Head resting up viv wall normal? Picture

I saw a BP doing this exact thing at a pet store the other day. The only thing I could think of is an RI as I know other reptiles will sit with their heads pointed straight up if they have an RI thought idk if snakes do it

My BP loves to lay on her log and rest her head on a knot a little higher than her body or if it's getting close to feeding day she will sit like this if I'm in the room like she's waiting for her dinner. Had vet check her and she doesn't have an RI. Just lines to sit like that


Molly & Steve
0.1 Normal BP. PRECIOUCESS
0.1 Normal Columbian BCI. LUNA

My boa does this occasionally, seems to just be looking for a way out.

I would leave the UTH where it is and just move your heat lamp to the center of the cage. You may need a dimmer to turn it down a bit, or raise the lamp further from the cage, so it doesn't get too hot.

I have to have the lamp at a decent wattage in order to keep ambients high enough, which make the floor around 90, if I move the lamp to middle and keep the heat mat then 3/4 of the cage floor is at 90ish!
I will keep my eye on her for other ri signs ! Hope not :-(

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Actual viv set up on the top.....She in her hide right now

88-90 isn't bad, what are your ambient temps with the lamp? If you moved it to the middle and raised it from sitting directly on top of the enclosure it wouldn't be 90 in the middle, or even get a dimmer and just turn it down a bit.

Another suggestion (I currently have 2 enclosures setup this way) seal the top back up, wood would be best and put a fluorescent light in this will raise your ambient temps probably 2-3 degrees. I keep a blacklight in mine and leave them on 24/7, I was told they wouldn't affect my snakes and I haven't noticed anything.

Nice setups! I'm sure you know but be careful with the sand for you beardie.

This behavior paired with the nose rubbing and regular yawning you mentioned in your last thread about this definitely screams respiratory infection.

Snakes rest with their heads up, exactly like in your pictures, when they have respiratory infections. While Boas will often just sit and stare upwards, it is not normal behavior for a ball. If you had no other symptoms, I wouldn't be as concerned, but since you do, I'd say it's time to take her to a vet.

I have to have the lamp where it is and its on a dimmer but I have to have it where it is just to get my cool side up to 76! Which like I say makes the floor a certain temp, so I can't raise or turn the lamp down as my ambient would be even cooler, the warm side ambient is around 83f.
The beardie is my partners , she got it from a reptile shop/breeder with a good reputation who swears he has always kept them on calci sand and is absolutely fine as long as the dragon is looked after properly with temps/food etc.... That's a whole other debate lol.

I don't see any real signs of an ri , I've read a lot of people's balls yawn and is quite normal, the nose rubbing began after her shed so maybe stuck shed? I won't be taking her vets just yet, she is not showing any signs of mucus or wheezing, inside her mouth is ok, she is eating and active in the evening. But I will be watching for any signs progressing as its my first snake so I'm no expert. Thanks again

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Making her way to the cooler hide this morning

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ash81

I don't see any real signs of an ri , I've read a lot of people's balls yawn and is quite normal, the nose rubbing began after her shed so maybe stuck shed? I won't be taking her vets just yet, she is not showing any signs of mucus or wheezing, inside her mouth is ok, she is eating and active in the evening. But I will be watching for any signs progressing as its my first snake so I'm no expert. Thanks again

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Yes, snakes yawn, and it's normal. Yes, snakes can rest with their heads up and it can be perfectly normal. Yes, they can rub their noses following a shed if there is stuck shed. The odds of all three occurring at the same time, and regularly? Extremely unlikely that it is all coincidental. I would not chalk it up to coincidence and wait to see if she gets worse and starts spewing mucus. Snakes hide illness well, and you may not be CONVINCED that anything is actually wrong until your animal is dangerously ill. These are all three warning signs, specifically correlated, that indicate RI. If my snake were exhibiting these behaviors, I would be taking him or her to the vet before it were too late. With snakes, it is not simply a few days of antibiotics and poof! All better! RI's are no joke.

Having dealt with this personally, I am simply trying to warn you and strongly encouraging you to err on the side of caution.

If the vet clears your animal, then all the better. But I would not risk the alternative and wait.