of her cage, in what seemed like the exact same position. i thought this was odd, and opened the cage to see if she was ok. she made a b-line straight for her hide. ok, that's not that unusual. well, after a couple minutes or two she poked her head out and starts staring up again, at about a 45 degree angle. she has been staring up now at the same angle completely still for 2-3 hours now.

she has never displayed this type of behavior before, especially after eating. she is usually fairly active and likes to cruise her cage stretching up to try and find an escape. this is pretty weird to me. anytime i walk up to her cage while she out, she usually looks over at me to see whats up. but tonight she doesn't even notice me when i walk up. even when i tap on the glass, she is just transfixed in this daze. the only time she notices me is if i make a quick motion right in front of her face.

here is a pic...
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3004/...01b2c2.jpg?v=0

she has been in this position for 3+ hours now. could this possibly be stargazing? i figure im pretty much over-reacting and being paranoid, but better safe than sorry.

edit: i searched the forums for old threads, but none of them really helped out for this situation. pretty much looking for other, more knowledgeable opinions.

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Also, that's not really 'stargazing'. Usually they have their head lifted straight up for a long period of time, don't they? I could be wrong though.
That just looks like poking around.

That isnt star gazing. Star gazing is when there head is at about 90degree angle looking up in to the air. Also stargazing they offten spin, wobble, shift there heads back and forth in a "gazing" manner. I bet your snake is still in feeding mode because of a mouse/rat smell and is "kist waiting" in case another food item should happen to come along.

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Does his throat look a little "pouchy" or swollen?

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nope, she looks good. no signs of swelling

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Can you hear any sounds when he is breathing in a clam manner - i.e. not being held/ holding himself in an odd position or breathing really fast?

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no, i'm not hearing anything, nor any signs of mucous around the mouth or nostrils

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Where is he in the shed cycle?

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she last shed about a month ago. she usually sheds every other month or so. her eyes look good and are clear.

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Can you give us a quick run down of the temps and humidity in his cage lately?

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cool side is right at 80, warm side is at 92. humidity is at 50

well i just woke up and she is still at it. her motor control seems to be ok. i mean she is just poking her head out looking up like that. she isnt moving at all, not even a slight sway. although, this morning i walked over to her cage, and she did recoil back into her hide. i definitely take that as a good sign.

i'm starting to think that she was just looking for some more food, like previously stated. i have been feeding her 1 small rat a week since i got her. she has eaten regularly with no problems. i assume that it's about time that i up her rations.

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Originally Posted by Lewdogg3

ya know... my snake pokes out like that lot. and shes a healthy eater and temps and all that are perfect. But who knows... maybe i have problems and dont know it

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Same here - Stan pokes his head out like that all the time just looking around. I figured that is normal too since he isn't wobling or looking straight up and doesn't have symptoms of an RI. But hey, maybe I got a problem and don't know it too...

Hi,

Ok sounds fine - really just wanted to check he wasn't keeping his lead elevated because of an RI so figured I would ask about other symptoms. :)


dr del

How much are you feeding the snake and what does the snake weigh? Maybe it needs more food...